Welcome to Zanzibar; Welcome to Paradise. If I say "paradise", immediately, you will think of the scenery, the landscape. And with a destination surrounded by the Indian Ocean, beautiful scenery is expected; however, this is not the only reason why it's a paradise. For the Muslim woman looking for a destination where she'll feel comfortable walking in her Muslim identity, Zanzibar is that place.
A Muslim Majority Island
Zanzibar is 95% Muslim. What more can you ask for in terms of feeling at home? No one is going to stare at you because you're wearing hijab, and no one is going to if you don't. So, whether you are a hijabi or not, you will feel comfortable walking around. You can see women with/without hijab and even niqab. You'll see school kids in traditional clothing. Hear the call to prayer from one of the many masajid (mosques) around Stone Town, our base during certain experiences.
Safety
Zanzibar is known to be one of the safest destinations in the world. Whether traveling solo or in a group, hakuna matata, you will feel safe. Wanna take a walk at night? No problem.
Halal Food Options
As a Muslim woman, I often check the demographics of the places I want to visit because I want to know what my food options will be while I'm there. When you travel to Zanzibar, you don't have to worry about what you're going to eat. Halal is the standard. The only question is, "What do you want to eat?" Enjoy the freshest of ingredients, fruits, and vegetables. Stop for fresh fruit juice while out and about. Have fresh seafood right from the ocean. It's just so nice to not have to worry about that when you travel.
The People
I mean it when I say that Zanzibar is home to some of the kindest, warmest people I've personally ever met. They make everyone feel at home. Even when you're on a tour or excursion, it feels like you're with family or a friend. For example, the young man in the photo above kindly accepted when I asked to take his picture even though he was playing football; that's soccer to my American friends. They truly embody the idea of "a smile is charity". It helps to foster feelings of community, to feel connected or make a connection with others. Imagine being able to feel like you're part of the community even when you're far from home. That's something I personally felt during my time in Zanzibar.
Stay tuned for more about beautiful Zanzibar.
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