Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Freddie Mercury Tours
One of Zanzibar's most famous sons is Queen lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, born Faroukh
Bulsara in 1946 in Stone Town to Pararents. He lived on the island until he was about eight
years old, when he was sent off to India to boarding school. His family left Zanzibar in
the wake of the 1964 revolution, never to return. There's no agreement as to which house
or houses Freddie (he acquired the name while at school in India) and his family actually
occupied, and several make the claim. For anyone wanting to make a Mercury pilgrim-
age, one place to start is
Zanzibar Gallery
(cnr Kenyatta Rd & Gizenga St) , with a gold
plaque on the outside memorialising Mercury. Freddie Mercury died on 24 November 1991
in London of complications from AIDS.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Muslim holidays are celebrated in a big way on Zanzibar.
Eid al-Fitr
, marking
the end of Ramadan, is a particularly fascinating time to be in Stone Town, with
lanterns lighting the narrow passageways, families dressed in their best and a
generally festive atmosphere. Note that many restaurants close down completely
during Ramadan.
Some other festivals, unique to Zanzibar, include
Sauti za Busara
(Voices of
Wisdom; 024-223 2423;
www.busaramusic.com
)
, which is held yearly in
February and celebrates Swahili music and culture;
Festival of the Dhow
Countries
and
Zanzibar International Film Festival
(
www.ziff.or.tz
)
, which
is held yearly in July, with film screenings, performing arts groups, village
events and a generally festive atmosphere; and
Mwaka Kogwa
, the Shirazi
New Year, celebrated in July and at its best in Makunduchi.
SLEEPING
Stone Town has a large selection of accommodation. At the budget level, most shoestring
guesthouses cost about the same and have similar facilities (mosquito nets, fans and usually
shared bathrooms and cold- water showers), with prices averaging US$20 to US$25 per
person (US$30 with bathroom). It's often possible to negotiate this down in the low season.
