YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST – THE SPICE ISLAND TO BECOME A HOT TOPIC !

Farrokh Bulsara was born on the 5th September 1946 in Stone Town in the Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar. Zanzibar is a conservative Muslim society and despite the controversy surrounding Freddie’s bisexuality in Islam society there is a huge sense of pride that someone born on this idyllic small island went on to achieve global fame and fortune.

There is not much mention of the fact that he was born in Zanzibar in the film, but with the release of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ this week, avid Queen fans and undecided travellers’ interest will be piqued.

As a specialist Operator to Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, we have been selling and visiting Zanzibar for a number of years and know the island well. In fact Chris and his family will be there next week after a safari in Tanzania.

If spending all your time on holiday lying on a pristine white beach (where the sand genuinely feels like silk under foot), listening to the sounds of the turquoise ocean is not all you wish to do then a visit to the home town of Freddie Mercury is a must. Queen fans can take tours of his childhood haunts and enjoy a labyrinth of walled streets, winding alleys, bustling mosques and grand Arab architecture. Stone Town is said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa and is the cultural heart of Zanzibar, not much has changed here for over 200 years.

There is also a fantastic array of wildlife to be enjoyed on Zanzibar. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is Zanzibar’s 50km2 national park where you can see the endemic Zanzibar red colobus, the Zanzibar Servaline Genet and the endangered Adres’ Duiker. There are also no less than 50 species of butterfly and 40 species of birds. Wildlife attractions of Zanzibar also include dolphins, tuna, marlin and you may even catch a glimpse of a whale shark as they migrate past Zanzibar twice a year.

With at least 4 of our team having either recently visited (and still to visit next month – watch out for blog and pictures of a stunning new hotel) we are in the best position to help you plan a visit to the destination to be and to be seen !