Zanzibar has so much to offer. From magical forests to ancient historic ruins, whilst providing as much sun, sand and sea as anyone could want on our beautiful pure white sand beaches with emerald waters. All the while making sure that those who are bitten by the ''Zanzibar bug'' return again and again!

The best known of the islands, locally known as Unguja and internationally as Zanzibar, has been at the prow of Indian Ocean history for over a millennium. Explorers, sultans, slave traders and merchants all chose Zanzibar as their strategic base, spurred on by the monsoon winds along the trade routes, driven by imagined wealth and riches or led by starry maps and religious conquest towards escape and discovery.

The historic charms of Stone Town, the picture-book, palm-fringed beaches, colourful reefs and the cultural pride that exudes from every beach hut, every temple and every courtyard continues to lure visitors from around the world.

In true Swahili style, you can take life as slowly as you like, as we say ''Haraka haraka haina baraka'' (hurry-hurry brings no blessing) - or you can see and do it all!

Pemba is... paradise! Hidden away from the conventional tourist traffic, this is the ideal place to get away from it all.

With only two small hotels on the entire island and some four smaller establishments offering budget accommodation, the ambiance is breathtaking, the privacy is total and the calm milieu is unnerving. Water sports of all kinds are available, and day trips to explore the lush forests are a welcome alternative to spending the day on the beach. The island of Pemba also offers the best deep sea diving and game fishing opportunities on the eastern coast of Africa.

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Zanzibar International film festival (ZIFF) is probably east Africa’s largest cultural event. Each year in July Ziff presents an exciting and varied programmed of international films and videos, music, dance, drama, art exhibitions, children and youth panoramas, women events, village panoramas and workshops in various aspects of media production.

Ziff is a unique initiative for the integrated and sustained preservation and development of the region’s rich cultural heritage and the work of contemporary artists. It provides a platform for the empowerment and economic well being of the people of Zanzibar.

EID-EL-FITR
Eid-el-Fitr is the festival making the end of the holy month of ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting and praying to Allah. Eid-el-Fitr is the biggest most respected of all festival in Zanzibar, marked with praying, family feast and gift giving.

The Festival is observed with great enthusiasm in the island. The Islanders are in a merry - making mood and this is a time for visiting relatives and friends, wearing bright new dresses and preparing traditional Muslim food. Eid-el-Fitr celebration last for four days and visitors can attend Eid festivities at Mnazi mmoja grounds across from the National Museum or at the Kariakoo fair grounds, out by the main post office.

MWAKA KOGWA
Mwaka kogwa is a four-day celebration to mark the beginning of the Persian New Year, and is most actively celebrated at Makunduchi, in the south of Zanzibar. The day has a distinctive fair ground feel to it, with hundreds of people clothed in semblance of fancy dress, all out for a day’s fun and celebration. The holiday is held every year around the third week of July.