Geology & Fauna

Palms, Corals & Co.

The Zanzibar Archipelago consists of the islands of Unguja and Pemba, as well as smaller tributary islands. Currently, the name is used for the larger and more southern island of Unguja.

The island of Zanzibar - an ancient place

Zanzibar separated from the African continent about 3 million years ago, many millions of years later than its sister island Pemba. Due to this circumstance, the development of flora and fauna on each island took its own path.

The coasts are formed by flat coral rock, which is covered by red annoyance in the interior. Coconut palms and other tropical plants dominate the appearance of the powder-white sandy beaches. Many birds, small mammals and marine animals characterise the wildlife of Zanzibar.

The climate is tropical and humid, precipitation falls in a "small" rainy season between October and November in small showers spread throughout the day. In the "big" rainy season between March and May, larger showers are possible, although the forecast is difficult to assess due to global climate change.

As early as 2000 years ago, the monsoon winds from eastern directions enabled South Arabian seafarers to make use of the Indian Ocean for trade journeys, which had a lasting impact on the history and culture of Zanzibar.