Aside from the white powder beaches and crystal Blue Ocean for which Zanzibar is famous, there is a wealth of other fascinating features to discover. For animal lovers, a number of very rare animals live on the Island: The Jozani Forest is home to the endangered Red Colobus monkey, a species unique to Zanzibar, they are very social creatures and will emerge from the trees to greet you; Kizimkazi is at the southern tip of Zanzibar where you can swim with some very friendly dolphins. Or for the more reptilian inclined, Prison Island, just off the coast of Stone Town, is famous for its giant tortoises. Imported from Aldabra in the Seychelles in the late 19th century, they grow up to one metre tall and are thought to be hundreds of years old. The Mnarani Turtle Sanctuary, a few hundred metres along the beach from the Z hotel, is a pretty, natural rock pool formed in a coral inlet and has been expanded into a protected aquarium. The sanctuary is home for the shiny shelled Green and Hawksbill Turtles.

There are numerous tours, which explore Zanzibar’s wealth of history. In Stone Town you can find a rich culture inherited from the Sultans and Empires, which ruled over Zanzibar for over 5 centuries. You may also uncover the Island’s past as a hub for the international slave trade. For those of a more culinary bent, a tour of the Island’s spice plantations will leave your senses dazzled by more than 40 fresh spices grown on Zanzibar.