Zanzibar was for centuries a hub of the Indian Ocean trade in spices, ivory and, painfully, enslaved people. That history shapes Stone Town today, where Swahili houses with heavy wooden doors sit beside old Omani forts, churches and mosques. A guided walk is the best way to understand the layers.

Beyond the town, the island is surprisingly varied. Clove and nutmeg plantations are scattered through the interior, mangrove and coral rag forest fringe the coast, and the reef supports excellent snorkelling and diving. Beaches differ by coast, so choosing the right one matters.

Zanzibar is a majority-Muslim island. Dress modestly in Stone Town and villages, and keep beachwear for the beach and resorts.

People have lived on Zanzibar for at least 20,000 years. Omani influence began in 1698, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar was established in 1856. The slave trade was central to the economy in the 19th century, and Britain pressed for its abolition through treaties. Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890, gained independence in December 1963, and merged with Tanganyika in April 1964 to form Tanzania. Visitors can learn this history in Stone Town through guided walks and museums.

Unguja has no large wild animals, but it has special wildlife of its own. The endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey, with about a third of its small population in and around Jozani Forest, is the best known. Sandy beaches are fringed by coral reefs, which support snorkelling, diving and fishing.

A common pattern is a week on safari in the Maasai Mara, Serengeti or Ngorongoro, followed by four to five nights in Zanzibar. For a Kenyan beach alternative see Diani Beach.