Zan Maldive Tours and Safaris

Area: Nungwi

  • Nungwi

    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.

  • Hotel Transfers

    Zanzibar is bigger than it looks on a map, and the coastal roads vary considerably in quality. Getting from a hotel in Nungwi to a restaurant in Michamvi, or from Stone Town out to Jambiani, is a proper journey rather than a short hop.

    We run point-to-point transfers between any two places on the island: hotel to restaurant, hotel to a dive centre, hotel to a village, hotel to the spice farms. The vehicle is private to your party, the driver speaks English and the price is agreed before you set off.

    For anyone eating at The Rock, taking a sunset cruise from a different coast or heading to an activity outside their area, this is the sensible way to travel. Taxis on the island rarely have fixed pricing and the driver quality is inconsistent.

    Ask us for a return transfer with a wait, or for the driver to stay with you for the day, if that suits your plans better.

  • Inter-Hotel Transfers

    Plenty of visitors split their stay: a night or two in Stone Town, then the north coast, then a few days on the east. Moving between them with luggage is where a trip either flows or falls apart.

    We handle the move. Your driver collects you at check-out, loads the luggage and delivers you to the next hotel at a time matched to its check-in, so you are not sitting in a lobby with your bags.

    Because the drive often passes something worth seeing, we will build a stop into the transfer at no extra vehicle cost. Jozani Forest sits on the road between Stone Town and the east coast. The spice farms sit on the road north. A transfer with a stop turns a dead hour into part of the holiday.

    Tell us your hotels and dates and we will map the whole route before you arrive.

  • Zanzibar Aquarium and Caves

    Zanzibar sits on ancient coral rock, and where the rock has collapsed inward the island has opened up a set of natural freshwater caves. Three of them are open to visitors and each has its own character: Kuza Cave near Jambiani, tied to Swahili cultural heritage; Maalum Cave near Paje, a deep blue swimming pool under an open roof; and Salaam Cave at Kizimkazi, small, dark and lit by candlelight.

    The water in the caves is fresh, cool and still, filtered through the coral rock. Swimming in them is a different experience from the ocean and a welcome break from the heat.

    The tour pairs the caves with a visit to the natural turtle aquarium, a large tidal pool set in the coral rock behind the beach. It began as a rehabilitation and study site for marine turtles and now works to protect the local population. A keeper explains the work, and you are able to feed the turtles seaweed or get into the pool for a closer encounter.

    The visit takes two to three hours and works well as a half-day for guests staying on the east or south coast.

  • Sunset Dhow Cruise

    Sunset over the Indian Ocean is the one thing every visitor to Zanzibar remembers, and the best place to watch it is from the water rather than the beach.

    The cruise runs about two and a half hours from start to finish. You are met with a non-alcoholic welcome drink and taken the short distance to the launch point, where your captain and guide explain the route and what to look for. The boat then heads out along the coast, with the guide talking through what you are seeing and stopping wherever the view earns a photograph.

    Light refreshments and snacks are served on board at the viewpoint. As the sun drops the crew turn the boat so everyone gets an uninterrupted view, and after sunset you sail back in the last of the light.

    The cruise suits couples, families and anyone wanting a relaxed end to the day. It also pairs well with a Stone Town walking tour, where the town visit fills the afternoon and the boat takes the evening.

  • Nungwi Village Tour

    Nungwi sits at the northern tip of Unguja and is the last place on the island where ocean-going dhows are still built by hand on the beach. Local people call the village experience the Thousand Hands of Zanzibar, because everything you see here is made by hand: the boats, the rope, the mats, the nets and the fish traps.

    The visit is a guided walk through the village at an easy pace. You meet the boat builders working on hulls under the palms, and see how a dhow is shaped without plans, using knowledge passed down through families. You watch coir rope being twisted, palm leaf being woven into mats and baskets, and the fishermen bringing in and sorting the catch.

    Your guide introduces you to the people you meet, translates and explains the daily rhythm of a fishing village: how the tide sets the working day, how the co-operative works and how the crafts feed both local use and the tourist trade.

    The tour takes about half a day and includes refreshments, bottled water and, on the extended version, a picnic lunch of traditional village food. It is one of the most straightforward ways to meet Zanzibaris rather than only see the island.

  • Horse Riding Experience

    Riding a horse along an empty Zanzibar beach at low tide is one of those experiences people plan a whole trip around. The stables run guided rides for complete beginners and for experienced riders, matching the horse and the pace to your level.

    The route follows the shoreline and inland trails through coastal woodland and small settlements. Guides ride with you throughout, and for beginners they lead from the ground until you are comfortable.

    The highlight for most people comes near the end: taking the horses into the shallows and swimming with them. It is a calm, gentle thing, and the horses are used to it. Bring a waterproof camera.

    Sunset rides are the most requested option and suit couples and honeymooners. Morning rides are cooler and better for families with children.

  • Sea Turtles Sanctuary

    Behind the beach in Nungwi, a large natural tidal pool sits in the coral rock, connected to the sea and refreshed by every tide. It was set up to rehabilitate and study marine turtles, and it now works to protect the local population, taking in animals caught in nets or injured and returning healthy turtles to the sea.

    Visitors are able to buy seaweed from the keepers and feed the turtles from the edge, or get into the pool and swim alongside them. The turtles are unbothered by people and come straight to the food.

    The keepers explain the life cycle of green and hawksbill turtles, the threats they face, the nest protection programme along the coast and what happens at release. Their explanation is the part most visitors remember.

    The site is small and the visit takes about an hour, so it combines well with a Nungwi village tour or a north coast beach day.

  • Transparent Kayak and Drone Experience

    A transparent kayak turns a paddle into a viewing platform. The hull is clear, so the coral, the fish and the sand ripples pass directly beneath you while you stay dry on top. In the shallow, calm water off Nungwi and Kendwa the visibility is good enough to see everything without putting your head under.

    A local instructor briefs you on paddling and safety, then goes out with you. No experience is needed and the kayaks are stable enough for complete beginners, including children paddling with an adult.

    What makes this trip different is the drone. A professional operator films you from above throughout the session, and you receive the footage and stills afterwards. On clear water at the right time of day the aerial shots are the best photographs most guests take home from Zanzibar.

    The session lasts about an hour on the water and works best in the calm hours of the morning or late afternoon.