On Grave Island, also known as Chapwani Island, small coves and sandy beaches meet dik-diks and a wide variety of birds. The island is also home to a cemetery commemorating HMS “Pegasus”. The landscape, wildlife and history offer three distinct ways to experience the island.
Coastal Landscape and Wildlife
The coast of Grave Island is lined with small coves and sandy beaches. Together, they shape the island’s appearance and give the coastal landscape a distinctive character. Grave Island is also home to dik-diks and a wide variety of birds. This brings two clearly distinct themes into focus: the shape of the coastline and its wildlife. If you like to choose a focus when planning a trip, you can base your plans on these different interests. Coves and sandy beaches describe the landscape; dik-diks and the variety of birds draw attention to the animals. Both perspectives complement each other without either replacing the other.
The Cemetery of HMS “Pegasus”
The historical highlight is the cemetery on Grave Island. It contains the graves of 24 petty officers and crew members of HMS “Pegasus” who fell in action on 20 September 1914. The date and the ship’s name link the graves to a specific event. The cemetery is therefore a distinct historical point of interest alongside the coast and wildlife. Those interested in this history will find a clearly identified place of remembrance here; the island’s landscape and animals are separate themes.
Stone Town in the wider destination of Zanzibar Urban/West
Within the wider destination of Zanzibar Urban/West, Stone Town forms a distinct urban area of interest. This Swahili coastal trading town reflects cultural influences from Africa, the Arab region, India and Europe in its townscape. Its historic townscape includes narrow, winding streets, clusters of low-rise buildings and large mansions along the seafront. The street network, mansions and open spaces form an urban settlement that reflects the long-standing trade between the African and Asian coasts.
Stone Town’s buildings are made predominantly of coral rag and mangrove timber. The timber is set in thick lime mortar; the buildings were then plastered and whitewashed. The architecture and urban planning reflect Swahili, Indian, Arab and European influences. In the two-storey houses, long, narrow rooms are arranged around open courtyards and accessed through narrow corridors. The façades are distinguished by elaborately carved double “Zanzibar” doors. This offers several architectural aspects to explore: materials, room layouts and the design of entrances.
Important historic buildings in Stone Town dating from the 18th and 19th centuries include the Old Fort, the House of Wonders, the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral and Jamat Khan. The House of Wonders was built as a grand ceremonial palace for Sultan Barghash. Jamat Khan was built for the Ismaili community. The Christ Church Anglican Cathedral commemorates David Livingstone’s work to abolish the slave trade and stands on the site of the last slave market. These examples bring together different historical themes: ceremonial architecture, the history of a community and remembrance of the slave trade.
When choosing, also take the specific location of each option into account in your own plans.
Discover more destinations: Bububu, Zanzibar City, Selem, Fumba, Mbweni.
Return to the wider travel overview: Zanzibar Urban/West.
