May 19, 2026
Serving tea for 33 years
A fixture at the Forodhani night market for more than three decades, Babu Chai never runs out of tea and coffee. The menu, printed out and laminated, contains only three items: spice tea, ginger tea, and coffee. They do come in two different sizes though – in large mugs or in small paper cups. Babu
May 19, 2026
Lighten up your Life!
Candles & new Utulivu Spa The iced matcha got us – a candle with the scent of the trend tea of the season. We had to find out who is behind such wonderful creations. Quality scented candles are now available in Zanzibar. Mercy Odhiambo, a talented Kenyan who moved here three years ago, is producing
May 11, 2026
The A to Z of Shopping
S Shoes Unless you fancy high heels made of plastic, trustfully turn to Zanzibar’s last remaining shoemakers Sirtu $ Sons. You’ll find pure leather creations, from standard brown men and women sandals to new golden glitter designs in Hermes shape at their work- and retailshop on Gizenga Street Souvenirs Let’s rename it “meaningful souvenirs”, if
May 11, 2026
Sunset, Sand, Click!
Good to know THE PERFECT ZANZIBAR SHOT Best Instagram beach: Mtende beach Overcast days perfect for portraits Black-and-white photography does not mean just removing colour Ask for permission to photograph people Favourite motifs: architecture, people, culture Island storyteller and artist shares his best tricks for anyone who can’t resist a sunset – including a
May 11, 2026
100% MODERN Swahili Style
“We wanted an African-style house in Africa”, says a Swiss couple living in Fumba. So they furnished a simple, off-plan modern townhouse entirely with historic Swahili furniture. The authentic interior turned the unassuming bungalow into an oasis of calm and style. What does Swahili culture mean, is a question often asked by tourists and first-time
May 4, 2026
Crafting the future together
Neema: built on empathy and good taste Looking for cosy cushions, stylish lamp shades or casual furniture for your home? Once you spot the label “Neema”, don’t go any further. In Iringa’s ochre-light afternoons, a low hum of looms, lathes and laughter spills from Neema Crafts – a workshop where modern Tanzanian design is crafted
May 4, 2026
Long Live Busara!
New look, new feel, more to come: Zanzibar’s biggest music festival, Sauti za Busara 2026, proved a full success at a new venue. After the festival is before the festival. Just when Sauti za Busara (Swahili for “Voices of Wisdom”) ended in February, the date for next year’s festival was announced for 11-14 March 2027.
April 10, 2026
A day at The Wonder Campus
India’s best university IITM, opened its first African branch in Zanzibar Like a UFO from another planet, a branch of one of the best universities in the world landed in rural Zanzibar on the Fumba peninsula – and started teaching straight away. How is it possible? To find out, we spent a day at the
April 10, 2026
Totally Spaced Out
Discovering Zanzibar’s intergalactic connection A space tracking station in the midst of Zanzibar helped America to land on the moon. The remains are still there – and one woman keeps star-gazing alive on the isle. You may know a few things about Zanzibar but one story is almost too spaced out to be true: Zanzibar’s
April 8, 2026
The A to Z of Shopping
Insider tips from Zanzibar’s notorious shopping queens: What to buy where – and what to avoid Where can I buy a nice pair of shoes? Reasonable antiques? Fluffy towels? Even just a decent bread knife? Shopping in Zanzibar – for essentials or that extra-bit of shopping bliss – comes with its challenges. Whether you are
March 25, 2026
Vintage car revival
Dedicated enthusiasts in Zanzibar keep classic cars on the road By Andrea Tapper To be honest, comfortable it is not. Instead of a glove compartment, a sharp-edged metal rack. A metal handle to open the heavy car door. And when Oliver Rashid in the driver’s seat pauses to show me a “most essential” little plastic
March 17, 2026
The Higher, THE BETTER!
New sky-high apartments in Fumba Town – Responsible holidays in green lofts By Andrea Tapper Where can you still build sea view houses in Zanzibar? On top of existing ones! Quenching the insatiable thirst for holiday homes, meeting higher-density building goals and yet maintaining a thoroughly green approach – that is the idea behind new
