Posted: Thursday April 16, 2009 4:11 PM BT
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is best known as the 'spice island' was the centre for the slave trade in East Africa and base for David Living Stone's expeditions into the unexplored African interior. Smell full of the aroma of cloves and other spices, which still provide a livelihood for many people of Zanzibar . There are two main islands making up Zanzibar , Unguja and Pemba , but Unguja is popularly referred to as Zanzibar . Both Island are famous for its, mile-long untouched beaches with white sands. The island is accessible from the mainland by ferry or by scheduled flights. Pemba is most easily reached by ferry from Zanzibar , and Mafia is best reached by charter flight from Dar Es Salaam .
The islands are surrounded by unspoiled coral reefs, and are becoming famous for the spectacular scuba diving and snorkelling. The old " Stone Town " of Zanzibar has been made into a world heritage site. It is a fascinating place with narrow winding streets, old Zanzibari style wooden doors, small shops, busy bazaars and central markets. see hotels in Zanzibar
Pemba Island
The island of Pemba known as 'Al Jazeera Al Khadra' (the green island, in Arabic) is an island forming part of the Zanzibar archipelago, lying off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is situated about 50 kilometres to the north of the island of Zanzibar.
The northernmost Island of the archipelago. Pemba Island is still the world's major clove producer, but has now slipped into its more traditional role of being an Island
Paradise with small inter-island trade. Chake wharf is now mainly used for swimming & fishing. Pemba was seized by the Sultan of Muscat (now Oman) in the 17th century. He was so enchanted by the Spice Islands that he installed himself in Zanzibar and ruled Muscat from there. When the Western Colonial powers came to East Africa the British forced the Sultanates of Muscat and Zanzibar to separate and then administered the Spice Islands in the name of the Sultan.
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