Most of my trips start off with me wanting to eat something. So when I heard that Zanzibar, a small island off the coast of mainland Tanzania, had a version of one of my favorite Trinidadian dishes, pelau, that was all I needed to start planning a trip. What I didn’t expect as I embarked on the 24-hour-plus journey that included three flights was that finding this dish would end up being the last thing on my mind.
The first thing I saw when I exited the plane was a sign that read “Karibu Zanzibar. Roam with the locals.” I was home, and totally in love.
Once I saw this sign, I knew I was home. (Photo: Danielle Pointdujour)
I sleep pretty well in crappy economy seats, so I was able to hit the ground running when I landed in Zanzibar. From the moment I stepped outside the DoubleTree Hotel and into the winding alleyways, Stone Town captured my heart. The bustling markets, vendors selling handmade goods, men selling fresh sugarcane juice, women carrying groceries and kids rushing off to school filled me with a relaxing vibe reminiscent of the Caribbean.The massive, ornate doors that line the streets speak to the island’s Arab, Indian, and European heritage.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Stone Town is full of history, so taking a tour is almost necessary. Grassroots Traveller is a great guide for exploring the last open slave market, presided over by Arab traders until it was shut down by the British in 1873; the oldest building in the city, the Old Fort and the House of Wonders — a former palace of the sultan of Zanzibar.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Stone Town is full of history, so taking a tour is almost necessary. Grassroots Traveller is a great guide for exploring the last open slave market, presided over by Arab traders until it was shut down by the British in 1873; the oldest building in the city, the Old Fort and the House of Wonders — a former palace of the sultan of Zanzibar.
Local women wearing colorful kangas.
One of the first things I noticed about Zanzibar aside from the laid-back vibe was the abundance of color. Coming from New York City, a literal concrete jungle, I rarely see bright, vibrant colors that aren’t on a billboard in Times Square. People joke that the official uniform for New Yorkers is anything black. Not in Zanzibar. From the multicolored tin roofs to the gorgeous kangas local women wear, the island is full of bright colors that play a supporting role to the natural beauty and make you feel you’re enveloped in pure sunshine.
The sunset jumpers in action.
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