House of Wonders, Architectural landmark in Stone Town, Tanzania
The House of Wonders stands prominently along Mizingani Road with its white facade, cast-iron columns, and multiple levels of wraparound verandas facing Forodhani Gardens.
Sultan Barghash bin Said commissioned this palace in 1883, making it the first building in Zanzibar to have electric lights and an elevator system.
The palace interior displays exhibits about Swahili heritage through traditional fishing implements, maritime vessels, and portraits of significant Zanzibari personalities.
The museum entrance features two bronze Portuguese cannons from the 16th century, while residents of Zanzibar receive free admission to explore the exhibitions.
The structure incorporates covered passages called wikios above street level, which allowed royal women to move between palaces without being observed.
Location: Stone Town
Location: Mjini District
Founders: Barghash bin Said Al Busaidi
Official opening: 1883
Part of: Stone Town
GPS coordinates: -6.16090,39.18960
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:11
Tanzania provides photographers with an extraordinary range of subjects, from the Serengeti plains to Zanzibar's coastline and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). The country contains major wildlife reserves including Tarangire, where elephant herds move between baobab trees, and the Ngorongoro Crater, which holds a dense concentration of large mammals within its 100-square-mile (260-square-kilometer) caldera. Coastal regions and offshore islands like Mafia and Pemba offer opportunities to photograph coral reefs, sea turtles, and traditional dhow boats. The Mahale Mountains support habituated chimpanzee groups, while Selous Game Reserve presents riverine landscapes and diverse animal populations. Stone Town's historic quarter features Arab, Persian, and Indian architecture spanning several centuries, including the House of Wonders and the narrow alleys of the former trading port. The less visited Katavi National Park delivers scenes of hundreds of hippos crowding shrinking pools during the dry season. Kondoa rock art sites preserve prehistoric paintings dating back as far as 30,000 years. The active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai and alkaline Lake Natron with its flamingo flocks add geological interest. From the terraced hillsides of the Usambara Mountains to the wildflower meadows of Kitulo National Park, Tanzania covers nearly every photographic interest.
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