Grave Island

Grave Island can be described through three specific themes: a coastline with small coves and sandy beaches, the island’s wildlife, and a historic memorial site. The cemetery contains the graves of 24 non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of HMS “Pegasus”, who fell in action on 20 September 1914. This gives you both nature and a clearly defined historical connection to consider when choosing a destination.

Coast and wildlife on Grave Island

Grave Island is fringed with small coves and sandy beaches. Together, these coastal features shape the island’s landscape. When comparing destinations, the coves and sandy beaches offer a specific point of reference for the coastal scenery; they represent an aspect distinct from the wildlife and historical remembrance.

Dik-diks and a wide variety of birds live on Grave Island. These animals add a distinct perspective on the island to its coastal scenery. When choosing a destination, you can therefore consider the landscape and wildlife as separate features: the coves and sandy beaches shape the coastline, while the dik-diks and birds represent the island’s wildlife.

A historic memorial site

The cemetery on Grave Island contains the graves of 24 non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of HMS “Pegasus”. They fell in action on 20 September 1914. The number, ship and date provide a precise historical context: it concerns the crew of a specific ship and a clearly dated event. This makes the cemetery a special memorial site on the island.

To compare destinations by interest, the themes can be considered separately: the coves and sandy beaches describe the coast, dik-diks and birds the wildlife, and the cemetery commemorates the battle on a specific date. Nature and history are therefore two distinct ways of experiencing Grave Island.

Stone Town in the wider Zanzibar Urban/West destination

Within the wider Zanzibar Urban/West destination, Stone Town is a Swahili coastal trading town. Its townscape reflects cultural influences from Africa, the Arab region, India and Europe. Narrow, winding streets, clusters of low-rise buildings and large mansions on the seafront shape the historic townscape and give this regional context a distinct urban perspective.

Stone Town’s buildings are made mainly of coral limestone and mangrove wood. The wood was set in thick lime mortar; the surfaces 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 via narrow corridors. The exterior façades are distinguished by elaborately carved double “Zanzibar” doors.

Important historic buildings in Stone Town dating from the 18th and 19th centuries include the Old Fort, the House of Wonders, the Old Dispensary, St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, Tippu Tip’s residence, Malindi Bamnara Mosque, Jamat Khan, the Royal Cemetery, and Hamamni and other Persian baths. The House of Wonders was built as a grand ceremonial palace for Sultan Barghash. Christ Church Anglican Cathedral commemorates David Livingstone’s work to abolish the slave trade and stands on the site of the last slave market. Jamat Khan was built for the Ismaili community.

Discover more destinations: Zanzibar City, Bububu, Selem, Mbweni, Fumba.

Go to the wider travel overview: Zanzibar Urban/West.