Somak's Spice of Life - ZANZIBAR   by Louise Newton
 

Exotic, colourful and above all fragrant, Zanzibar is the Spice Island, a place that thrives on its centuries old association with aromatic cinnamon, cloves and cardamoms. Once a wealthy empire at the hub of the Monsoon trading routes and the world's slave trading capital, Zanzibar still has a touch of mystery about it - which makes it perfect for a romantic interlude.

Although Zanzibar consists of an archipelago of islands and islets, the largest of these - Unguja - is confusingly known internationally as.... Zanzibar. A separate state within Tanzania, Zanzibar is best known as a place to flop on the beach after the exhilaration of an East African safari. Now a new night flight from Nairobi makes combining the two even easier - and a quicker hop to the beach.

And what beaches! The eastern coast has a long stretch of perfect white sand beaches - uncrowded, often remote - fronted by warm aqua-coloured waters and interspersed with simple fishing villages, where life goes on much as it did in times gone by. Under the water a coral reef provides the backdrop for great snorkelling and world-class scuba diving. Above it, windsurfing, kayaking and state-of-the-art big game fishing are favourite holiday pastimes.

Zanzibar also has a rich culture - best discovered on a trip to its capital, Stone Town, recently categorised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Reputedly the only ancient town in East Africa still flourishing, Stone Town has changed little since the 19th century. Winding streets and alleyways, leading past more than 500 ornately-carved doors, take you back in time and yet the city is very much a place where people live and work. In this colourful, highly scented labyrinth, veiled women bargain noisily in crowded craft and food shops.

Away from the melée, the island interior is home to fragrant spice plantations - a real assault on the senses. Exotic forests are scented with the delicate fragrance of ylang-ylang, hibiscus and jasmine and the heady aroma of cloves and cardamoms, which provide the ingredients on which Zanzibar's spicy cuisine is based.

About the author:

Marketing Manager at Somak Holidays