Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer

#ZANZIBAR 11 (and last) – Just behind Mtoni Palace, the beach comes alive in the golden light of late afternoon. An extraordinary gathering of locals playing football, swimming, washing their zebu cattle or donkeys in the sea, or simply strolling along the shore.

#ZANZIBAR 10– A short walk from Mtoni stands Maruhubi, built around 1882 by Sultan Barghash, son of Sayyid Said and half-brother of Princess Salme. This lavish coastal retreat housed his harem: his wives and many concubines.

#ZANZIBAR 9– Before Stone Town's grand palaces, there was Mtoni. Built by Sultan Sayyid Said around 1830 on Zanzibar's coast, it housed his family, his court and many enslaved people. His daughter, Princess Salme, later estimated its population at around 1,000. 1/2

#ZANZIBAR 8– Why the Spice Island? For centuries, cloves shaped Zanzibar’s Indian Ocean trade. Agriculture remains an economic pillar alongside tourism, with clove growing especially important on Pemba, providing livelihoods for thousands of farming families.

At a Zanzibar spice farm, every plant has a surprise: cinnamon’s bark, but also roots with a striking menthol-like scent; turmeric, cloves, cardamom and vanilla, among many others. The island also grows jackfruit, pineapple, starfruit, cocoa and coffee, to name just a few.

#ZANZIBAR 7– Beyond Jozani’s monkeys lies another remarkable ecosystem: the mangroves of Chwaka Bay, within the same national park. These salt-tolerant trees thrive in tidal waters, their extraordinary networks of exposed roots forming an intricate natural landscape.

#ZANZIBAR 6- 🐒 Meet Jozani Forest’s two resident monkeys! The endangered Zanzibar red colobus, found naturally only in the archipelago, and Sykes’ monkey, also known as the blue monkey. Two distinctive primates sharing the same lush tropical forest.

Spot the difference! Red colobus monkeys have striking black faces, white hair and reddish backs. Blue monkeys are actually grey-brown, with distinctive white throats. Colobus feed mainly on leaves, while blue monkeys enjoy fruit, insects and more.

#ZANZIBAR 3- In the 19th century, Stone Town was East Africa's largest slave-trading centre. Tens of thousands of men, women and children captured on the mainland passed through Zanzibar each year, destined for markets overseas or forced labour on clove plantations. 1/2

#ZANZIBAR 2- Among Stone Town’s most famous treasures are its beautifully carved wooden doors. More than entrances, they were statements of wealth, status and identity, telling the story of Zanzibar’s centuries of exchange across the Indian Ocean.

Check the top of the frame: older rectangular designs reflect Arab/Omani influences, while rounded arches became popular with Indian merchants in the 19th century. And those brass spikes? An Indian tradition, said to have originally deterred elephants.

#ZANZIBAR 1- Less than two hours by ferry from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar is a perfect weekend getaway: Indian Ocean scenery, spices, Swahili culture and remarkable heritage. First stop in this series: Stone Town, the historic heart of the archipelago. 1/4

Winding alleys, coral-stone houses, ornate balconies and bustling markets: Stone Town is far more than an open-air museum. Its architecture, cuisine and everyday life reflect the remarkable blend of influences that have shaped Swahili civilisation over centuries. 3/4

#ZANZIBAR 1- Less than two hours by ferry from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar is a perfect weekend getaway: Indian Ocean scenery, spices, Swahili culture and remarkable heritage. First stop in this series: Stone Town, the historic heart of the archipelago. 1/4

What happens when art meets archaeology? The French Embassy invited French comic book artist Emmanuel Lepage to Tanzania to work with Dr Makarius Itambu Peter, archaeology lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam. Together, they explored the heritage of the Swahili coast.

From Kunduchi near Dar es Salaam to Kilwa Kisiwani, Songo Mnara and Zanzibar, their journey traced centuries of Swahili history. Lepage’s drawings captured not only ancient mosques, palaces and ruins, but also streets, fishermen, markets and the life along today’s coast.

What happens when art meets archaeology? The French Embassy invited French comic book artist Emmanuel Lepage to Tanzania to work with Dr Makarius Itambu Peter, archaeology lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam. Together, they explored the heritage of the Swahili coast.

1/2 According to Tanzania’s official 2025 visitor survey, France ranks 3rd among source markets nationwide, after the US and Italy (7% of surveyed visitors). In Zanzibar, France ranks 2nd, after Italy (10.6%).

It was a great honour to present my Letters of Credence to H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan today, 15 October 2026, at State House in Dar es Salaam. This marks the official beginning of my mission as Ambassador of France to Tanzania.