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Old Fort, Stone Town

Old Fort, Stone Town: Our most recommended tours and activities

Zanzibar: Stone Town, Spice Tour and Prison Island Day Tour

1. Zanzibar: Stone Town, Spice Tour and Prison Island Day Tour

Take a walking tour of Stone Town, visit an organic spice farm, and explore the historic Prison Island all in one day on a full-day, guided tour of Zanzibar. Meander through a labyrinth of chaotic alleyways between towering limestone houses, and interact with Aldabra tortoises. Start your day with a walking tour of Stone Town, the oldest part of Zanzibar City. Relive the grander age of this port city as you stroll through the twisting streets and look at former palaces, Sultan’s Palace, and Arab mansions. Get an insight into the tragic history of slave trading. After your walking tour, drive to the plantation and learn why Zanzibar is known as “Spice Island”. Smell, touch, and even taste some of the crops grown on this Island and find out what the spices were originally used for. Finally, take a boat ride offshore to Prison Island, home to large land tortoises that were imported from Seychelles. Get to touch and feed these creatures living in a sanctuary. Also, learn about the island’s historic use as a prison for rebellious slaves in the 1860s.

Zanzibar: Stone Town & Spice Farm Tour with Lunch

2. Zanzibar: Stone Town & Spice Farm Tour with Lunch

Begin your private tour in Stone Town, a city of prominent historical and artistic importance in East Africa. Its architecture, mostly dating back to the 19th century, reflects the diverse influences underlying Swahili culture, giving a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European elements. For this reason, the town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Start by exploring the Old Slave Market site and Anglican Church, before strolling through the narrow streets towards the City Market. Marvel at the fresh products and fruits and watch how locals buy and sell anything here. Observe the hustle and bustle of the fish auction. After this, take a sightseeing tour of the main buildings in Stone Town including the Palace Museum and the House of Wonder, which is the largest and tallest building in the town, also known as Bait-al-ajab. Continue on to see the Old Fort, Tippu Tip, and of course, the most famous, Freddie Mercury’s House. Also visit the Peace Memorial and Natural History Museum, amongst other attractions.  Next, learn about one of the main industries in the region: spices. Discover how the islands produce cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper. For this reason, the Zanzibar Archipelago, together with Tanzania's Mafia Island, is sometimes called the "Spice Islands". There are many spice farms in Zanzibar and for the next portion of the tour, you will visit a real organic spice farm. When you arrive, the spice farm guide will describe how the spices are grown and used as medication and flavor in dishes. See spices like vanilla, cardamom, nutmeg, and many more. It will be possible to touch, smell and taste the spices and herbs directly from plants. Later, take the opportunity to join a cassava leaf harvest, make coconut milk, and practice some cooking. Even more, a coconut tree climber will pick some fresh young coconut fruits for you to try. End the trip with lunch at the spice farm and the opportunity to purchase spices from the shop (cash only).

Zanzibar: Stone Town Guided Tour with Prison Island

3. Zanzibar: Stone Town Guided Tour with Prison Island

This is a half a day trip where you can visit a historical street constructed from coral stone during the 19th and 20th century. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. Stone Town is a very lively place where you’ll find a combination of Arabic, African, Indian and European cultures living happily together. As you walk through the labyrinth of streets too narrow for cars to pass, you can see mosques, churches and temples side to side. While you wonder around the city, your guide will take you on a historical and cultural journey through the old slave market, the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, Sultan’s Palace , Darajani market place and Forodhani Gardens . Afterwards we will take a boat from the shores of Stone Town, setting down anchor 5 km away, on the beautiful beach of Prison Island. The prison – which is now owned by a hotel – was built in 1893 and was originally intended to house violent prisoners from the mainland and sick people. You will get the opportunity to visit the tortoise sanctuary, which contains a large colony of giant tortoise imported from the Seychelles in the late 19th century. The average weight of these creatures is 200 kg, and many of them are said to be over 150 years old. There will be a chance to touch the tortoise and take photos. The island is also a home to a colony of beautiful peacocks. For the rest of the trip, you can either enjoy the marine life as you snorkel around the coral that fringes Prison Island or just relax under the warm glow of the sun, until you head back to Stone Town.

Zanzibar City: Guided Tour of the Stone Town District

4. Zanzibar City: Guided Tour of the Stone Town District

Transportation if a booking of 1, 2, 3 ,4 pax Transport not including you will have to pay additional taxi fee but if a booking of 5... pax transport is including and l will follow you at hotel no need to come to the meeting point Discover Stone Town, the old part of Zanzibar City, through the eyes of a local guide. Learn about the spice island's history and see Freddie Mercury's childhood home, the Old Dispensary, Old Fort, and more. During the walking tour, meet locals and discover the best places to visit. After hotel pickup, follow your guide through the alleyways of Stone Town. Take in different historical landmarks and discover how the town has changed over time. See the Anglican Cathedral Church, House of Wonders, and Freddie Mercury's home. Learn about slavery at the Slave Chambers. Take in the majestic Sultan's Palace, now the People's Palace Museum. Meet locals in Darajani or Stella Market. See the landmark big tree near the Old Dispensary. Marvel at the Old Fort and learn about its Portuguese and Omani history. Take your time exploring the maze of alleyways with your guide.

