One of East Africa’s ancient trading centers, the island of Zanzibar lies 20 miles off the east coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. For centuries it has been a crossroads of Africa, Indian and Arab cultures. Today it is the powdery white sand beaches, turquoise waters and the white washed houses, quaint shops and bazaars of the capitol Stone Town that attract attention. In contrast to Zanzibar Island’s flourishing tourist trade, its verdant sister island Pemba is seldom visited. Voodoo flourishes amid its hilly terrain and the mangrove-lined coast opens onto hidden, pristine coves and bays the color of emeralds.
