Slave Market Tours

Slave Market
An Anglican cathedral now stands on this site where slaves once suffered before being sold into harsh servitude.

The Slave Market of Stone Town has been inactive for decades, but memorials provide remembrance of the horrific acts that once took place here. Visit this site and reflect on the atrocities of the past as you stand in the shadow of the Anglican Church.

Learn about the important role slavery played in Zanzibar’s history. For nearly 1,000 years, Arab traders traveled to the interior of Africa as far as the Congo, where they purchased or kidnapped healthy young people. The slaves who didn’t perish on the long march to Africa’s eastern coast were put in dhows and transported to Zanzibar for sale.

Slaves were crowded into underground holding cells where they awaited the market day. Chained to a whipping post, they were slashed by stinging branches. Those best able to withstand the whipping drew the highest prices. Learn more facts about this brutal history in displays and excavations inside the church.

Slavery was officially banned in the nation in 1873 and the island’s market finally closed. In the 1870s the Anglican Cathedral was built over the site of the slave market. Near the altar, see the spot where the whipping post once stood.

Dr. David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary, was a key influence in driving awareness and abolitionist activities. Look for the cross that is a memorial to his efforts.

View an outdoor art installation of life-sized sculptures of slaves chained together in an open chamber, much less crowded conditions than the slaves actually experienced. The artwork is Memory for the Slaves by Clara Sornas.

The Slave Market of Zanzibar is near the center of Stone Town, about a 10-minute walk south of Zanzibar Port. Pay a fee to enter the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral to see the museum displays. Stone Town of Zanzibar has been identified as a UNESCO heritage site.

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Reviews of Slave Market

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Top Destination
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5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Jan 4, 2020

A well-curated history of Slavery and all of its atrocities. The gallery is informative and the sculpture/monument is moving+ Go early as the gallery is not well ventilated.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Jan 2, 2020

A sobering experience, well worth the effort of reading through the entire curated gallery--slavery still exists. Go early as the gallery is not well ventilated.

3/5 - Okay

Tonderai
Jul 28, 2019

Disappointing at most - museums and places taken too are fairly run down

5/5 - Excellent

Simon
May 30, 2019

I have visited the slave market three times. I find it disturbing, overwhelmingly sad and recommend it as a must. It's worth having a guide walk you through what happened to the slaves. As an American white, it was also a profound and powerful opportunity to appreciate just how evil slavery was.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Feb 6, 2019

Any slave museum is difficult to experience, but also a good and necessary trip to understand the history and culture of a country. The museum historical displays were very well done and informative. If you take the time to read everything, it is a wonderful education on the history of slavery in that part of Africa. It is heartbreaking to learn about this terrible time in history when people were captured and sold into slavery, sobering, but good to know. The final display gives a picture of the current slavery still going on in the world.

5/5 - Excellent

Margaret
Jan 30, 2019

Took a walking tour with an excellent local guide. Specified that we wanted to hear the cultural and historical detail, and he did not disappoint.

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Maru Maru Hotel
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3 out of 5
Gizenga Street, Shangani, Zanzibar Town, Zanzibar
Maru Maru Hotel
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