Nungwi occupies the northern tip of Unguja, three kilometres up the coast from Kendwa. It is a proper village — one of the largest in the north — with a long tradition of fishing and of building dhows by hand, and over the last three decades it has also grown into the island’s busiest beach resort.
For someone staying in Kendwa, Nungwi is where you go for variety: a different restaurant for dinner, a wider choice of dive centres and boat operators, souvenir stalls, a walk to the lighthouse. Its beach is beautiful too, though more affected by the tide than Kendwa’s and considerably livelier.
Top things to do at Nungwi
See dhows being built
On the beach near the fish market, craftsmen still shape wooden hulls with hand tools. There are no tickets and no set hours — just watch respectfully and ask before photographing anyone.
Visit the turtle lagoon
Beside the lighthouse at the tip of the island, a natural rock pool is home to rescued sea turtles. See our page on the Nungwi turtle lagoon.
Eat out
Nungwi’s west beach has the best run of independent restaurants and bars in the north, most with tables on the sand. Come for sunset, stay for grilled seafood, and take a taxi back to Kendwa.
Book a dive
Several long-established dive centres operate from Nungwi beach, with daily boats to Mnemba, Tumbatu and the offshore reefs.
How to get to Nungwi
- By taxi or tuk-tuk: about 10 minutes from Kendwa. Agree the fare before setting off, and arrange the return if you are staying late.
- On foot: along the beach at low tide only, in around 45 minutes. Do not attempt it on a rising tide or after dark.
Insider tips
- The village behind the beach is conservative and Muslim. Cover up when you leave the sand.
- Swimming is best around high tide; at low water parts of the west beach become shallow and rocky.
- Friday is the main prayer day and the dhow yard is quieter.
Best tours & tickets for Nungwi
These well-reviewed experiences are the simplest way to see Nungwi from a Kendwa base:
Wildlife from $19 Zanzibar: Nungwi Turtle Aquarium Guided Half-Day Trip
A guided visit to the turtle lagoon at the tip of Nungwi, ten minutes up the road from Kendwa, where sea turtles are looked after before being released. Short, inexpensive and a reliable hit with younger travellers.
- See and feed rescued sea turtles
- Learn how the lagoon’s rehabilitation work is done
- An easy outing with children
Sunset cruise from $14 Zanzibar: Sunset Dhow Cruise in Nungwi & Kendwa
Kendwa looks due west, so every clear evening ends with the sun dropping into the sea. Seeing it from the deck of a dhow, with the beach bars lighting up behind you, is the classic north-coast evening — and at this price it is hard to find a reason not to.
- A traditional wooden dhow under a lateen sail
- The sun going down behind Tumbatu Island
- Departures from Kendwa or Nungwi
Water activity from $46 Zanzibar: Transparent Kayak and Drone (Pickup Included)
Part gentle paddle, part photo shoot: you take a clear-hulled kayak out over the pale sand and turquoise water between Nungwi and Kendwa while a drone films from above. Nearly 570 reviews at 4.8 suggest people come away happy with the pictures.
- Paddle a see-through kayak over the shallows
- Professional drone photos and video of you from above
- Only an hour — easy to fit into a beach day
