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Last checked: October 2026

Nungwi, Tanzania: beach, sights, food and getting there

Quiet stretch of Nungwi beach in morning light, with thatched shelters under the trees

Tour

Zanzibar: Quad Biking Adventure from Kendwa or Nungwi (Free Transfer)

fromUS$95

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See dates on GetYourGuide

The northern tip

Is Nungwi worth visiting?

Nungwi suits you if you want a busy beach base with restaurants and bars close by. Wikipedia calls it the most visited tourist destination in Zanzibar1.

56 km north of Zanzibar Town1

Nungwi started out as a fishing village and dhow-building centre1. Today it’s the second-largest settlement on the island1, so don’t expect a sleepy hamlet. Here’s what you’ll find:

  • resorts, restaurants, bars and stores1 in West Nungwi
  • a main beach nicknamed Jambo Square1
  • sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs on the Indian Ocean3
  • an ATM2 in the village, which helps if you’re paying in cash
Coral flats and clear tide pools at low tide near Nungwi
Coral flats and clear tide pools at low tide near Nungwi

If you’re weighing Nungwi against the east coast or Stone Town, the Zanzibar areas guide covers the other bases.

Turtles, lighthouse and reef

Things to do in Nungwi

Nungwi’s sights are small and close together: a turtle aquarium, the island’s oldest lighthouse and a working fishing beach. Most of the rest happens on or under the water.

Aquarium entry TSh 7,000 or US$54

  • Mnarani Aquarium: this pool on the north coast, near the lighthouse4, raises small turtles found on the beach. Entry is TSh 7,000 or US$5 (checked October 2026), though another travel site says about US$104.
  • Ras Nungwi Lighthouse: the oldest lighthouse on the island, a white stone tower at the northern tip, in Nungwi5.
  • Nungwi fish market and the boat builders: come at 7 AM4 to watch the boat builders at work beside the fish market.
  • Snorkelling and diving: good snorkelling and scuba diving1 are among Nungwi’s draws.
  • A dhow sunset cruise: traditional dhow boats make for a wonderful sunset cruise2.
Sea turtles and fish in a pool at Nungwi, seen from above
Sea turtles and fish in a pool at Nungwi, seen from above

Map of the attractions in Nungwi, numbered as in the list below.

Drawn to scale from the attractions' Google Maps locations.

  1. Nungwi Mnarani Aquarium
  2. Nungwi Lighthouse
  3. Baraka Natural Aquarium

Bookable trips that start from Nungwi itself include a boat and snorkel day out to Mnemba and a transparent kayak session off the beach.

Lionfish swimming over coral on the reef at Mnemba Atoll

Snorkelling · 4 hours · GetYourGuide

From Kendwa: Mnemba Boat Trip and Dolphin Snorkel Adventure

4.7 (1,465 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

Free cancellation · Pickup included

fromUS$55

See dates on GetYourGuide
Waves along Nungwi beach, with casuarina trees and a dhow offshore

Tour · 1 hours · GetYourGuide

Zanzibar: Transparent Kayak and Drone (with Pickup Included)

4.8 (583 reviews) on GetYourGuide, checked October 2026

Free cancellation · Pickup included

fromUS$65

See dates on GetYourGuide

For something on land, there’s quad biking from Kendwa or Nungwi, with a free transfer.

Further along the island

Day trips from Nungwi

The rest of the island is within a day’s reach of Nungwi, from the reefs of Mnemba to the dolphin boats of Kizimkazi.

Taxi to Kizimkazi: about 2 hours2

  • Mnemba Atoll: One Ocean says Mnemba Atoll offers a great variety of marine life and dive sites, from shallow reefs to walls and drift dives6. Its trips leave from Kiwengwa and Matemwe and take 5–6 hours7. Plan a day on the reefs of Mnemba Atoll.
  • Kizimkazi: the starting point for dolphin tours on the south coast, about 2 hours away by taxi, with fares from TSh 80,0002. While you’re down there, look into turtle swims at Salaam Cave.
  • Jozani Forest: nature trails2, then a short drive on to the mangrove boardwalk near Chwaka Bay8. This Jozani Forest tour with pickup and entry fees saves you arranging the drive.
  • Stone Town: the historic centre of Zanzibar City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site3.
  • Kitesurfing: Paje, on the east coast, is known for kiteboarding2.

Taxi, dala dala or bus

How do you get to Nungwi from Stone Town or the airport?

You go by road: Nungwi is about an hour’s drive1 from Stone Town by one count, while Wikivoyage allows 1½–2 hours4. Stone Town, on the western coast of Unguja9, is where the taxis and public routes start.

Dala dala 116 every half-hour1

Stone Town to Nungwi: ways to go
OptionJourney timeFareWhen and where fromSource
Taxi from the ferry terminal
About 1½ hours
TSh 70,000–100,000 (US$30–50) each way
–
Wikivoyage
Hotel-arranged car or 4WD
–
US$50–60 each way
–
Wikivoyage
Dala dala no. 116
A good 2 hours
TSh 2,000–2,500
Every half-hour, 05:30–21:00, from Creek Road
Wikivoyage; Wikipedia
Public bus route 14
–
–
Every half-hour, 07:00–18:00, from Darajani Terminal
Wikipedia
Driving yourself
About 90 minutes
–
–
Zanzibar Rentals (operator)

Wikivoyage; Wikipedia; Zanzibar Rentals (operator)

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the main airport of the Zanzibar Archipelago, on Unguja Island10. It sits about 5 km south of Zanzibar City2.

