OUR DESTINATIONS
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We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
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- Destinations
- Africa
- Tanzania
- Zanzibar
- Old Dispensary (Aga Khan Cultural Centre)
Old Dispensary (Aga Khan Cultural Centre)
An architectural symbol of the mixed bag of cultures evident in
Zanzibar's history, the elaborate Old Dispensary was so named
because it long housed a dispensary on the ground floor, with a
pharmacy and resident doctor. An affluent Ismaili Indian merchant,
Tharia Topan, who financed the building project, laid the first
brick 1887 and completed building in 1894. One of the most
decorative buildings of the time, the Old Dispensary is adorned
with ornate carved balconies, stuccowork and stained glass windows.
Restored in the early 1990s, the Dispensary now houses a small
museum on the upper level with old photographs of Stone Town's
waterfront and displays illustrating the intricate restoration
process. There are also some curio shops on the ground floor.
Information & Facts
Address
Mizingani Road, Stone Town
Language
Swahili and English are the official languages. Several
indigenous languages are also spoken.
Money
The official unit of currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS),
divided into 100 cents. The tourism industry prices everything in
US Dollars and they are the preferred unit of currency. Major
currencies can be exchanged in the larger towns. Foreign exchange
bureaux in the main towns usually offer a better rate on travellers
cheques than do the banks. ATMs are available in major cities only.
Major lodges, some hotels and travel agents in urban areas accept
credit cards, but these should not be relied on and can incur a 10%
surcharge.
Time