30 Minutes: Transfer to Spice Plantations
After pickup from your hotel in the morning, the Spice Tour starts with a visit to the Livingstone House which was the former residence of the famous explorer: Dr. David Livingstone. Thereafter, we proceed to the Maruhubi Palace (3km north of Stone Town) which is nestled in a groove of mango trees and coconut palms and was built by Sultan Bargash in 1882.
4-5 Hours: Stone Town Tour
There after you're driven to a local spice farm for a detailed introduction to the culinary history of Zanzibar, aka Spice Island. Travel into the countryside for about 30 minutes from historical Stone Town, and observe rural village life in Zanzibar. On arrival, walk in a spice farm (shamba) and learn about the life cycle and uses of various types of spices, tropical fruits, and root crops while your guide comments on each discovery. You will have the opportunity to touch, smell, and taste several spices and fruits during a walking tour of the farm. The Sultan of Oman first introduced these kinds of plantations on the island in 1873. You will be overwhelmed by the abundance of botanical species growing in these gardens-exotic spices, fruits and vegetables. Spices and herbs were originally introduced to Zanzibar by Portuguese traders in the 16th century, brought from their colonies in South America and India.
In days past, Zanzibar was known as a spice island, exporting cloves, vanilla, nutmeg and cardamom across the world. The spices were brought from Asia and South America and flourished in the tropical climate. Nowadays the plantations are a tribute to the islands past, swapping spices for tourism, combining both in a spice tour, one of the most popular excursions in the island. Walk through the spice farm with your guide – touch, smell and taste different spices and tropical fruits. Depending on the season you are visiting, you can find anything from vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, lemon grass, cloves, ylang-ylang, cumin, garlic, ginger, coriander, pepper, allspice, tamarind, chilli, oregano and more!Fruits can include banana, pineapple, jackfruit, custard fruit, oranges, star fruit, tangerine, passion fruit, mango, avocado, pear, papaya, grapefruit and many others. Try to guess which is which, from the crushed leaves, the fruit, shoots and vines and creepers crawling up the Zanzibar Spice Tour trees. Learn about their properties, their origins and their use as medicines and in food and drink.
30 Minutes: Transfer back to Stone Town
Thereafter, you will be transferred to your Stone Town Hotel.