Suggestions for Stone Town
Jan 10th, 2011, 06:31 PM
#1
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Suggestions for Stone Town
Hi y'all,
I will be in Stone Town for 2.5 days this month. I'm thinking of taking a spice tour, but would also like to take a tour of the town. Any suggestions on this or other tours that would be interesting?
Also would appreciate suggestions on restaurants for lunch or dinner.
Thanks!
I will be in Stone Town for 2.5 days this month. I'm thinking of taking a spice tour, but would also like to take a tour of the town. Any suggestions on this or other tours that would be interesting?
Also would appreciate suggestions on restaurants for lunch or dinner.
Thanks!
Jan 10th, 2011, 07:27 PM
#2
You can do the Spice Tour,it will take half a day, but it is interesting.
If you do some research and homework ,you can walk Stone Town on your own.
Here are some places to see:
1. Serena Hotel right on the peninsula tip downtown.
Go by the pool area and have a drink and "drink" in the great view ..of the ocean...that is Prison Island straight ahead.
2. City Gate House.... the road goes right through this house !!
3. House of Wonders
4. Arab Fort
5. Anglican Church
6. Slave Memorial right by the Anglican Church.
7. St.Joseph Cathedral
8. Big ( Huge !!) Banyan tree on Mizinghani Road
9.Dispensary House , very nice , very ornate
10. A Dhow ( Arab Boat) ride in the afternoon or evening.
11. Livingstone's House
12. Africa House....go in here for a beer and again a nice view.
This is where Livingstone and his buddies used to come for a drink.
It is 4 buildings down from the Serena Hotel.
Just walk into the Africa House... walk the stairs to the second floor, sit at table # 4 ( this is where Livingstone sat) along the open balcony..
and
have a cooool drink (!!) it might be 95 F easy if not more.
and while you are walking around , look down at some of the manhole covers....pretty nice emblems aren't they !!
You might think this is a lot of walking about but everything is close by...just walk along
Mizinghani Road ( along the ocean) and you will see 80 % of the places I mentioned.
To get to the Livingstone house is about a 20 minute walk, longer because you will be sight seeing along the way !
Nice place to spend 2 and a half days
If you do some research and homework ,you can walk Stone Town on your own.
Here are some places to see:
1. Serena Hotel right on the peninsula tip downtown.
Go by the pool area and have a drink and "drink" in the great view ..of the ocean...that is Prison Island straight ahead.
2. City Gate House.... the road goes right through this house !!
3. House of Wonders
4. Arab Fort
5. Anglican Church
6. Slave Memorial right by the Anglican Church.
7. St.Joseph Cathedral
8. Big ( Huge !!) Banyan tree on Mizinghani Road
9.Dispensary House , very nice , very ornate
10. A Dhow ( Arab Boat) ride in the afternoon or evening.
11. Livingstone's House
12. Africa House....go in here for a beer and again a nice view.
This is where Livingstone and his buddies used to come for a drink.
It is 4 buildings down from the Serena Hotel.
Just walk into the Africa House... walk the stairs to the second floor, sit at table # 4 ( this is where Livingstone sat) along the open balcony..
and
have a cooool drink (!!) it might be 95 F easy if not more.
and while you are walking around , look down at some of the manhole covers....pretty nice emblems aren't they !!
You might think this is a lot of walking about but everything is close by...just walk along
Mizinghani Road ( along the ocean) and you will see 80 % of the places I mentioned.
To get to the Livingstone house is about a 20 minute walk, longer because you will be sight seeing along the way !
Nice place to spend 2 and a half days
Jan 10th, 2011, 08:33 PM
#3
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Percy has given you super advice! If you are a historian then follow it!!! You will love Stone Town. I agree w/ everything he said...and we are total strangers!
Also take a walk around the public market....fascinating full of fresh fish and colorful veggies etc.
We also did a cruise out to Prison Island which was nice. Finally got a cool breeze.....and the turtles alone were fun to see out there. You can also go snorkeling so take gear if that is fun for you.
It was very very very hot when we were there.....so drink lots of bottled water!!! I evem poured some on my head!!!
The spice tour is very interesting!
We stayed at the Serena and it was fab..and agree about the bar!
