Zanzibar

Unguja is the swahili name for the island.  The island is about 85km long and 38km wide, with a population of 380,000 inhabitants living mostly in the more fertile north and western parts, the eastern area being mainly hard coral country.

From January to March, the climate is hot and dry and the long rainy season lasts from March to June, with short rains during November and December.  The average rainfall is 625mm.  Ideal cool and dry conditions occur between July and October with an average temperature of 25°C.

All over the island there is a great variety of food crops (cassava/manioc, rice, millet, maize, sweet potatoes, yams) and fruits (oranges, paw paw, bananas, coconuts, mangoes, citrus, litchis, guavas, apples).  Jack fruit, avocados, rambutans, and spices (cloves, chilies, black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, betel leaf, tobacco, kapok, and ylang-ylang).  The main activities are agriculture and fishing, with some local artisan construction of boats (ngalawas, mtumbwis, mashua dhows).