Stone Town

The next morning, we travel on a commuter ferry across an inlet in Dar Es Salaam. At the other side, there's a long walk to the ferry port where we need to depart from to get to Zanzibar. The ferry ride to Zanzibar takes around two hours. I spend most of the journey outside. There's very few people here. I sit near the bowsprit and there's a strong breeze. Along the way, I see many flying fish. They're incredible and can stay out of the water for quite some time, as they skim along just above it. Dolphins pass the port side of the boat. As we get closer to Zanzibar's capital, Stone Town, tiny tropical islands emerge along the horizon. Turquoise seas and snow white sands greet us. We're here. Stone Town is also known as Mji Mkongwe (which is swahili for 'old town').

We wander down the ancient winding narrow streets, which are full of carved wooden doors and colourful walls. Zanzibar is a mixture of Middle Eastern and African culture and architecture. Later that evening, we watch the sunset at Mercury's along the sea front (a bar named in honour of Freddie Mercury, who was born in Stone Town). It's lit by candles and a warm breeze blows in from the sea. The night markets down town are alive and eclectic. I get to help making pizza and I taste freshly made sugar cane juice for the first time. It tastes like lime and ginger mixed together. I like it. Lanterns light the night market. Zanzibar does not have electricity right now, so the dark alleyways can be dangerous places. After another drink at Mercury's, a small group of us make our way back to the hotel along the winding narrow dark streets. The night is clear and the stars shine brightly. The hotel's generator is working so I catch up on news of the outside world through the television in my room. A landslide in Uganda has killed hundreds and an earthquake has happened in Chile. Tomorrow we have an early start as we head to to the north eastern shores.