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.