Zanzibar

Top Zanzibar landmarks

Zanzibar trip ideas

Stone Town Historical Walking Tour

Badge of ExcellenceZanzibar, Tanzania

2 to 3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Historic Stone Town Tour

from $30.00

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Mult-Days Tours in Zanzibar Island

from $900.00

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Stone Town Walking Tour

from $99.99

Price varies by group size

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

Embark on a journey through Stone Town's rich history with this walking tour that takes you to a variety of highlights. Discover Mj Mpongwe, the old part of Zanzibar City, brimming with stories from the original local people, Persians, Portuguese, and the Sultanate of Oman. Visit landmarks such as the House of Wonders, Old Fort, Freddy Mercury Museum, Foodchain Garden, Jaws Corner, Daraj ani Market, Anglican and Catholic churches, and even the former slave market site.

Explore the historical parts of Stone Town with a professional guide
Discover the history of the slave trade in East Africa and Stone Town
See the house where Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist of Queen Band, lived
Visit Daraj ani Market, House of Wonders, Old Fort, and Catholic Church

What's Included

Professional & certified tour guide

All Fees and Taxes
Any means of transport
Personal spendings and souvenirs
Entrance fees of a Former slave market that’s USD 5 per person.
Tip for a guide at the end of the service.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

House of Wonders
R5QQ+JR, Sokoku St, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Meeting point is In front of the house of wonders at the mizingani road stone town Zanzibar.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

80 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 80 reviews

Badly organised and poor service

Paul_C, May 2024

Booked this for three friends as it had good ratings. The booking link gave a google map location inside a closed construction site. We didn’t have a number so we walked around for 30 minutes and eventually worked out that the meeting point was a different location in front of the construction site. Another guide said he could run a tour for uson behalf of the operator so we agreed. He was very nice but his English caused some confusion over dates and events in history. The tour was shorter than advertised at 1.5 hours. We asked for a 50% discount which was refused by the operator and Viator couldn’t help any further. It was almost £50 for a disappointing tour - you could just buy a lonely planet guide and do it yourself.

Response from Host, May 2024

Hi Paul, thank you for your review, sorry for any confusion you got it’s not our intention. the location is really under construction but it’s still in a Google map and as long as it’s in a Google map and you can find it. My location doesn’t tell you to come inside the construction Building NO. I think the thing you were supposed to do is to reach to the tour meeting point (HOUSE OF WONDERS) regardless how it’s ( under construction or not ) because it’s a safe place although it’s under construction. And I pointed this place as a tour meeting point because the house of wonders it’s one of the most famous historical building in a stone town and Zanzibar generally and mostly native people in a stone town know it and also it’s infront of the famous place and road in a stone town (FORODANI GROUND and MIZINGANI ROAD). So it will be very easy to reach to the meeting point if not by means of a Google map then you will reach by means of asking native people because it’s in a good location and very famous historical building. About the guide it’s really you got the replacement guide and this is because the operator and all the operator’s guides (company guides) were so busy with other staffs to do that’s why the operator had to find the replacement guide for you but still the guide was good and trusted man by the operator because it’s not the first time to host our clients and many came with good feedbacks. I don’t know how he conducted the tour in that day but I can say he is one of a good guide in a stone town. Before touching the guide also you should tell us about your negative feelings to the guide and the tour generally because the guide brought the negative feedback of you to us because you were out of the mood during the tour, and when a tour guide speaks to you, you were chatting and make some talking between you. Shortly you didn’t pay any attention of the tour and him, May be it was a reason why the tour was too short because you ignored him. It’s really the guide cannot speak a strong English like you can And I think it’s because of your accent. He is not an English man he is a Swahili man who learned English. So there is different between native speakers and learned speakers But I’m so sorry for what happened Mr Paul. It’s my hope it will not happen again.

Enjoyable!

