Stone Town is one of the oldest living Swahili towns in East Africa. It's unique winding narrow streets are adorned with (some crumbling) beautiful buildings. Established by Arab slave and spice traders in the early 19th century Stone Town is the cultural heart of Zanzibar. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site which has enabled some of the beautiful houses to get a much-needed renovation. It's right on the Indian Ocean and faces Tanzania's mainland and commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
Stone Town History
Stone Town gets its name from the ornate houses built with local stone by Arab traders and slavers during the 19th Century. It is estimated that around 600000 slaves were sold through Zanzibar between 1830-1863. In 1863 a treaty was signed to abolish the slave trade agreed to by the British and the Omani Sultans that ruled Zanzibar at this time. Stone Town was also an important base used by many European explorers including David Livingstone. The ornate trellises and balconies on some of the buildings reflect this later European influence.