Also take a walk around the public market....fascinating full of fresh fish and colorful veggies etc.
We also did a cruise out to Prison Island which was nice. Finally got a cool breeze.....and the turtles alone were fun to see out there. You can also go snorkeling so take gear if that is fun for you.
It was very very very hot when we were there.....so drink lots of bottled water!!! I evem poured some on my head!!!
The spice tour is very interesting!
We stayed at the Serena and it was fab..and agree about the bar!
Jan 11th, 2011, 07:04 AM
#4
Hi LEANNE, How is Mom doing ! Are you coming home this weekend.?
Oops ,were are total strangers.
Just kidding you star55 ..we are strangers.
Yes LEANNE, that Serena Hotel was terrific and in a nice spot also, close to everything.
The market is another nice place to see but I am sure you will come to this place during your walk about.
You can just walk around in Stone Town, the streets are like a maze and very narrow , in some places you can stretch out your hands and touch a building on each side.
Here is my Trip report from my African Safari.
Read only the Zanzibar part.
Scroll down about half way to my posting of Zanzibar, It is date September 17/09 4:16 PM
I gave some history here.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...rip-report.cfm
Oops ,were are total strangers.
Just kidding you star55 ..we are strangers.
Yes LEANNE, that Serena Hotel was terrific and in a nice spot also, close to everything.
The market is another nice place to see but I am sure you will come to this place during your walk about.
You can just walk around in Stone Town, the streets are like a maze and very narrow , in some places you can stretch out your hands and touch a building on each side.
Here is my Trip report from my African Safari.
Read only the Zanzibar part.
Scroll down about half way to my posting of Zanzibar, It is date September 17/09 4:16 PM
I gave some history here.
http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...rip-report.cfm
Jan 11th, 2011, 12:27 PM
#5
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If you're not comfortable wandering around on your own or need help in making arrangements, such as a spice farm tour, I'd highly recommend my favorite Zanzibari tour guide, Masoud Salim. He's now with his brother's tour company INDOMA Tours (www.indomatours.com) Masoud recently visited Washington DC for a conference at the White House as one of Africa's new young leaders. He's a great guy and a tour with him will provide you with lots of history and background information.
One of my favorite restaurants is Monsoon, which is on the outside of the tunnel by Forodhani Gardens. I agree that the Serena is a nice place to watch a sunset. They often have music on the terrace, as well.
One of my favorite restaurants is Monsoon, which is on the outside of the tunnel by Forodhani Gardens. I agree that the Serena is a nice place to watch a sunset. They often have music on the terrace, as well.
Jan 11th, 2011, 02:32 PM
#6
Hey ShaTay, nice website.
I think star55 should do the spice tour and then 1/2 day tour of Stone Town because he will gain a lot of local knowledge
that will be helpful to him when he is walking about on his own.
Yes I agree the Monsoon is a nice place, I think it is just very near the Tempo Hotel.
Also ,you know that evening market they have at Fordorhani Gardens, where you can get a good meal and sample all kinds of food !!!
Well ,I thought it was going to be like some outdoor picnic , but it was much more than that.
The outside table were all set with white table cloths.
The cooks were dressed in white with their tall chef's hats !!!
Wow! I never expected that.
I think star55 should do the spice tour and then 1/2 day tour of Stone Town because he will gain a lot of local knowledge
that will be helpful to him when he is walking about on his own.
Yes I agree the Monsoon is a nice place, I think it is just very near the Tempo Hotel.
Also ,you know that evening market they have at Fordorhani Gardens, where you can get a good meal and sample all kinds of food !!!
Well ,I thought it was going to be like some outdoor picnic , but it was much more than that.
The outside table were all set with white table cloths.
The cooks were dressed in white with their tall chef's hats !!!
Wow! I never expected that.
Jan 12th, 2011, 04:48 PM
#8
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Thanks for the suggestions! I'm comfortable wandering around on my own, but I also like 2-3 hour tours led by knowledgeable people.
Interesting about the manhole covers - I'll be sure to look down when I'm walking around the town.
Interesting about the manhole covers - I'll be sure to look down when I'm walking around the town.
Jan 12th, 2011, 06:30 PM
#9
LEANNA:
I thought you would like that .
I thought you would like that .
