I did not arrive in Zanzibar looking for love. I arrived as a storyteller, travelling to host a film editor’s workshop and very much in work mode, but Zanzibar slowly stole my heart.

From the moment I arrived in Stone Town, I felt it. That subtle, deeply personal way that only certain places move me. I remember standing still for a moment longer than necessary, letting the air settle on my skin, and thinking to myself: what an enchanting atmosphere.

Zanzibar introduces itself pole pole, slowly. No rush.

I love the people. Zanzibaris have a way of making conversation feel like a gift rather than an exchange. There is warmth, humour, openness, and an ease that disarms you. People are always ready for laughter, storytelling, and genuine connection. Speaking to locals throughout my travels felt less like meeting strangers and more like reconnecting with long-lost family members I hadn’t realized I’d been missing.

I may be slightly biased. Zanzibar is only an hour and a half from Kenya, where I am originally from. I also speak Swahili fluently, and that shared language creates a resonance that feels grounding. But Swahili in Zanzibar feels different. It’s Softer. More lyrical and almost musical. Every conversation carried a familiarity that made the island feel less like a destination and more like home.

Then there’s the food. You have not had proper Swahili food until you eat local in Zanzibar. Fresh seafood pulled straight from the Indian Ocean. Octopus cooked slowly in coconut curry until tender and fragrant. Crisp tuna tartare that tastes like the ocean itself decided to give you a taste. Swahili pilau infused with cardamom and clove. Ndizi za tembo rich, comforting, and grounding. And then there are the fruits; juicy, tropical, exotic, and bursting with sweetness.

The best Swahili soul food I have ever eaten in my life has been in Zanzibar. You can tell that the food is cooked tenderly. The spices beautifully matched, the flavors intentional. Think fresh, but with a rare way of always leaving you feeling warm. Eating is never rushed and meals always feel ceremonial.