From the airport, a hotel-arranged car is the simplest way north. On a budget, there’s a dala dala stop just outside the airport gate2; the Nungwi routes leave from Creek Road and Darajani in town.

Getting between Nungwi and Kendwa

The beach village of Kendwa is an easy walk of about 3 km (30 minutes)11 along the beach at low tide. Otherwise, a private boat costs from TSh 20,000 and takes 10 minutes11. See the beach village of Kendwa if you’d rather base yourself next door.

Hostels to all-inclusives

Where to stay in Nungwi

Nungwi covers every budget, from hostel dorms to 24-hour all-inclusive12 resorts on Nungwi Beach. The ladder below puts the checked prices side by side.

Hostel dorms from US$2017

  • Hostel 197 · Dorm bed from US$20
  • Hostel 197 · Private room from US$80
  • The Z Hotel · Garden-view double, low season, B&B from US$275
  • Turaco Nungwi Resort · Booking-site prices, two adults US$278 – US$287
  • Riu Palace Zanzibar · All-inclusive, two adults, booking-site prices US$343 – US$344

US dollars per night. The hostel and The Z Hotel publish their own rates; Turaco and Riu are booking-site prices for the dates searched.

What each place adds beyond its price:

  • Riu Palace Zanzibar: right on Nungwi Beach12. RIU’s Hotel Riu Jambo is also directly on the beachfront of Nungwi Beach13.
  • Turaco Nungwi Resort, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel: Priceline places it on a sandy beach on the northern tip of Zanzibar14.
  • The Z Hotel: set in a tropical garden with steps down to Nungwi beach15. Rates are per room per night, bed and breakfast16.
  • The backpacker hostel: at Hostel 197, private rooms start at US$120 a night in high season (July–August, December–January)17.
  • Makofi guest house: Hostelworld lists free cancellation up to 60 days before arrival, a 50% deposit and check-in from 13:00 to 23:0018. City tax is US$4 per person per night18.

For the rest of the island, see where to stay in full, or check which beachfront stay suits your trip.

Beach restaurants and bars

Where to eat in Nungwi

Nungwi’s beach restaurants and hotel bars sit along the sand, with menus priced in US dollars or shillings. These are the prices the places publish themselves.

Margherita at Mama Mia: US$927

Menu prices in Nungwi
PlaceDish or drinkPriceSource
Mama Mia
Margherita pizza
US$9
leggimenu.it (resort)
Mama Mia
Pescatora seafood pizza
US$15
leggimenu.it (resort)
Mama Mia
Local beer (Safari, Kilimanjaro)
US$4
leggimenu.it (resort)
Mama Mia
Mixed seafood grill
US$38
leggimenu.it (resort)
Mama Mia
Grilled lobster, smallest size 300 g
US$7 per 100 g
leggimenu.it (resort)
Gerry's Bar
Beef burger
TSh 17,000
Gerry's Bar (operator)
Maisha Nungwi beach bar
Catch of the day
US$14
Maisha Nungwi (resort)
Maisha Nungwi beach bar
Grilled king prawns
US$16
Maisha Nungwi (resort)

leggimenu.it (resort); Gerry's Bar (operator); Maisha Nungwi (resort)

Where to head, and what to expect:

  • Mama Mia: on the beach, with local fish and seafood, pasta, wood-fired pizzas and artisanal gelato, plus a cocktail bar20.
  • Gerry’s Bar: on Nungwi Beach, next door to the former DoubleTree by Hilton21. The kitchen is open 11 am to 10 pm daily21, but its contact section gives a different time, so check.
  • The Z Hotel: a rooftop bar and restaurant with ocean and sunset views, and a beachfront restaurant called Sexy Fish15.
Sunset over the sea off Nungwi, with boats at anchor
Sunset over the sea off Nungwi, with boats at anchor

To see how these menus fit a whole holiday budget, read what Zanzibar trips really cost.

Photos: Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. Authors and licences: image credits

Checked against 30 sources · last checked October 2026
  1. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  2. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  3. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  4. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  5. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  6. One Ocean (dive centre) · checked October 2026
  7. One Ocean (dive centre) · checked October 2026
  8. Expert Africa (tour company) · checked October 2026
  9. Wikipedia · checked October 2026
  10. zaa.go.tz (official) · checked October 2026
  11. Wikivoyage · checked October 2026
  12. RIU (resort) · checked October 2026
  13. RIU (resort) · checked October 2026
  14. Priceline (booking agent) · checked October 2026
  15. The Z Hotel (resort) · checked October 2026
  16. The Z Hotel (resort) · checked October 2026
  17. Hostel 197 (resort) · checked October 2026
  18. Hostelworld (booking agent) · checked October 2026
  19. The Z Hotel (resort) · checked October 2026
  20. Mama Mia Restaurant Zanzibar (operator) · checked October 2026
  21. Gerry's Bar (operator) · checked October 2026
  22. leggimenu.it (resort) · checked October 2026
  23. Zanzibar Rentals (operator) · checked October 2026
  24. Trip.com (booking agent) · checked October 2026
  25. HalalBooking (booking agent) · checked October 2026
  26. Priceline (booking agent) · checked October 2026
  27. leggimenu.it (resort) · checked October 2026
  28. leggimenu.it (resort) · checked October 2026
  29. leggimenu.it (resort) · checked October 2026
  30. Maisha Nungwi (resort) · checked October 2026
Page history · last changed 21 October 2026