Tumbatu is the third-largest island of the Zanzibar archipelago, a low strip of coral rock around eight kilometres long lying off the north-west coast. From Kendwa it fills the horizon to the south-west.
Its inhabitants, the Watumbatu, have a reputation for independence and privacy, and the island has almost no tourist infrastructure — no hotels, no cars to speak of. Visitors come for the reefs that fringe its shores, which are a short boat ride from Kendwa and far quieter than Mnemba. On the south-east side lie the ruins of a Swahili town thought to date from around the 12th century.
Top things to do at Tumbatu Island
Snorkel without the flotilla
The coral gardens off Tumbatu get a small fraction of Mnemba’s visitors. A three-hour snorkelling trip from Kendwa gets you there and back before lunch, and because it stays on the sheltered west side, the crossing is usually gentle.
Combine it with a dolphin search
Some half-day tours first look for dolphins off the northern tip, then drop anchor at Tumbatu for the snorkelling — a good all-rounder when the east coast is too rough for Mnemba.
Dive the north-west sites
Dive centres in Kendwa and Nungwi use the reefs around Tumbatu for training and relaxed fun dives: modest depths, little current and plenty of small reef life.
How to get to Tumbatu Island
- By boat from Kendwa: the crossing is short — often 20 to 30 minutes, depending on which reef the skipper chooses.
- Landing on the island: most trips do not go ashore. Visits to the villages or the ruins need to be arranged with a local guide and the islanders’ permission; ask your tour operator well in advance.
Insider tips
- If a visit ashore is arranged, dress conservatively — shoulders and knees covered — and ask before taking photographs.
- Visibility is best on a rising tide and after a few days without rain.
- This is the trip to choose if you are nervous about open-sea crossings or travelling with younger children.
Best tours & tickets for Tumbatu Island
These well-reviewed experiences are the simplest way to see Tumbatu Island from a Kendwa base:
Boat trip from $45 Tumbatu Island Snorkelling Tour from Kendwa & Nungwi
Tumbatu is the long, low island on the horizon opposite Kendwa. Its fringing reefs are only a short boat ride away and see a fraction of the traffic that Mnemba gets, which makes this the easy half-day snorkel when you do not want a long crossing.
- The island you see from your sunbed, up close
- Quiet reefs with far fewer boats than Mnemba
- Short crossing — back on the beach by lunchtime
Boat trip from $71 Dolphin & Tumbatu Island Snorkelling
A half-day that combines a dolphin search near Nungwi with snorkelling at Tumbatu, all on the sheltered west side of the island. A good alternative to Mnemba on days when the east coast is choppy.
- Look for dolphins off the northern tip
- Snorkel the reefs of Tumbatu Island
- Stays on the calm west side of Zanzibar