Stonetown Historical Walking Tour & Traditional Lunch

5. Stonetown Historical Walking Tour & Traditional Lunch

The tour will start in one of the most important parts of the old slave market site, the Anglican Church, then continue through the narrow streets. The next stop will be at city market. Here you can see the biggest market of all the islands. Locals buy and sell all sorts of products here, including the freshest fruits and fish auctions where locals bid on sea food. Afterward the tour will cover the main sights of Stown Town, such as the Palace Museum, House of Wonder, which is the largest and tallest building in Stown Town and also known as the Bait-al-ajab. Visit an old fort, the Tippu Tip and of course the most famous spot, Freddie’s Mercury’s house. Visit the Peace Memorial, Natural History Museum and many more. Your tour will end with local lunch in a cozy restaurant.

Zanzibar Stonetown Highlight walking tour

6. Zanzibar Stonetown Highlight walking tour

Stonetown is a unique and historically rich city located on the island of Zanzibar. When visitors come to Stonetown, they can expect to experience a vibrant mix of cultures and traditions that have been shaped by centuries of trade and migration. One of the highlights of the tour is exploring the winding streets of Stonetown's historic centre, which is a unesco World Heritage Site. Visitors can expect to see beautifully preserved buildings that showcase a blend of African, Arab, Indian, and European architectural styles. Another must-see attraction is the iconic Zanzibar doors, which are intricately carved wooden doors found throughout the city. These doors are a testament to Stonetown's rich cultural heritage and serve as a reminder of its past as a major trading hub. Visitors can also look forward to visiting The Freddie Mercury Museum in Zanzibar Visitors to the museum will have the opportunity to see a collection of personal items, photographs, and memorabilia belonging to Freddie Mercury, including his stage costumes, instruments, and personal letters. The museum also features a replica of Mercury's famous "Magic Tour" stage set-up, as well as an interactive experience where visitors can sing along to Queen's classic songs. Additionally, the museum provides insight into Zanzibar's history and culture, offering visitors a glimpse into the island's rich heritage and the influence it had on Mercury's music. Overall, the Freddie Mercury Museum is a must-visit for fans of the musician and anyone interested in learning more about his life and impact on the world of music. Overall, visitors to Stonetown can expect to experience a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Zanzibar City: Prison Island and Stone Town Walking Tour

7. Zanzibar City: Prison Island and Stone Town Walking Tour

Ride by boat to Prison Island, famous for its population of Aldabra giant tortoises. Experience the turtles up close and spot the local peacocks. Move along to a walking tour of Stone Town and learn the Swahili culture and its important historical role in the slave trade. Begin with a beautiful boat ride to Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island. View the local wildlife and learn of the slave rebellion that occurred in the 1860s. Start the walking tour of Stone Town at Forodhani Park. Explore the area and visit important sites such as the House of Wonder, Old Fort, the house of Freddy Mercury, and end at the Darajani market before returning to the city.

Stone Town Tour

8. Stone Town Tour

Through a local guide, discover the beauty of Stone Town, the oldest city in Zanzibar. Take in the different historical landmarks and discover how the town has changed over time. This tour is mainly done as a walking tour and with this, you will meet the locals and find the best places to visit. From the ancient buildings to the busy markets and even learn a little about the slavery which went on back in the day.

Zanzibar: Walking Stone-Town Tour with Guide

9. Zanzibar: Walking Stone-Town Tour with Guide

This atmospheric and mystical town is the cultural and historical heart of Zanzibar. This is a half a day trip where you can visit a historical street constructed from coral stone during the 19th and 20th century. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. Stone Town is a very lively place where you’ll find a combination of Arabic, African, Indian and European cultures living happily together. As you walk through the labyrinth of streets too narrow for cars to pass, you can see mosques, churches and temples side to side. While you wonder around the city, your guide will take you on a historical and cultural journey through the old slave market, the House of Wonders, the Old Fort, Sultan’s Palace and the Darajani market place. Also, it will include a lunch in a restaurant or in a local house, as agreed before. Forodhani Gardens is also recommended to visit, especially at night when it comes alive as one of the best street food markets in East Africa.

Zanzibar: Stone Town and Jozani Forest Tour

10. Zanzibar: Stone Town and Jozani Forest Tour

This combined Stone Town and Jozani Forest tour is an excursion package that visits two of the most popular tourist attractions Zanzibar has to offer; historic buildings and beautiful nature. Culture and history in the heart of old Stone Town and the protected, ancient hardwood forest and mangroves with the Red Colobus monkeys in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park.

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What people are saying about Old Fort, Stone Town

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 25 reviews

The Spice Farm was by far the best part of this tour. The guides were very knowledgeable and funny. They have dozens of different spices and fruits to see and try. The meal cooked for us was amazing too. Really special. The Stone Town was okay but the guide spoke little English (which is fine as it wasn’t his natural language) so it made asking questions difficult. Our transfer was straightforward from our hotel too.

Thank you for this great tour. Our guide Haji was great. Unbelievable what he knew and made the tour very interesting. We could always bring ourselves into the tour if we wanted to see something. Haji always responded to everything. That was really great Haji We can only recommend this tour with Haji. We are definitely planning our next tour with Haji right away

Very well structured tour from start to finish. The tour of the spice farm was very extensive, you could smell and touch everything. There was also a home-cooked lunch with spices and fruit from the farm. The tour of Stone Town was very flexible and our wishes were always taken care of. Therefore, it is best to think beforehand what you would like to see/know.

Very detailed and interesting tours both on the spice farm and in Stonetown. For the spice farm, it is advisable to take mosquito repellent with you.

The spice farm part was amazing! So interesting and authentic. The stone town part more or less. I would recommend to go to Stown Town by yourselve.