Zanzibar Hotels

The name Zanzibar invokes images of spice, colourful fabrics and exotic beaches with fringing coral reefs.

 

 

Zanzibar hotels are as intriguing as the

"Spice Island", excellent and charismatic, both in the historic Stone Town - the only functioning ancient town in East Africa - as well as on the pristine beaches. more

Where to go..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What and where to go in Zanzibar ….more

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The name Zanzibar is derived from Zengi,

the name of a local people,

and the Arabic word barr, or "coast".

The Spice island of Zanzibar lies off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean (see map). It is famous for once being the commercial centre of East Africa and the last place to abolish the slave trade.

 

Zanzibar was separated from Oman in 1861, and effectively controlled by Britain after 1873 when the Royal Navy enforced the closure of the slave market, and enlarged its base in the harbour from which it operated patrols against slave traders.

 

In 1885  Germany claimed administrative responsibility for Zanzibar, presumably on the grounds that both the main islands, Zanzibar and Pemba, lay off the coast of German East Africa, parts of which had previously been included in the Sultan of Zanzibar's mainland territories.

 

In1890 a  Treaty of Berlin signed on 1 July.  Germany withdrew her claim over Zanzibar and Witu (Sultan's mainland territories occupied by Britain), in exchange for Heligoland.  Britain declared Zanzibar a British protected state.

 

There was no special British flag associated with Zanzibar at this time, as Zanzibar was the responsibility of the Foreign Office.  It was transferred to the Colonial Office in 1914 and the Resident's flag introduced in 1918. ...more