Top Zanzibar travel attractions by Warere Beach? Comprising part of a Unesco World Heritage site, the House of Wonders, aka Beit-al-Ajaib, is fragile in places to the point of collapse (and indeed, a partial collapse happened in December 2020, prompting the Omani government to pledge millions of dollars towards repairs). The largest house in East Africa upon completion in 1883, it was the first to have a lift, hence the House of Wonders name. It was also the first on Zanzibar to have the luxury of electricity. It tops the list of must-see sights in Stone Town, despite the current crumbling plight; the intriguing exhibits include garments, fishing implements and a traditional Swahili dhow vessel. See extra info at Warere Beach.
Recommended Tanzania travel tours with Warere Beach: Shopping in Stone Town is great, like a tiny version of Marrakech. I love all those little curio shops selling trinkets and Stone Town has plenty. You can buy paintings, jewellery, material, wooden carvings, Maasai bracelets, Zanzibar chests, and tasty spices. A lot of these shops sell the same mass-produced stuff you find all over Africa, but you’ll find the odd unique item and it’s cool to say ‘I bought this in Zanzibar’. MY TIP: Don’t forget to barter. Start low and then meet in the middle – it’s pretty fun when you get the hang of it! But just know that you can only barter in the markets and smaller shops, don’t try it in the bigger, fancier shops.
Premium Zanzibar travel tours from Warere Beach: The Rock restaurant is pretty synonymous with Zanzibar and is usually mentioned in every best Zanzibar restaurants guide. The restaurant is located in Pongwe (the southeast part of the island) and is accessible by motorbike or taxi cab from Paje. We made the memorable trip out to The Rock to get some lovely photos of the iconic spot. If you visit during high tide, a free boat taxi will deliver you to the rock (unless you feel like swimming). We wanted to get food and drinks, but be warned that the prices are sky-high for Zanzibar. I suppose it’s the price you pay to have dinner on the Indian Ocean. We didn’t have reservations and weren’t given excellent service because of this, so I would highly suggest calling ahead if you plan to go. Even if you don’t have a meal here, just coming to see the unique building is one of the best things to do in Zanzibar.
Top rated Zanzibar travel attractions with Warere Beach: These monkeys are black and white with red backs and you’ll be sure to see a few if you visit the forest. You’ll also see lots of birds and unique butterflies, too! The park is open every day from 7:30am to 5:00pm. There is an entrance fee of $8 USD that includes a brief tour. Then you can wander around the mangrove boardwalk on your own. You can tip your guide if you like, but it’s not mandatory. When I visited Zanzibar, we had just came back from an amazing safari, so we opted out of visiting Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park only because we didn’t think there was any chance it could compare to our epic safari adventure! It’s best to hit the forest if you’re heading from Stone Town to Paje Beach (or the other way around). That way you can stop along the way and not make a detour for a quick visit.
Premium Zanzibar travel tours by Warere Beach: The Zanzibar Butterfly Center is near Jozani Forest, so is a really great experience if you are already in the area. It offers an interactive environment that both children and adults will love. Butterfly farming is done here with the help of 40 local farmers from a nearby village. Farming provides a stable income for the farmers while giving back to the environment. At the butterfly center you can let the butterflies flutter all around you while having an educational visit and learn about conservation. You can enjoy a 30 minute guided tour around the property, and the admission fees directly support the training of the farmers.