North Coast and Turtle Sanctuary Tour

Overview

One of the attractions for visitors to northern Zanzibar is the large number of shops, bars and restaurants, many of which are only a short walk from the hotels. The neighborhood draws young, multicultural population, and Nungwi has developed a thriving nightlife. The beach shelves on the far north coast are also steeper than those on the east coast, and low tides only disrupt sea swimming for shorter periods of time, especially at the north-west coast properties. The best place to go is northern Zanzibar if you want a lively atmosphere, easy access to local amenities, and lots of sea swimming.

Besides relaxing on the beach there is a wide range of activities on offer here. Popular activities include snorkeling and diving, and over time, a number of respectable dive schools have been established, many of them located in the larger hotels. The reefs off the north coast are the destination of snorkeling and diving excursions. You can even venture south to Mnemba Island, home to some of Zanzibar’s best dive sites. Up here, kite surfing and other water sports are becoming more and more popular, and several water sports centers have been built.

Nungwi is the location of Zanzibar’s only turtle sanctuary. Turtles, specifically green and hawksbill, have long been harvested along Zanzibar’s coasts for their meat and their shells, which are prized for their exquisite “tortoiseshell” material. These amazing sea creatures have drastically declined in number over many years due to overhunting, and as a result, they are currently listed as endangered. Mnarani Natural Aquarium was established as a nonprofit organization devoted to turtle conservation, research, and rehabilitation in an attempt to counteract the species’ decline. The site encloses a large, natural, tide pool where sea turtles that have been caught in fishing nets can be rehabilitated, while local hatchlings are protected in smaller pools until they’re large enough to be returned to the ocean. For a small fee, you can enter the aquarium, where a local guide will show you around the pools and discuss their ongoing conservation efforts.

After you will experience the turtles at Turtle sanctuary. One of the most amazing experiences that should be on every traveler’s bucket list is swimming with turtles in Zanzibar. Numerous species of sea turtles, including Hawksbill and Green turtles, can be found in Zanzibar’s marine ecosystem.