Zanzibar Island

Stone Town, a city of major historical and cultural importance, was the main exporting hub in the 19th century for slaves and spices headed to the Middle East and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.   Stone Town is predominantly Muslim, with over 50 mosques, but there are also two cathedrals and a couple of Hindu temples.  There are over 1,000 coral 'stone' buildings and more than 200 carved doors.  The streets are narrow, linking homes, shops, workshops and schools.  Most people sit outside in the hot afternoons playing board games and drinking coffee.  There is a wide variety of food at every imaginable type of restaurant, but the night market at Forodhani Gardens offers an opportunity to sample simple, affordable food that's prepared as you wait.

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The alleyways of Stone Town, Zanzibar