Zanzibar Butterfly Centre

I stopped off at the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre on my way between Jambiani and Stone Town.

It was certainly worth it.

I've visited butterfly farms in other countries and this one is unique in that local residents are actually raising the butterflies, or, rather, the pupae.

Because of that you only see a small part of the whole operation at the Center.

The guide was very knowledgeable and knew just which type of butterfly was in each of the chrysalises he showed me.

The enclosure with the butterflies was fun, seeing them go about their lives.

We visited the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre on a whim after a boat ride as we saw signs on the road for it, and WOW were we pleased to have stopped by!!

The centre has been established to give local villagers an alternative livelihood to chopping down the forests, instead, encouraging them to farm butterflies, thus saving the surrounding forests and propagating some of Zanzibar's rarest and endangered butterflies.

The centre is very well set up and run, and it starts with a 30-minute talk about the work they do and how the local community are involved.

You get to see all the different stages of a butterfly's life cycle and you can also handle the eggs and pupae which are amazing.

After the talk you visit the butterfly garden where you can spend hours watching them flutter around you, and see the cocoons growing.

They have so many, you may even be lucky enough to see a butterfly emerging from its cocoon - we did!

We ended up spending over 2 hours at the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre because it was so interesting and educational. Not bad for what was initially going to be a "quick stop" on the way back to the hotel!

Definitely recommended.

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