Stone Town, Urban heritage site in Zanzibar City, Tanzania
The main streets of Stone Town contain buildings constructed from coral stone, featuring ornate wooden doors with brass decorations and traditional terracotta roofs.
During the 19th century, Stone Town operated as a major center for spice distribution and slave trading under the Zanzibar Sultanate's administration.
The architecture of Stone Town displays influences from African, Arab, Persian, Indian, and European styles, visible in the mosques, churches, and merchant houses.
The narrow streets of Stone Town accommodate pedestrians and bicycles, with many small shops selling spices, textiles, and local handicrafts throughout the district.
The Forodhani Gardens night market presents local seafood dishes, including grilled fish, octopus, and shellfish prepared according to traditional Zanzibari methods.
Location: Mjini Magharibi Region
Location: Mjini District
Architectural style: Swahili culture, architecture of Iran, Islamic architecture
Part of: Zanzibar City
GPS coordinates: -6.16494,39.19879
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:08
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.
Old Slave Mart
13103.7 km
House of Wonders
1.1 km
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
23.9 km
Saadani National Park
53 km
Old Fort of Zanzibar
554 m
Palace Museum
1.1 km
National Museum of Tanzania
72.9 km
Christ Church, Zanzibar
729 m
Forodhani Gardens
1.2 km
Amaan Stadium
2.8 km
Darajani Market
627 m
Kizimkazi Mosque
42.1 km
Menai Bay Conservation Area
30.6 km
Old Dispensary
999 m
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Zanzibar
1.1 km
Tongoni Ruins
45.8 km
Malindi Mosque
979 m
Kuumbi Cave, Zanzibar
43.9 km
Tippu Tip's House
1.3 km
Royal Zanzibar
48.8 km
Benjamin William Mkapa Pension Tower
73.1 km
Ijumaa Mosque
962 m
Makatumbe Range Rear Lighthouse
71.3 km
Ras Nungwi Lighthouse
50.6 km
Chumbe Lighthouse
13.1 km
Tortoise Sanctuary
6 km
Zanzibar Butterfly Centre
27.5 km
Jozani Meeres- und Landschildkröten Reservat
28 kmReviews
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