Spice & City Tour Excursion

After being picked up from your hotel, you will be taken to the heart of Stone Town to visit landmarks like the House of Wonders (Beit-al-Ajaib), Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), and the Sultan’s Palace. These buildings each hold stories of Zanzibar’s past, showcasing the island’s cultural diversity. A visit to the former slave market and the Anglican Cathedral provides insight into Zanzibar’s dark history of slavery. The underground chambers, once used to hold enslaved people, are a poignant reminder of this past.

Afterward, you will take a walk through the narrow streets of Stone Town, where you can admire the famous carved wooden doors and explore the local craft shops. The bustling Darajani Market will offer a sensory overload, with fresh seafood, produce, and local goods on display. This vibrant market is the perfect place to see everyday life unfold in Stone Town. As the morning comes to an end, you’ll enjoy a traditional Swahili lunch at a local restaurant, savoring dishes flavored with the island’s famous spices.

The afternoon is dedicated to the spice tour, which will take you away from the city to a spice farm (locally known as a “shamba”) in the rural parts of Zanzibar. Here, you will discover the island’s most significant economic backbone—spices like cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, vanilla, and more. A guide will lead you through the plantation, explaining how each spice is grown, harvested, and used in local cuisine, medicine, and beauty products. You will have a chance to see, smell, and taste these spices fresh from the source, which is an unforgettable experience for the senses. You might even get to peel and taste a fresh coconut or see the preparation of other tropical fruits.

The spice tour also provides an opportunity to meet local farmers and learn about their livelihoods, adding a personal connection to the experience. Towards the end of the tour, there will be time to purchase fresh spices, essential oils, and other natural products, making for wonderful souvenirs to take home. The tour concludes with a relaxing drive back to your hotel in the late afternoon, leaving you with a deeper appreciation of Zanzibar’s history, culture, and its contribution to the global spice trade. This combined tour is an excellent way to explore the historical and agricultural sides of Zanzibar, providing a full day of cultural immersion and sensory delight.