From the Central Serengeti, we flew on two small planes;
![20161122_112251-_D5A0935 20161122_112251-_D5A0935](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/1522eff9acef7394034d83022d61e568/20161122_112251-_D5A0935-900x900.jpg)
![20161122_112958-_D5A0939 20161122_112958-_D5A0939](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8a94fcbb65912fe8c0675e3ea82a7fc3/20161122_112958-_D5A0939-900x900.jpg)
the first to Arusha
![20161122_120021-_D5A0983 20161122_120021-_D5A0983](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b679f378397e82701477332de9cb7c52/20161122_120021-_D5A0983-900x900.jpg)
![20161122_114918-_D5A0951 20161122_114918-_D5A0951](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b0d808b296cbcd62b1444b6d14b2f125/20161122_114918-_D5A0951-900x900.jpg)
where we briefly met up with ADS staff and watched these ladies in the airport parking lot
![20161122_120247-_D5A0985 20161122_120247-_D5A0985](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/e6f18ef30efe08038a5654d171fcf6ef/20161122_120247-_D5A0985-900x900.jpg)
and from there
![20161122_130718-_D5A0998-HDR 20161122_130718-_D5A0998-HDR](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/871fe5211ab04d0d4cbbab723032ed64/20161122_130718-_D5A0998-HDR-900x900.jpg)
we flew about an hour southeast until we crossed the most translucent waters, so clear we could see the sandbars from the sky.
![20161126_130230-_D5A2790 20161126_130230-_D5A2790](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/c9ad8374f7cb919b7efe48b497b63910/20161126_130230-_D5A2790-900x900.jpg)
![20161122_135404-_D5A1006 20161122_135404-_D5A1006](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/aebe28e8492b67b4edf0c2b172cd3900/20161122_135404-_D5A1006-900x900.jpg)
The turquoise waters were so bright, they were almost dreamlike
![20161126_130129-_D5A2786 20161126_130129-_D5A2786](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/4040a2840c26b2932245e8882c893bea/20161126_130129-_D5A2786-900x900.jpg)
The airport
![20161122_140726-_D5A1038 20161122_140726-_D5A1038](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d556fdc382f13cb59347a005cc5c5081/20161122_140726-_D5A1038-900x900.jpg)
was pretty much an empty space and we chatted with a few hikers who had just descended from Kilimanjaro.
![20161122_141818-_D5A1047 20161122_141818-_D5A1047](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/70a793865ad95f574878c30f75a68475/20161122_141818-_D5A1047-900x900.jpg)
From the high altitudes of the Serengeti, we landed in swampy Stone Town,
![20161122_140650-_D5A1036 20161122_140650-_D5A1036](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b627efecba0e65457490c39bf2dbf1be/20161122_140650-_D5A1036-900x900.jpg)
the capital of Zanzibar and a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. It was so, so humid. I can't even tell you how humid without sweat beading through my shirt.
![20161122_145240-_D5A1058 20161122_145240-_D5A1058](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/424dea5a935f1b668510b9e6f3b1c742/20161122_145240-_D5A1058-900x900.jpg)
Because Zanzibar has been under Arab, Portuguese and British rule, the city itself is a conflagration of cultures, but predominantly feels Arabic.
![20161122_144904-_D5A1053 20161122_144904-_D5A1053](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/5b59648b1238fe19af698ee2d1a50710/20161122_144904-_D5A1053-900x900.jpg)
After receiving independence from the British in the 1960's, Zanzibar joined with the mainland county of Tanganyika to form what we now know as Tanzania (cool, right?!)
![20161126_115227-_D5A2754 20161126_115227-_D5A2754](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/86ec0b62bb5e26d441d5bcf6351ac624/20161126_115227-_D5A2754-900x900.jpg)
Upon arrival, we toured around Stone Town briefly with our guide, George, who brought us to the famous Christ Church Cathedral which is housed on top of the former slave market. We went underneath the church to the stone holding rooms, and our stomachs turned at the size.
![20161122_151652-_D5A1090 20161122_151652-_D5A1090](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8c5f919bf4a268e27a8c77cc4b2980b9/20161122_151652-_D5A1090-900x900.jpg)
![20161122_151358-_D5A1082 20161122_151358-_D5A1082](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ce8581fa99a8100943ec20e8fb4b8523/20161122_151358-_D5A1082-900x900.jpg)
70 men would be held in a single room. When slavery was abolished, the church and monuments were erected on top. The horrific conditions, and the fact that so many slaves did not even make it to Zanzibar alive, was sobering.
