Forodhani

Forodhani Gardens sits on the edge of the Indian Ocean, marked by the tall, white arches of a twentieth-century bandstand. This waterfront park occupies the site where the Sultan of Zanzibar once kept his royal palace customs house. Every evening, the space transforms when dozens of vendors set up kerosene lamps and charcoal grills to cook skewers of octopus, lobster, and the famous Zanzibar pizza. The smell of frying dough and spices drifts over the seawall while crowds gather to eat under the palms.