Nungwi sits at the northern tip of Unguja and is the liveliest beach destination in Zanzibar. Its main advantage is geographic: the tide here does not retreat far, so the sea stays swimmable through the day. On much of the east coast the water disappears for hours at low tide, and on this stretch it does not.
The shoreline is lined with restaurants, beach bars, dive centres and hotels of every size, giving Nungwi an energetic mix of local residents, international visitors and water sports crews. It has the most nightlife of anywhere outside Stone Town.
Behind the beach the village carries on much as it always has. Nungwi is the last place on the island where ocean-going dhows are still built by hand, and the boat yards, rope makers and net weavers work on the sand within sight of the hotels. The natural turtle rehabilitation pool sits here too.
Nungwi suits travellers who want the sea available all day, plenty of places to eat and something happening in the evening. Anyone looking for quiet should look at Matemwe, Michamvi or Mtende instead.