Travelogue from Tanzania: Sunday in Stone Town

At the end of 2024, our travel specialist Ingun embarked on a tour to Tanzania with her entire family. Read her tale of a Sunday in Stone Town, Zanzibar’s ancient city, below. (Also, explore her encounter with the Big Five on the first day and the family’s experiences in Paje).

Together with Mohamed, we thread our way through the city, as without a guide, it’s easy to lose yourself in the narrow streets of Stone Town.

Having enjoyed some relaxing days in Paje, we arrive at Stone Town with a leisurely holiday pace. My first impression of the city is one of chaos and bustle, appearing somewhat greyer than the blues and turquoises we’ve come from. It takes me a few moments to acclimatise to the city’s lively rhythm. Mohamed tells us we’re fortunate to be visiting on a Sunday, as the streets are slightly quieter than on other days.

It’s around 30 degrees. Luckily, Mohamed strolls through the city at a relaxed pace. Along the way, he greets acquaintances and shares stories about the city’s famous doors and Zanzibar’s history. He speaks of the slave trade, spices, coffee, sultans, and the independence struggle. We also gain insights into daily life, politics, and Mohamed’s personal experiences.

Gradually, more details emerge from the grey. A delicately carved door on a house. A clothesline with colourful garments brightening a grey backstreet. The market with vibrant fruits arranged in meticulous stacks. A spice stall where the man behind the counter greets us in Norwegian! A café with yellow walls where Mohamed claims you can find the best coffee in Zanzibar. Naturally, we have to put this to the test.

Shopkeepers entice us with good prices and invite us in. From a mosque, the call to prayer echoes in Arabic while children play between the buildings. A narrow street becomes a football pitch, an elderly man on a bicycle navigates past us, and a young man hurries by, talking on his mobile phone. Stone Town’s narrow and charming streets are abuzz with activity.

In Stone Town, you get a glimpse of everyday life in Zanzibar, the hustle and bustle of city life, and, in our case, a bit of the Sunday atmosphere. Zanzibar is perhaps best known for its stunning beaches, and many only experience this side of the island. But I recommend you include a visit to Stone Town where you can have an engaging encounter with this fascinating city. And do it with a guide!

We bid farewell to Mohamed and sit on a rooftop terrace by the harbour to enjoy the sunset one last time before our departure. Thank you for this time, Zanzibar.

Ingun,

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller