Zanzibar: A Tapestry of Heritage, History and Spice
5 November 2025 | Seychelles & Tanzania
Zanzibar is renowned for its swaying palms and powdery white sand beaches, but visitors who step away from the water’s edge will be rewarded by its ancient culture and traditions, fascinating spice trade history, and sustainability and eco-tourism initiatives.
Located off mainland Tanzania, the vibrant East African archipelago of Zanzibar is comprised of several islands – the largest being Unguja Island (known as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island. Once the epicentre of a thriving spice trade, Zanzibar now claims a unique blend of African, Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences – each offering a rich culture and heritage to explore.
Spice Island Legacy
Zanzibar’s centuries-old spice trade has left a lasting imprint on the island's culture, economy, and identity. Strategically located in the Indian Ocean - a hub for spice trading between the east and west – Zanzibar’s rich, fertile soil and tropical climate proved ideal for growing sought after spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
With the establishment of large-scale clove plantations on the islands in the 19th century, Zanzibar became the world’s single largest producer of cloves – globally prized for their medicinal and culinary value. Dubbed “The Spice Island”, Zanzibar’s spice trade has dark underpinnings - built on the exploitation of African slave labour under Omani Arab rule. Visitors can explore the origins and influences of Zanzibar’s spice trade and uncover the complex history of colonialism, trade, and power by visiting the island’s heritage sites.
Ancient Ruins and Heritage Sites
Centuries of history unfold in the labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Zanzibar’s best-known historical area. Explore the magnificent Sultan’s Palace and Old Arab Fort and marvel at the meeting of African, Indian, Arabian and European architectural influences, seen in the intricately carved Zanzibar double doors, richly decorated interiors, and Indian style bazaars and shops.
While technically part of the Tanzanian mainland, the ancient ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara illuminate the trade period that shaped Zanzibar’s history. These former Swahili trading ports played a vital role in the thriving East African trade between the 13th and 16th centuries. Explore the ruins on foot and discover impressive coral and stone architecture, ancient building ingenuity, and quirky details about the daily lives of the Swahili people.
The Great Mosque features 16 domed and vaulted bays and is the oldest standing mosque on the East African coast, dating back to the 12th century. The immense Palace of Husuni Kubwa was built by the Sultans of Kilwa to display their wealth and power during their rule. This opulent 14th-century palace complex once welcomed sultans and traders from as far as China and Persia.
Pemba Island, meaning “Green Island” in Arabic, is the more fertile of the two main islands of Zanzibar, with lush, green landscapes, thick mangrove forests and unspoiled coral reefs. Pemba Island has remained the world’s leading producer of cloves and other spices, with remnants of its spice trade heritage seen in 15th-century ruins. It’s worth visiting the former military stronghold Chake’s Old Fort and Mkama Ndume ruins, which bring to light the island’s early Islamic history.
A spice farm tour is another way to glimpse the past – wander the lush plantations, meet a modern-day spice farmer, inhale the enticing aroma of vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, and discover how these spices continue to inform Swahili cuisine and healing traditions.
Culture, Language, and Music
The most widely spoken language on the islands is Kiswahili, known in English as Swahili. This lyrical Bantu language has Arabic influences, alongside words derived from Persian, Portuguese, and Indian languages, reflecting Zanzibar’s diverse trade history. Arabic, English, and some Indian languages are also widely used.
It's common to hear the soulful rhythms of Taarab drifting from homes, bars, and restaurants on the islands; an exotic blend of Arabic melodies, African drums, and Indian harmonies. The Dhow Countries Music Academy in Stone Town is an NGO whose mission is the preserve the musical heritage of the region and a good place to begin a music exploration.
Other cultural festivals include the Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), showcasing African cinema, and Mwaka Kogwa - traditional Shirazi or Persian New Year celebrations held annually in July. Although some would say the best way to soak up local culture is to visit lively local markets like Darajani Bazaar near Stone Town to feast on spicy, fragrant Swahili cuisine, learn local culinary techniques in a cooking class, or pick up fresh local produce.
Modern Zanzibar
Alongside it’s ancient past and cultural heart, Zanzibar is a modern nation with big ideas for preserving its natural environment. The archipelago has embraced sustainable tourism, investing in marine conservation projects, eco-lodges, and community-based tourism projects that seek to bolster the planet and its people.
Chumbe Island Coral Reef Sanctuary is Zanzibar's first marine protected zone; an eco-tourism and education initiative aimed at preserving its spectacular coral reefs and staggering marine diversity. Jozani Forest conservation programs safeguard endemic and endangered species, while also recognising its cultural importance to local people, who believe the forest is sacred.
Explore the history, culture, and communities of Zanzibar beyond its idyllic beaches on board the luxurious Aqua Lares, the region’s first superyacht to offer both charter and individual cabin bookings.
Aqua Expeditions' East African voyages set sail in 2026. We look forward to welcoming you on board. Learn More.
