Tag: Zanzibar

FRIDAY, 11 MARCH 2022 ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA All Aboard: 5:30 PM Departure: 6:00 PM
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy High: 88°F 31°C Low: 79°F 26°C
DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

Today’s Schedule – Maharubi Palace Ruins & Spice Plantation

Taking a spice tour in Zanzibar provides a good way to understand why Zanzibar and spices are synonymous. In the 19th century, the Sultan of Oman introduced cloves to the island, which today is Zanzibar’s main export product.

We departed from the pier and drive past the house of Dr. David Livingstone where he stayed while planning his explorations into the interior.

We visited the ruins of Maruhubi Palace built by Sultan Barghash the third Arab sultan of Zanzibar who used the building to accommodate his wife and concubines. The sultan himself lived in a separate palace in Zanzibar Town. In 1899 the Maruhubi Palace was destroyed by a fire leaving only a few remains including some massive stone columns which supported a large wooden balcony that surrounded the upper floor.

We walked a few hundred yards to a seaside beach filled with deteriorated boats waiting for hand restoration. It was fascinating to see shipbuilding and restoration techniques from centuries past.


We proceed to the countryside where we toured a spice plantation to see spice plants for us to smell, taste, touch, and see. We saw products you normally buy in packets or jars in supermarkets look and taste like fresh off the plant. The great variety of spices and plants grown here is used in food flavoring and preparation, cosmetics, dyes, and traditional medicines.

A local boy climbed up a tall coconut tree while you are walking through the spice area to reach those plants situated high off the ground as he then uses his legs to shimmy back down the swaying palm. Spice packets were available for sale on the rustic tables.

THURSDAY, 10 MARCH 2022 ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA Overnight stay
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy High: 88°F 31°C Low: 80°F 27°C
DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

Today’s Schedule – Zanzibar Insight featuring Professional Photographer Javed Jafferji

Zanzibar is not only about pristine beaches washed by gentle ocean in all shades of blue. The beauty of the archipelago lies also in is people and their culture. Music in Zanzibar is a living tradition, telling stories of the past days and present.

Dhow Countries Music Academy

We started our day with a short drive to visit the Dhow Countries Music Academy which is the only music school on the island. Particular emphasis was being placed on teaching traditional music styles, such as taarab, kidumbak and ngoma. They promote and preserve the islands’ musical traditions of the Swahili Coast along the Indian Ocean. We saw several performers practicing and classes going on at the time of the visit.

Waterfront Forodhani Gardens

From the Music Academy Centre we proceeded with a short walk to the waterfront Forodhani gardens where we paused for photos. We saw the House of Wonder building which is currently under renovations as well at the Palace museum which was the Sultans residence where are despayed the collection of portraits of past sultans and relics of early explorers including Dr. Livingstone’s medicine chest are found therein.

Old Fort

Another short walk took us to the old fort known as ‘Ngome Kongwe’ in Swahili. It was built by Omani Arabs after expelling the Portuguese in 1699 and used as a garrison and prison in the 19th century and as a terminal of the Zanzibar railways. Its courtyard has been adapted to serve as a cultural centre with curio shops selling tourist-oriented merchandise such as ‘tinga tinga’ paintings. We spend time browsing for the unique pieces of art. A Heena art gallery displayed the centuries old tradition of adorning women’s hands and feet for celebrations such as weddings and festivals. The artists translate the patterns of the body art onto canvas creating a new and soon to be iconic art style through their elaborate paintings. ‘The old fort’ It is also has an open-air stone amphitheater where live dance and music shows are held most evenings. It is also the main venue used for large events such as the Festival of the Dhow Countries also known as the Zanzibar International Film Festival and the Sauti za Busara, one of Africa’s top music festivals which takes place in Zanzibar every year normally based on celebrating cultural diversity and live performance.

Freddy Mercury Museum and Javed Jafferji

On our visit to the Freddy Mercury Museum we met Javed Jafferji a professional photographer who has captured images of Zanzibar and has published over 90 coffee table books. Javed will present us with an autographed book to remember and cherish your visit to Zanzibar. He has received the Almanacs Top 100 Africans of 2000 for his work in promoting Africa worldwide and is also an award-winning filmmaker.

We concluded our tour by enjoying a cup of spiced tea and refreshments in a nearby rooftop restaurant with wonderful views.

WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022 ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA Arrival: 9:00AM Overnight stay
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy High: 87°F 31°C Low: 80°F 27°C ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA
DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS
No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA – A MELTING POT OF ARABIC, AFRICAN AND EUROPEAN HISTORY
A tropical paradise, with swathes of long white sand and flanked by tall, skinny, palm trees, Zanzibar sits in the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Part of the Zanzibar archipelago, the island – also confusingly called Zanzibar – is found just 22 miles from
mainland Tanzania.
Considered today as a honeymooners’ paradise, visitors will find vestiges of both Arabic and Portuguese colonialism (the island was Portuguese until 1698 when it was seized by the Sultanate of Oman), amid the picture-perfect landscape.

