5-Hour Nungwi Turtle Sanctuary and Kendwa Beach Tour in Zanzibar

5 Hours Round trip from Your hotel in Zanzibar Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 See rescued green turtles in a natural tidal lagoon
02 Feed the turtles and get in the water with them if you want to
03 Walk through the Nungwi dhow yards, where boats are built by hand
04 Swim at Kendwa Beach, where the water stays swimmable at low tide

Spend time at Zanzibar's northern tip, where a natural tidal lagoon has long been used to hold and rehabilitate green turtles, many of them bought back from fishermen or recovered from nets. This half-day private trip also takes you through the Nungwi dhow yards, where boats are still built and repaired by hand on the beach, before continuing to Kendwa for swimming in water that stays swimmable even at low tide. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a private vehicle with a licensed English-speaking guide, the sanctuary entrance fee, a local guide at the sanctuary, and drinking water are included, making this an easy outing for families with almost no walking and no long boat ride.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 5 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Zanzibar, Paje

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Nungwi Turtle Sanctuary, Dhow Yards and Kendwa Beach

Pickup from your hotel anywhere on Zanzibar, followed by the drive to Nungwi. Pickup times can shift by up to an hour depending on where you stay, and your exact time is confirmed the evening before.

At the turtle sanctuary's natural tidal lagoon, a local guide explains where the turtles come from and what happens to them. You can buy seaweed to feed them, and if you want to, you can get into the water with them.

Continue with a short walk along the beach through the dhow yards, where boats are still built and repaired by hand. Your guide explains the timber, the tools, and why the shape of the dhows has not changed.

Then travel about 20 minutes down the coast to Kendwa for swimming time. Kendwa keeps swimmable water even at low tide.

Afterward, return to your hotel. The tour lasts around four to five hours in total. If you would like to stay for sunset, let us know and we can arrange a later pickup.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Your hotel in Zanzibar 2 cities · 5 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Zanzibar
Private vehicle with fuel and a licensed English-speaking guide
Turtle sanctuary entrance fee
A local guide at the sanctuary
Drinking water

What's Not Included

Seaweed to feed the turtles, sold at the sanctuary for a small amount
Lunch and drinks
Flights, visa and travel insurance
Tips

What to bring

Swimwear and a towel
Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
Shoes you can walk on sand in
Small cash for seaweed and beach purchases

Know before you go

The lagoon is shallow, but the bottom is uneven. Follow the guide on where to enter. Do not chase the turtles or stand on the coral.
At Kendwa, the swimming is in the open sea with no lifeguard.

Logistics