Zanzibar is known as the island of spices and next our guide took us through the markets.
![20161122_153534-_D5A1102 20161122_153534-_D5A1102](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/cc6e4938f279eba0959b4cabc2fbd1d6/20161122_153534-_D5A1102-900x900.jpg)
He said to us "I should warn you the smell of fish is quite strong" but we assured him we'd be fine. But. When we stepped in--BAM--the scent was almost physical it was so thick. Streams of liquid from the fish flowed along the center aisle.
![20161122_153607-_D5A1108 20161122_153607-_D5A1108](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7ba1efb2624dc5bb452d9d8d9b39b08c/20161122_153607-_D5A1108-900x900.jpg)
I turned around to find Walker and he had backed out from the power of the odor. The conditions were so unsanitary with flies landing on the fish, rusty blades, and bare hands and feet, but we felt lucky to be given access to a truly local experience (just wishing I'd worn closed toes).
![20161122_153539-_D5A1104 20161122_153539-_D5A1104](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/cd469a32b75e34215b0a98d2df6de623/20161122_153539-_D5A1104-900x900.jpg)
![20161122_153558-_D5A1107 20161122_153558-_D5A1107](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ec13dab839f726fde9bf0bbf3be88e5f/20161122_153558-_D5A1107-900x900.jpg)
We moved into the regular produce market where spice vendors called to us and we selected cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans, curry and more, which we're still enjoying.
![20161122_153943-_D5A1122 20161122_153943-_D5A1122](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/30f18f5ba632155cca129d0b0037ac99/20161122_153943-_D5A1122-900x900.jpg)
![20161122_153743-_D5A1117 20161122_153743-_D5A1117](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/70eb49f803a18ffc4a3bafeeccc9ebe3/20161122_153743-_D5A1117-900x900.jpg)
The town is known for its maze of narrow alleys lined with various vendors. We saw a lot of shops selling rugs, swimsuits, and flags. As we walked turning sharp corners of the thin streets, motorbikes zoomed past our elbows, nearly hitting them.
![20161122_155433-_D5A1176 20161122_155433-_D5A1176](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/8bfaad7bfe56a6b378791a678d24647d/20161122_155433-_D5A1176-900x900.jpg)
A carryover from the days of old are the elaborate Indian doors, carved with spikes to protect from elephants (of which there are actually none on the island).
![20161122_155529-_D5A1180 20161122_155529-_D5A1180](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/4af90fc5f482519c535ffbedcb9ab6e2/20161122_155529-_D5A1180-900x900.jpg)
Needless to say, we were drenched, especially after climbing this tower for an aerial view of the city.
![20161122_160340-_D5A1204 20161122_160340-_D5A1204](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/5dcdd1059d30b960454673f0df56c23b/20161122_160340-_D5A1204-900x900.jpg)
We ended the tour with a look at the old forts along the water,
![20161122_161030-_D5A1228 20161122_161030-_D5A1228](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6c5e311e0e163bb3a614bd148f23eb55/20161122_161030-_D5A1228-900x900.jpg)
before getting back into the blissfully cool car for our journey north where we'd spend the next 4 days by the tranquil seas. The cab ride took about 90 minutes, and we passed tons of public busses sardined with people
![20161122_164406-_D5A1321 20161122_164406-_D5A1321](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d3f68e32b59403b25e1336561592a68e/20161122_164406-_D5A1321-900x900.jpg)
as well as lots of women with bananas on their heads, or selling fruit along the road.
![20161122_165124-_D5A1327 20161122_165124-_D5A1327](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/14abed481c8df9c90824f9e8224fbd66/20161122_165124-_D5A1327-900x900.jpg)
Many of the villages had only a single water source and no electricity, but plentiful views and lush greenery everywhere, especially tall, thick banana trees
![20161122_173408-_D5A1366 20161122_173408-_D5A1366](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/9f018ab4285278cd0525b04c2a6d7c6c/20161122_173408-_D5A1366-900x900.jpg)
and that aqua water.
![20161122_171433-_D5A1352 20161122_171433-_D5A1352](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ab770bb018c7aee1d6baf5ef28bcccf4/20161122_171433-_D5A1352-900x900.jpg)
I fell asleep in the back of the cab as the road curved on and up north.