5 things to do in Zanzibar besides laze on the beach

Of course you enjoy the sun and sand on the beach all day long, but there are lots of other things to do in Zanzibar.

Here are five activities that will get you into the heart of Zanzibar’s cultural and historical heritage:

1. Visit the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park:

This forest reserve is a great escape from the hot sun on the island. Boardwalks allow you see see land-based mammals like colobus monkeys and countless birds through the dense vegetation.

2. Visit the Prison Island tortoise sanctuary:

The sanctuary is located off the coast near Stone Town, Prison Island. The place used to be a prison and quarantine station the slave trade era.

Today. it houses a colony of giant Aldabran Tortoises, some of these tortoises are more than 100 years old.

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3. Visit the Chumbe Island Coral Park:

The park is located about 8 miles south of Stone Town. For two decades, the park has been operated as a private, nonprofit eco-reserve, housing hundreds of fish and a healthy coral reef.

4. Visit the House of Wonders:

The Zanzibar National Museum of History and Culture is housed within the House of Wonders. There are exhibits on dhows, Swahili culture, and the old Zanzibar Sultanate.

5. Watch traditional dancing:

On Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday evening, you can visit the Old Fort for Ngoma dance and drumming performances. It is a great way to experience local Swahili culture. The Old Fort, located just south of the House of Wonders, it was built in the 1700s to serve as a defensive structure against Portuguese colonialists.