Zanzibar Impressions

11:01 AM

People who have been following me on Instagram already know that I went to Zanzibar for my summer vacation which was already quite a while ago. Since I haven't been posting a lot of pictures of there and instead more of myself, I wanted to share a few impressions as well as some facts about Zanzibar in this blogpost.

Zanzibar is an Island which is part of the country Tanzania in East Africa.

Languages: Kiswahili & English

Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)

Time Zone: EAT (UTC+3)

Calling code: +225

Religion: Islam & Christianity

The capital is Zanzibar city and the historic centre of Zanzibar is Stone Town, a World Heritage Site. Although People have been living on the Island for over 20 000 years it hasn't always been occupied by Africans. The Portugese Empire were the first to gain control over the island. Later in 1698 the Sultanate of Oman gained control over Zanzibar and developed an economy of trade and cash crops. Also the Island was an important place for Arab slave trade. In 1890 Zanzibar became a British protectorate after they had started the movement abolition of slave trade. Just three years later the Island gained independence from Britain as a constitutional monarchy. A short time after the Zanzibar Revolution occurred where several thousands Arabs and Indians were killed. This led to the Republic to Zanzibar and Pemba which became part of the mainland Tanzania.

Kiswahili basics:

Hello - Jambo

What's your name ? - Jina lake ni nani?

My name is.. -Jina langu ni

Good morning - Habari ya asubuhi

Good afternoon - Habari ya mchana

Good evening - Havarie ya jioni

Thank you - Asante

Slowly slowly - Pole pole