Nungwi sits at Ras Nungwi, the very northern tip of Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar. For centuries it was a fishing and boatbuilding village; since the 1990s it has also become the island’s liveliest beach resort, and today the two live side by side — fishermen pushing out their outrigger canoes at dawn, dive boats and sunset dhows leaving from the same sand a few hours later.
The beach curves round the point. The west side, facing Tumbatu Island and the sunset, is the busy stretch of bars, restaurants and hotels; the east side towards Kigomani is calmer and more resort-dominated. What makes Nungwi special among Zanzibar’s beaches is the water: unlike the east coast, where the sea retreats hundreds of metres at low tide, the north-west keeps enough depth to swim for most of the day.
Top things to do at Nungwi Beach
Watch the sunset — from the sand or a dhow
Nungwi faces west, so the sun sets straight into the ocean every evening. Half the village turns out on the beach for it; the other half is on the water. A sunset dhow cruise costs little and is the classic first-evening plan.
Walk to the lighthouse and the turtle pond
Follow the beach north-east round the point to the 19th-century lighthouse (still in use, so not open to climb) and the Mnarani turtle aquarium beside it. On the way you pass the dhow builders at work on the sand.
Dive or snorkel from the beach
Several PADI dive centres are based right on the beach, running trips to Tumbatu, the Leven Bank and Mnemba Atoll. Nungwi is a good place to learn: water around 26–29 °C and sheltered sites close by.
How to get to Nungwi Beach
- From the airport: about 60 km and 1–1.5 hours by car. A pre-booked private transfer is the easiest option — see our airport to Nungwi guide.
- From Stone Town: around 1.5 hours by taxi, or two hours or more by dala-dala (the local minibus, route 116) from the Darajani terminus.
- From Kendwa: 3 km — a 45-minute walk along the beach at low tide, or a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride by the road.
Insider tips
- The swimming is best around high tide; at low tide the west beach can expose rock and seagrass in places. Check a tide table and plan beach time accordingly.
- Beach boys (“papasi”) will offer boat trips and souvenirs. A polite, firm “hapana, asante” (no, thank you) works; book trips through your hotel or a reviewed operator.
- Nungwi village is conservative: wear a cover-up away from the beach, and ask before photographing people.
- Carry US dollars in small, recent notes as well as Tanzanian shillings — the village ATMs are not always reliable.
Best tours & tickets for Nungwi Beach
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Nungwi Beach from Nungwi or Kendwa:
Sunset cruise from $14 Zanzibar: Sunset Dhow Cruise in Nungwi & Kendwa
Nungwi and Kendwa face due west, which makes them the best place on Zanzibar to watch the sunset from the water. This relaxed cruise under a lateen sail is the classic evening in Nungwi — and one of the cheapest good things you can book on the island.
- Sail a traditional wooden dhow along the west coast
- Watch the sun drop straight into the Indian Ocean
- Drinks and fruit on board, optional swim stop
Wildlife from $55 Zanzibar: Nungwi Turtle Aquarium Guided Half-Day Trip
A guided visit to the Mnarani turtle pond at Ras Nungwi, a natural rock pool where the village looks after sea turtles caught in fishing nets and releases them back to the ocean. Short, easy and a big hit with children.
- Swim with rescued green and hawksbill turtles
- Visit the natural tidal lagoon beside the Nungwi lighthouse
- Walk the beach at the northern tip of Zanzibar
Adventure from $72 per group Zanzibar: ATV Adventure from Kendwa or Nungwi
The highest-rated activity in the north, with well over a thousand reviews. You ride dirt tracks through the countryside behind the beaches — a genuinely different view of the island, and a lot of fun. Priced per bike for up to two riders.
- Ride quad bikes through villages and farmland
- Stop at local communities away from the beach
- Free transfer from Nungwi and Kendwa hotels