But there is much more to Zanzibar than meets the eye. With just one step off the ship, you are already breathing the heady scents of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and cloves. Rightfully known as the Spice Isle, Zanzibar was once a trading hotspot on the trading route from Arabia to Africa. At the time, the island enjoyed an influx of wealth and European bourgeoisie, with
spices being traded at astronomical prices.
The influences of the various colonies are glamorously reflected in the main city’s architecture. But sensual smells and beautiful beaches aside, Zanzibar has the vestiges of sinister history. The island was a capital for the slave trade in the 19th century, with an estimated 50,000 slaves passing through the Zanzibar slave market each year, with many more dying en route. The epicenter for trade was in the Market Square, in the heart of Stone Town, a melting pot of Arabic, African and European history that today is one of the world’s most popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
MARUHUBI PALACE RUINS
The Maruhubi Palace, located on the coast, about 4km north of Stone Town Zanzibar, was built in 1882 for Sultan Said Barghash as a harem to accommodate his concubines while he lived at the palace in Zanzibar Town. In 1899 the Maruhubi Palace was destroyed by a fire, leaving only a few remains, including some massive stone columns which supported a large wooden balcony that surrounded the upper floor.

SIGHTS
• Anglican Church
• The Sultan Palace Museum
• Roman Catholic Church
• Jozani Forest Nature Reserve
• Waterfront Forodhani Gardens
• Maruhubi Palace Ruins
• Freddie Mercury Museum

Today’s Schedule

9:00 Silver Whisper is scheduled to dock in Zanzibar, Tanzania
9:15 Big Screen Movie: “House of Gucci”
Director: Ridley Scott; Stars: Lady Gaga; Adam Driver; Jared Leto; Jeremy Irons; Salma Hayek; Al Pacino
9:45 NAME THAT TUNE: Fun Musical Quiz with The Voices of Silversea
followed by Disco Night with our resident DJ Gabor

Today’s Excursion Stone Town – A UNESCO’s World Heritage Site

Discover the highlights of Stone Town a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Zanzibar’s major port, and town. Our introduction began with a visit to the city Market where we experienced the hustle and bustle of morning activities. We saw and smelled the tropical fruits piled high and the freshly ground spices neatly packed for sale.

We proceeded to the Anglican Church built in 1874 by Bishop Steer on the site of the Great Slave Market, once the hub of the slave trade for the whole of East Africa. At its peak, up to 60,000 slaves passed through the market each year. We visited the underground chambers where the slaves were held before being taken to the market. It showed the horrible conditions used during this time.

We proceeded to the Sultan Palace Museum which was the Sultan’s residence. During our visit, we viewed a collection of portraits of past sultans and relics of early explorers, including Dr. Livingstone’s medicine chest.

The Old Fort overlooked a small square and the ocean. The fort was established by the Portuguese as a trading depot in the 16th century. It has been recently restored and now houses a number of craft and souvenir shops around the inner courtyard. From the fort, our guide leads us on a short walking tour through the narrow alleys that lead to the heart of Stone Town, passing the Roman Catholic Church, some extraordinary Zanzibar doors, and glimpses of typical Zanzibar life. One of the highlights was to Freddie Mercury House.

Dinner at The Restaurant

MONDAY, 7 MARCH 2022 EN ROUTE TO ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA
TODAY’S WEATHER Partly Cloudy/Chance of rain High: 86°F 30°C Low: 76°F 24°C
DRESS CODE: FORMAL
For Ladies: COCKTAIL DRESSES OR PANTSUITS
For Gentlemen: TUXEDOS, DINNER JACKETS OR DARK SUITS & TIE. No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00PM in indoor venues.

Today’s Schedule

10:00 Enrichment Lecture with Destination Consultant Jon Fleming Today’s Topic: Zanzibar – Africa’s Exotic Spice Island
11:15 Luxury Liners: “Liners in The Indian Ocean and The Pacific Ocean: From the Mediterranean to Australia”
11:30 Line Dance Class
12:15 Music by the Pool with Cocktail Pianist Alex (weather permitting) Pool Deck (8)
1:30 Afternoon Movie Time: ‘The Searchers’ 1956
Director: John Ford; Stars: John Wayne; Jeffrey Hunter; Vera Miles; Ward Bond; Natalie Wood
2:00 Photography Workshop with Tracy Fleming
Shutter Priority on your cameras – Come for a practical session to learn how to set your cameras up and use this mode
8:00 Dinner Dance with Piano Vocalist Remon
10:00 Showtime! Silversea proudly presents “Reminiscence “
From concert stages around the world, award winning concert pianist Tomono Kawamura