Zanzibar – Stone Town Markets, Slave History & Tropical Beaches
Zanzibar, Tanzania is a place of strong contrasts – and that is what this project is about. Here you’ll find images from the narrow streets and busy markets of Stone Town, with reminders of the island’s dark history of slave trade, side by side with calm scenes from exotic beach resorts like Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort and LUX Marijani. I hope this collection gives you both reflection and inspiration to explore Zanzibar yourself – through the lens of Norwegian landscape and travel photographer Svein Magne Tunli.
Street scene in Stone Town, Zanzibar, with narrow alleyways where Arabic, African and European influences meet in the historic old centre.
Historic street in Stone Town, Zanzibar – traditional Swahili townhouses with carved wooden doors and gently faded façades in warm tropical light.
Backstreet in Stone Town, Zanzibar.
Rooftop terrace at Upendo House in Stone Town, Zanzibar – cosy seating, lanterns and rooftop views across the old town towards the tropical Indian Ocean.
Main meat market in Stone Town, Zanzibar, offering an authentic glimpse of noisy, everyday island life far from the calm resort beaches.
Slave trade memorial beside the Anglican Cathedral in Stone Town – life-size stone figures in a sunken pit, a powerful reminder of Zanzibar’s dark past.
Former slave holding cell beneath the Anglican Cathedral in Stone Town, a cramped stone chamber with low ceiling and dim light evoking the island’s slave history.
Main fish market in Stone Town, Zanzibar, where fresh catch, busy stalls and crowds of locals create a lively East African harbour atmosphere.
Indoor market in Stone Town with narrow aisles stacked with spices, vegetables and everyday goods in a dim yet vibrant trading hall.
Seaweed farms on the Zanzibar shoreline – rows of stakes and ropes exposed at low tide in the shallow turquoise lagoon, part of the island’s traditional coastal livelihood.
Harbour in Stone Town, Zanzibar, with traditional wooden dhows and ferries resting in turquoise Indian Ocean water in front of the city waterfront.
Traditional wooden dhow sailing off the coast of Zanzibar – triangular lateen sail catching the Indian Ocean breeze against a deep blue horizon.
LUX Marijani Beach Resort, Zanzibar – boutique Indian Ocean hideaway with white-sand beach, palm trees and a calm, reef-protected lagoon on the east coast of Tanzania.
Sunlit beachfront at LUX Marijani, Zanzibar – sun loungers and palm shade along a quiet stretch of white-sand shore.
Swimming pool at LUX Marijani, Zanzibar – clear blue water, palm trees and sunbeds creating a relaxed tropical resort atmosphere beside the beach
Palm-fringed white-sand beach at LUX Marijani, Zanzibar, gently slipping into a shallow turquoise lagoon protected by the offshore reef.
Pathway through palm trees at LUX Marijani, with manicured lawns and tropical planting leading towards villas and the beach.
Our room at LUX Marijani, Zanzibar – airy beachfront bedroom with contemporary Swahili-inspired décor, opening towards palm trees and the sea.
Outdoor restaurant at LUX Marijani, Zanzibar, open-air dining beneath wooden beams and palm fronds with views over the pool and Indian Ocean.
Woman relaxing on a Zanzibar beach, looking along an endless white-sand shore towards the turquoise ocean, framed by leaning palm trees and bright tropical sky.
Tropical gardens at LUX Marijani, Zanzibar – winding paths, palm trees and thatched roofs leading gently down towards the beach.
Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort on Chwaka Bay – palm-shaded gardens and a woman walking along the pool on her way to the beach, with a quiet curve of sugar-white sand by the turquoise lagoon.
Beachfront at Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort – curved shoreline, reef-protected lagoon and palm trees reaching towards the Indian Ocean.
Tropical lagoon at Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort – reef-protected shallows, swaying palms and colourful loungers set for a laid-back beach day.
Hammock at Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort – gently swinging between palm trees above powder-soft sand on the edge of Chwaka Bay.
Evening at Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort – warm lights, palm silhouettes and gentle waves creating a calm Indian Ocean sunset mood.
Gardens and beachfront at Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort – lush greenery, winding paths and glimpses of the bright Indian Ocean beyond.
Chwaka Bay, Zanzibar – wide turquoise lagoon at low tide, sandbanks and a distant palm-lined shore under a big tropical sky.
Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort on Chwaka Bay, an intimate luxury hideaway with tropical gardens, hammocks and a quiet stretch of powder-soft white sand
Our bungalow at Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort – private villa with thatched roof, shaded terrace and tropical garden just steps from the beach. Click the image for a short room tour.
All photographs on this page were taken by Norwegian landscape and travel photographer Svein Magne Tunli.
From the Journal
A personal reflection on Zanzibar’s striking contrasts, from Stone Town’s history and street life to the calm Indian Ocean coast.
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