Explore Africa has been in Zanzibar for almost 3 weeks now and I've only lately started asking myself: "What is it about Zanzibar?"
Why do thousands of tourists and honeymooners come to a place where the heat is almost unbearable, where Islam rules everything and where there is almost never electricity? What is it that keep the planes and ferries coming to this island filled with excited people? Is it the beaches? Is it the spices? Is it the cocktails?
Of course we didn't come to Zanzibar for any of those things and neither do most workers for the Lord. But you may ask yourself, is there more to Zanzibar than the palm trees and cocktails? The answer to that question is a fortunate, yes. Here is a list of 10 reasons why Zanzi is a unique speck of land on the surface of this planet:
1. Local transportation is cheap.
For the
equivalent of R2 you can catch a ride on a daladala and ride through the tropical lanscape. A daladala is a small truck that has been converted into a taxi by putting a canopy on the back with benches all along the sides. This mode of transport creates an excellent opportunity for "prayer riding" as you can easily pray blessings over the passing countryside as well as the 10 to 25 Zanzibaris that share a single bench with you.
2. Bread is very cheap.
For most missionaries the price of bread is quite vital information. Well, in Zanzibar you can buy a small loaf of bread for the equivalent of R1. This makes your budget smile all the way!
3. Mangoes are the staple food of Zanzibar.
Chances are good that you'll eat at least 1 mango every day that you are here seeing as they have mango season all year round and the mango trees here grow up to the size of small skyscrapers! Oh and trust me, being
allergic to mangoes will not stop you from eating your daily Zanzibari mango...
4. Zanzibar has millions of bananas in different varieties.
If you stay in Zanzibar for 1 week you will eat a minimum of 15 bananas in that particular week. Those 15 bananas will consist of an average of 4 different varieties.
5. Zanzibaris grow and eat some weird looking, weird smelling, good tasting fruit.
We've had some vegetables and fruit everyday that we've never had or never even heard of. These include casava (African sweet potato), shokishoki (a hairy type of litchi), breadfruit (tastes like casava), jackfruit (very sticky fruit that tastes like dried banana), and custard apples (the name says it all).
6. Zanzibar has a very rich history.
A lot can be said about a country if you take a look at its history. A country's history to a large extent shapes its people and their culture.
Zanzibar's history dates back hundreds of years and the interesting, somewhat brutal and dark history is echoed everywhere from the old slave market to the loud speaker on every mosque.
7. A walk through Stone Town is an unforgettable experience.
Stone Town is probably one of the most picturesque, exotic and downright beautiful places in the whole of Africa. Nowhere can the island's strong Arabic past be seen like in the architecture and small streets of this almost ancient harbour city. Getting lost in the vast labirinth of small streets and alleyways will be a life changing experience!
8. Miracles are happening all over the island.
The local churches on the island are in the process of raising up more and more pastors in the different communities which means that some of the churches now have different branches. The one church we attended had 15 branches already and 2 on Zanzibar's sister island Pemba!!
The old chains of slavery, Islam and witchcraft are slowly falling off and the links are being broken one person at a time. Sooner or later that chain will be weak enough to break completely and what a day that will be!
9. Going to church in Zanzibar is quite an experience.
Going to a local church is a very special experience. Seeing a community of African believers (most of whom are living a life of persecution) coming together every sunday to celebrate the freedom they found in Christ and to learn from His Word is truely something you will never forget. You'll also see what real rejoycing is!
10. There are endless opportunities for ministry on the island.
The island is in desperate need of more believers to come and spread the Word of God and to help disciple the Zanzibaris that are coming to the Lord. Even though the number of believers is on the increase, there are still over a million people living on
Zanzibar who have never heard the good news and who have never even heard the name of Jesus. Sad as this may be, this creates a great number of opportunities to come to this small little paradise to fight the good fight in all the different spheres of ministry.
All and all Zanzi is one amazing place well worth a visit. And in the end, whether you come here on business, as a tourist, as a missionary, as a Global Challenger or if you get shipwrecked here...no visit to Zanzibar will be complete without some coffee spiced with cardomon and cinnamon at the Zanzibar Coffee House, because that alone will change your life forever!