A Zanzibar Sojourn

[DrWilly]

Prison island is about 5km off the main island of Zanzibar was uninhabited in the 1860s when Sultan Majid bin Said gave it to two Arab Salve owners who used it for imprisoning their slaves, as most who came from the interior of Africa could not swim. Apparently Zanzibar had the largest slave market in East Africa. Troublesome slaves from the market were moved to the island instead.

Slavery was outlawed in 1890, and then when the British took over in 1891 they repurposed the island into a health facility for quarantining visitors who may have cholera and yellow fever patients. Afterwards a small resort was built on the island which is currently being renovated…

but it’s good for a day trip, there’s a small museum, pizza restaurant, turtle sanctuary and excellent swimming.







The original entrance onto the island, including a small concrete shower base for washing quarantine patients.

The museum was well set up with clear explanations for each picture.

[DrWilly]

It was a short ride over on a boat.





looking back at the Hyatt which used to be the Sultan’s Palace.


here’s a picture of him








arriving at the island, the sandbar made a good spot to disembark.

[DrWilly]

Lunch area under a massive tamarind tree.



proper pizza oven was a nice option.



and a few frosty pops.

[aging one]

Looks good but if there was ever a time to shell a prawn it would be on a pizza.

[DrWilly]

Seychelles donated 4 tortises to the Sultan in the 18C… they’ve now multiplied to a couple of hundred and this video shows why…

https://youtube.com/shorts/Y0cIvxUmF...iTExc4hUS7uqpX

[DrWilly]

Looks good but if there was ever a time to shell a prawn it would be on a pizza.

That was my first reaction, but because it was small it just added some nice salty crunch.

[Stumpy]

Great pics DW.. Thanks for sharing a slice of your holiday.

[DrWilly]

Aldabra Giant Tortoises are endangered, but they seemed happy enough here posing for photos, being petted and fed.

[DrWilly]

That big fellow with the damaged shell is one of the original 4. Making him almost 200 years old.

[katie23]

^wow, he's a grand old man then. Thanks for the pics & commentary. I liked the historical bits. Saves me from looking it up on Wikipedia. Cheers!

[DrWilly]

Tortoise breeding programme.

[Edmond]

How lovely.


Fancy we go tag-team Ol' Zanzi in June, Syb? I'll save me best quips and one liners for the flight.






Either me first Riceberry beer in 8 months is playing tricks on me, or this photo really, really looks AI created.

[Looper]

You are living it large Willy and I am drooling at these seafood pics...

[Joe 90]

That big fellow with the damaged shell is one of the original 4. Making him almost 200 years old.

Fantastic!

[DrWilly]

After a busy day we took a couple of tuk tuks home and enjoyed the sunset and water views as we did.





https://youtube.com/shorts/dQwHGStrF...PDzVKhFM3qNZW8

And then dinner in a small nondescript seaside restaurant as we listened to the waves lapping the beach shore.



BBQd prawns

Grilled octopus

Seared tuna.



Fried calamari

No beer or cocktails in this bar. They didn’t serve anyway. To the kids disgust they didn’t even have mocktails. So iced lemon teas all round!

[bsnub]

Looks fantastic! It is a real banger of a thread.

[Joe 90]

Ruddy hell!

I'm getting seriously hungry viewing those food pics!!

[DrWilly]

Forgot to mention, didn’t need to haggle with the tuk tuks. 5 shillings, job done! Unlike most south East Asian countries.

[DrWilly]

Stone town held one of the largest slave markets in East Africa. So a walking tour to the slave market was in order. A church had been built over the sight, but a small informative museum, memorial and a couple of the underground holding pens remain. Pretty grim stuff, but an important history.

The strong slaver were sold at auction for the Americas or Middle East. The weaker ones stayed locally. The ivory trade and clover production were both labour intensive and therefore propped up the slave trade until British pressure forced them to abolish slavery.







Original chain used in this sculpture.

Up to 50 men or 75 women and child were allegedly crammed into these rooms. The central area flooded (and still does) during high tide and could function to flush away any waste.

[DrWilly]

The church alter was built on the site of the whipping tree.

[david44]

Stone town held one of the largest slave markets in East Africa. So a walking tour to the slave market was in order. A church had been built over the sight, but a small informative museum, memorial and a couple of the underground holding pens remain. Pretty grim stuff, but an important history.

The strong slaver were sold at auction for the Americas or Middle East. The weaker ones stayed locally. The ivory trade and clover production were both labour intensive and therefore propped up the slave trade until British pressure forced them to abolish slavery.







Original chain used in this sculpture.

Up to 50 men or 75 women and child were allegedly crammed into these rooms. The central area flooded (and still does) during high tide and could function to flush away any waste.

Fantastic thread and history with quality pix, thanks that first tree looks like a spectre apppearing or is it jet lag 3 flights last 33 hrs, makes Zanzibar attractive

[david44]

Please don't get too excited chums but I think we are approacing peak Willy, Africa has never looked better, I wonder if next avater willy be Willydebeest? Just having a giraffe

[david44]

Please don't get too excited chums but I think we are approacing peak Willy, Africa has never looked better, I wonder if next avater willy be Willydebeest? Just having a giraffe

[DrWilly]

Another sunrise pic, just for tax who probably hasn’t seen the sun let alone a decent sunrise in decades in cloudy old blighty.

[DrWilly]

And another sunset pic, and some great seafood, but no pizza.