Laura_G, Mar 2024

Great tour! Alfa was very helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable about the history of Stone Town. He was so friendly with us, and made our experience in Zanzibar very memorable. Highly recommend!

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Hi Laura, thank you so much for your great review. Please stay safe and see you again.

Better than expected

Christine_K, Jan 2024

I enjoyed my tour with Alpha which turned out to be private and was customised to my interests. Alpha has great knowledge of the Island's history and was able to answer my numerous questions. He took me around through alley ways allowing me to experience the towns history and day to day life and was kind enough to take some pictures . Highly recommend

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Hi Christine, thank you so much for your wonderful review. Please stay safe and see you again.

Stone Town Walking Tour

Nigel_D, Jan 2024

Sultan is a highly likeable, knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide who went out of his way to help. We spent a lot of time in the old town just checking out the amazing carved wooden doors. As the House of Wonders is basically falling apart, we went up to the Swahili House hotel which has many of the same features. Forodhani Park, Karajani Market and Freddy Mercury's birth house were also on the list.

Response from Host, Jan 2024

Hi Nigel, thank you so much for your great review. It’s our happiness to see one of our guides (Sultan) does something remarkable for our dear clients.Please stay safe and see you again.

Awesome guide who gave us a memorable stay

Robert_B, Dec 2023

I travelled with my wife and had a very good time with Khalfan (Alfa tours) as our tour guide throughout the entire stay in Zanzibar. He is a very good guide with full knowledge of the Island, the icing on the cake is his patience and letting you soak in and enjoy the island of Zanzibar. He also ensured that as much as we were enjoying, we stayed safe. It was the best experience we had with him. I would recommend not only the Stone Town Historical Walking Tour but for other Zanzibar Island excursions too.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Hi Robert , thank you so much for your great review, I really appreciate a good time together in Zanzibar please stay safe and see you again my friend.

excellent guide

Howard, Dec 2023

guide was very helpful, telling us history of all locations and advising us on purchase of souvenirs.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Hi Howard, thank you so much for your great review. It’s our pleasure to help our clients. Please stay safe and see you again.

No fear to plan solo trip in Stone town!

Hanna_Z, Nov 2023

The kindness of the guide was great - he had lent me even his own 5 dollar for an entrance ticket before I managed to change the money!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Hi Hanna, thank you so much for your great review. It is always my pleasure to help my clients when need. I highly appreciat that please stay safe and see you again.

Super experience

PetraRemijn, Nov 2023

Super experience! I did learn a lot about the city. And all request are possible. Alfa is a really good guide!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Hi Petra. Thank you so much for your great review. I really appreciate it. Please stay safe and see you again.

Highly recommended

KRISTINA_S, Oct 2023

The tour guide Alfa was very good,was very nice to walk with him and listen stories about Stone Town

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Hello Kristina. Thank you so much for your great review. Hope to see more again.

Stone town walking tour

Monique_G, Jul 2023

We had a knowledgeable tour guide and a great experience of the local markets. We tried Jack fruit and saw the Fish markets

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi Monique, Thank you so much for your great review. Always we like to see our clients are happy with our services.

Amazing guide- you have to book with Alfa!

Peris_M, Jul 2023

Khalfan was amazing, he showed a lot of patience showing us around Stone Town. He was welcoming and kind, extremely professional and helpful with useful guides, allowing us to stop for photos and shopping souvenirs as we wished. He even offered to take us to Prison island after at a great price! I highly recommend this tour for a great introduction to Zanzibar!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Hi Peris, Thank you so much for your great feedback. Always customer satisfaction and showing the smile face are my best priorities. Hope to see you again!welcomed.

Well worth it!

LaMont_J, Jun 2023

Our tour guide, Alfa, and his tour guide partner were very informed, polite, conscientious, and sensitive to our large group of 10 Americans. All of us learned a lot of had a good time.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Hello, Thank you so much our dear friend for your great review. This means something huge for us to sustain our business. You are mostly welcomed.