Zanzibar Potted

T he two main Islands of           every five years after the         Zanzibar, Unguja and Pemba,     elections there is trouble. Many   lay 40km off the mainland       Zanzibarian's - in a way are       of Tanzania and are separated         still fighting for independence    from the mainland of Tanzania by      from the mainland.                 a shallow channel. Both these                                            islands were once joined to the       The island of Ungunja has the      African mainland.                     main port to the Islands, the                                            port at Zanzibar Town [or          These islands were first settled      sometimes called Stone Town]. It   by Africans, then came the            is this island that most people    Shirazis fleeing from Persia and      including most Tanzanian's call    then came the Omani Arabs. This       Zanzibar; although more            crates an electric mix of             accurately it is the whole         cultures that make these islands      archipelago that is Zanzibar.      so popular, so exotic; and                                               occasional so troublesome even to     The archipelago is a scattering    the present day. The islanders        of about fifty islands. They sit   have had to struggle for their        in calm, translucent waters.       independence. The Portuguese lay      Low-lying and palm fringed the     claim to the islands for over two     undulating hills are picturesque   hundred years then it became a        with none rising higher than 200   British Colony and only as            meters above sea level. There is   recently as 1964 did the island       some of the finest fishing and     realize true democracy.               diving in the world on these                                             islands. Mangrove's and            The Zanzibar Islands were joined      spectacular coral reefs thrive     with Tanganyika to form Tanzania.     around the islands and guard many  Zanzibar feels it is still            of the beaches from erosion and    fighting for independence and         help protect the fish breeding     grounds. Here diving or               Stone Town transports you into     snorkeling with dolphins is           the past. The whole atmosphere is  common with sea turtles found on      of medieval times, veiled women,   the Northern tip of Unguja -          their hands and feet hennaed with  whilst blue marlin and sail fish      elaborate patterns, haggle in the  are perused by the big-game           markets and small shops which      fishers.                              cluster the peripheries of the                                           town.                              Arriving in the main port and as                                         you step onto the wharf the smell     The warm crystal waters and        of cloves is carried on the           tranquil lagoons are tropical      breeze to greet you; immediately      fish tanks - with the brightly     you are aware Zanzibar Town is        colored inhabitants swimming in    out of the ordinary. Arab dhows       their underwater coral gardens -   with white-sails shaped like the      these spiced islands offer some    crescent moon, sail gently out of     of the best diving and beaches on  the harbor and pass along the         which to relax in the world.       miles of palm fringed beaches.         About the Author: For more information on the Zanzibar Islands see http://www.betheladventure.co.uk fair trade tourism uses tourism to change lives and benefit the community. Bethel Adventures is committed to the education of our community using tourism to build schools Source: www.isnare.com