Old Stone Town: Shangani and Old Stone Town
Shangani is the ultra-touristy point bounded by Kenyatta Road. All the souvenir vendors lining these streets will greet you with a jovial Jambo! Karibu! (Hello! Welcome!). You'll discover a lively Zanzibarite life at Jaw's Corner. Not far away are the cathedral and the old slave market, the city's main museum. But you have to go all the way to the Darajani market to really get out of the tourist zones (dressed decently please for the locals: no crop tops, pigeon necklines and mini shorts). Old Stone Town is wider, separated from the new town by Creek Road. These districts are made up of a vast maze of labyrinthine alleyways. Kiponda and Kokoni are the narrowest parts of the historic center. Hurumzi Street, Gizenga Street and Kiponda Street are the main streets, linking the seafront to the large Darajani market, alternating tourist stores and popular souk stalls (spices, Indian and African fabrics, vegetable market, Chinese trinkets, traditional jewelry shops...). We recommend getting lost around the Darajani market, where some streets are dedicated to the fabric market and others to spices. Heading north towards the Jamat Khana mosque, you eventually lose yourself in the heart of Kokoni, a maze of micro-streets in the shadow of ancient houses with heavily carved doors. This is a place of real authenticity, with few tourists and a lively neighborhood life from morning to night.
The South: Vuga, Kibokoni and Victoria Gardens
The small districts of Vuga and Kibokoni (whose main streets are Sokomuhogo Street and Mkunazini Street) are bordered to the east by the university buildings on Creek Road, and to the south by Victoria Gardens. Made up of wide, airy, flower-filled streets with large trees, they offer a pleasant sense of tranquillity. This is where the President of Zanzibar lives, with his State House, and where the more imposing administrative buildings are located, such as the nearby Mnazi Mmoja public hospital and the High Court. A few hotels and guesthouses can be found closer to the tip of Stone Town. But if you continue towards the airport, you'll find a few resorts along the south coast in a booming area.
The North and the port: Kiponda, Kokoni and Malindi
This district is bounded by the waterfront on one side and Creek Road on the other, separating the old town (Stone Town) from the new town. Malindi is the port district. Near the harbour, past the beautiful Old Dispensary house, you come to Malindi. The atmosphere here is always bustling: it's home to the ferries and the fish market. The houses are old, there are a few low-cost places to stay and the location near the center is interesting. The Forodhani promenade down to the port was developed in 2017, as was a small beach right here. It's now a very pleasant place to stroll. On the other hand, you can feel the hustle and bustle and the traffic. Above all: make sure you don't get stuck in your car when a boat arrives, as you can expect at least an hour's traffic jam without being able to get out. Ask around - all the locals know the fateful hours when the port is blocked. In the evening, it's best to take a cab from the club at the far end of Malindi, as the alleyways are less safe (it's a port).
