Stone Town’s Old Fort

Nassor took us to Stone Town’s old fort, which was built in about 1700 by Omani Arabs. It was later used as a barracks and a prison by the Portuguese, and later still as a repair facility for the Bububu railway. Today, there are lots of souvenir stalls inside, and very few references to the building’s history. Julius and the two Israeli guys used the large open grassy area within the fort’s walls for an impromptu game of frisbee (apparently, Julius never goes anywhere without his!).

We continued our walk through the narrow streets of Stone Town, pausing to take photos of more examples of ornate wooden doors. We finished our tour at the Africa House Hotel, a former British gentlemen’s club. We thanked and tipped Nassor. The guys went off on their way, and Stacey and I stayed to have a drink while enjoying the sea view.Read more