Zanzibar

This article is about the Halo 2 multiplayer map. For the island, see Zanzibar Island.

Zanzibar
Map overview
Game:	Halo 2
Map file name (?):	zanzibar
Lore information
Map designation (?):	War Games Map_Set/: 680-4
Location:	Wind Power Station 7, Zanzibar Island, Earth
Gameplay overview
Terrain:	Beach fortress
Map layout:	Asymmetrical
Recommended number of players:	2-16
Recommended gametype(s):	Team Slayer 1 Flag CTF Single Bomb Territories

“

Wind Power Station 7 sits as a mute reminder of the EAP's late 25th-century attempt at re-nationalization.

”

Zanzibar is a multiplayer map in Halo 2.

Universe and lore

Main article: Wind Power Station 7

Zanzibar is one of many wind power stations built on Zanzibar Island. In the late 2400’s the East African Protectorate launched an alternative energy campaign as part of its renationalization initiative. One prominent location was Zanzibar Island, which housed several wind and wave power stations. Wind Power Station 7 was decommissioned early in the 26th century and extensively utilized for classified military training exercises. Detailed records of Station 7 and scans of similar sites would later contribute to a number of notable War Games map sets.

Overview

Layout

The beach on the map.

Zanzibar consists of a large base with an operable gate, controlled by a switch which either team can open, but not close. The gate is a main part of objective based games, as a Warthog or other vehicles can be driven through the open gate directly into the base.

Zanzibar is also host to one of the most destructive and interactive areas in Halo 2 multiplayer. The Base that houses the generator sub-systems has two shutter windows to the left of the building, the supports to which can be shot off or hit off with a melee attack and used to prevent fire from entering the second level of the base from the outside. The concrete blocks next to the two forward firing machine guns can be blown off,and the large pillars on the first floor of the base next to the flag spawn can be chipped away by gunfire as well. The windows can be blown out. Also, a couple of the trees on the beach a total of three coconuts can be knocked down and played with.

One of the unique aspects of Zanzibar is that it supports every type of combat very well. It is good for close-quarters, mid-range, and sniping, along with melee battles, grenade battles, defensive strategy, offensive strategy, vehicular combat, and almost everything else except for aerial combat.

Naturally, the Gauss Warthog and Ghost spawn on the beach, and the Chain Warthog and the other Ghost spawn near the base. In Flag and Assault game variants, there are no Chain Warthogs, and both Ghosts generate on the beach with the Gauss Warthog.

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  Map of Zanzibar in Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

The Wheel

The wind turbine.

The wheel is a large and distinctive feature of Zanzibar. There is a bridge that leads to the wheel on the top of the flag room. The center of the wheel contains the energy sword and the rocket launcher is located on the bridge. It can be reached in three ways. The first is by jumping across from the defensive base onto a platform. The second way up is by climbing a ramp and destroying a pin that lowers a different bridge to the center of the wheel (it is quite noisy though and it will give away your position). The riskiest way is by 'riding' one of the spokes of the wheel up to the top. However, this makes you an easy target and has the risk of you falling off. Once there you can get the sword by dropping into a niche in the very center of the wheel. By slipping into one of the slots in the wheel and riding till you make it to the sword. Or you could lob a grenade and pick up the sword after it has gone flying.

The Base Room

The interior of the base.

The Base Room is located at the end of the map. There's a gate on the right side that can only be opened by activating the Panel on the second floor of the Base Room. There are breakable windows and shutters that can close. The bridge leading to the Wheel isn't connected to the base room bridge because there's a gap between the two. To get from one Bridge to the other you have to jump. Sometimes you may not make it or land on the edge of the other bridge. But, if you do make it there will be a rocket launcher calling your name ahead of you.

Territories

• Control Tower
• Camp Froman
• Base
• Sea Wall
• Gate

Strategy

• A good way to quickly get the sword and to keep it out of reach of your enemies is to go below the wheel and lob a grenade into the little niche. It will explode, launching the sword out of its hiding place. A better method (because grenades have the irritating habit of bouncing back out of the niche), is to find a rocket launcher and fire a rocket into the niche directly at the sword. This has the pleasing effect of catapulting the sword out of the niche to land nearby where you can easily grab it.
• A good way to get on top of the building, without using a super jump, is to set your juggernaut to move fast, go to the top of the inside ring of the wheel, onto the platform that touches the upper part of the ring, then from there jump onto the doorway thing with no walls around it, and finally jump onto the roof of the building. It is recommended to bring a rocket launcher, a sniper, and setting the game so that the juggernaut has an overshield and infinite ammo.
• Standing next to the wheel with the ramp down, you can safely keep your position with a rocket launcher, a shotgun, both types of grenades and an overshield.

Remakes

Zanzibar has been officially remade twice; as Last Resort in Halo 3 and as Stonetown in Halo 2: Anniversary. Last Resort, under the name Refuge, would also see use in the cut title Halo Online.

Production notes

Zanzibar as seen from the E3 2004 press kit.

At E3 2004, Zanzibar was the first map disclosed to the community in Halo 2 to be revealed to the public, prior to its worldwide release.

Trivia

Miscellaneous

• The sign "Camp Froman" is a reference to Luke Timmins, who practiced camping there.
• This level appears in Season 3, 4 and a brief appearance in Season 5 in Red vs Blue and the remake Last Resort appears in Reconstruction.
• If you go to the large rock outside the gate on Zanzibar, face it with your back towards the beach and the big wheel, you can see a strange image of what looks to be a creature with a big nose on the rock. Below it is the face of a man wearing glasses. There is also an image of what looks like a UFO on the side of the wall right behind the rock mentioned above. To some it may look like an obscure snake head.
• The four pillars inside the main building cannot be completely destroyed, but the outer concrete can, adding to the degree of battle damage possible in Zanzibar.
• A vehicle placed on the platform will cause the latter to play the noise of it folding down until the vehicle comes to a rest.

Easter eggs

Main article: Zanzibar Easter eggs

Grunt's Head

• On the gate in the main building in Zanzibar, if you look at the side of the gate that's on the outside, in the middle you will see a faint picture of a Grunt's head.

Lingling's Head

• On the gate in the main building of Zanzibar, if you look at the side of the gate that's on the inside of the building, you will see a faint picture of a dog's head. This is supposed to be connected to the sign at the beach that reads "Are you finding Lingling's head?"

Gate Message

• If the gate is opened using the computer inside of the defending base, a parody of the Windows "Blue Screen of Death" can be seen on the monitor with the message:

 A total FU exception has occurred at your location. 
 All system functionality will be terminated. 
 *Press any key to power cycle the system. 
 If system does not restart; scream at top of lungs and pound on keypad. 
 *If you need to talk to a programmer press any other key

 Press any key to continue_

• This screen also appears on some computers in Halo 3.

Gallery

Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

Concept art

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  Initial layout drawing of Zanzibar.

Screenshots

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  The sea wall.

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  The exterior of the base.

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  Camp Froman.

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  The courtyard area.

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  An Elite player holding an Energy Sword overlooking a battle on the beach area.

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  An Elite player boarding another player's Ghost.

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  Elites fighting a Spartan.

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  A vehicular battle near the wheel.

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  An infantry battle near the gate.

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  A battle over red team's flag.

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  An explosion near the wheel sends an Elite's body flying.

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  A Spartan firing the M247 GPMG.

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  An Elite player escaping from a exploding Warthog with the blue team's flag.

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  A battle near the rocks.