Located on Zanzibar's northern tip, this fishing village turned beach destination has white coral sand beaches and traditional dhow building yards along its shore.
Nungwi sits at Zanzibar's northern tip, where local craftsmen still build wooden dhows by hand and sea turtles swim in the Mnarani conservation lagoon. The white coral sand beach stretches along both sides of the peninsula, with clear waters that stay deep enough for swimming even at low tide. Each evening, wooden fishing boats return to shore while the sun sets over the Indian Ocean.
Swimming and Beach Life
The water at Nungwi's beaches remains deep enough for swimming throughout the day, unlike many other beaches on Zanzibar where tides affect swimming times. Palm trees line the white coral sand beach, creating shaded spots for relaxing. Around 6 PM, the western beach fills with people watching fishing dhows sail back with their catch.
Getting to Nungwi
Two main transport options connect Stone Town to Nungwi. Public bus route 14 departs from Darajani Terminal every 30 minutes between 7 AM and 6 PM. For more frequent service, take dala-dala 116 from Creek Road, running every 30 minutes from 5:30 AM until 9 PM. Both follow the main road through Mtoni, Mahonda, and Kivunge villages, taking about one hour.
Water Activities
Several coral reefs lie within 30 minutes by boat from Nungwi's shore. Local dive centers run daily trips to sites around Tumbatu Island, where hard and soft corals grow at depths between 12 and 30 meters. Deep-sea fishing boats head further out to catch kingfish, dorado, and yellowfin tuna, with half-day and full-day trips available.
Turtle Conservation
At Mnarani Turtle Conservation, you can see green and hawksbill turtles swimming in a natural tidal pool. The center opens daily from 8 AM to 6 PM, with feeding sessions at 1 PM. Staff members explain their work with local fishermen to protect turtle nesting sites, and how they care for injured turtles before releasing them back to the ocean.
Local Food Scene
Beachfront restaurants cook fresh seafood caught by Nungwi's fishermen each morning. You'll find grilled snapper, kingfish, and octopus prepared with Zanzibari spices. In the evening, many places set up tables directly on the beach, where you can eat while watching the sunset.
Day Trips from Nungwi
You can take day trips to Stone Town (1 hour away), walk through spice plantations, or visit Jozani Forest to see red colobus monkeys. Boat trips to Tumbatu Island's coral reefs depart daily, depending on weather conditions. Local operators run sunset dhow cruises lasting 2-3 hours, and you can go horseback riding along the northern beach in the morning or late afternoon.
