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From a modest -building village in the 1990s, Nungwi has blossomed into a fun-loving holiday town with a population of 30,000, making it Zanzibar’s second-largest settlement. In fact, Nungwi ranks as probably the busiest beach destination
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anywhere in Tanzania. The town and beach both flank Ras Nungwi, a coral-rock outcrop that stands at the northernmost tip of Zanzibar and is guarded by the island’s oldest lighthouse. Nungwi owes much of its popularity to a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere, which is enhanced by the exceptional choice of hotels, restaurants and other amenities.-
Size
- ± 4km / 2.5mi long
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Best Time To Go
- January, February and June to October
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Crowds
- Very busy in some areas
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Sleeping
- Accommodations of all types available
Pros & Cons
- Calm waters offer ideal high-tide swimming
- Plenty of restaurants and nightlife
- Good choice of dive schools and other activity providers
- Home to a highly regarded turtle aquarium
- Accommodations are mostly individualistic small hotels, many of them owner-managed
- Enjoyable beach walks south to Kendwa
- The northwest-facing main beach offers colorful sunsets
- Swimming not always possible at low tide
- Hawkers selling day tours and souvenirs can be pushy
- Among the busiest beaches on Zanzibar
The Beach
The coral outcrop known as Ras Nungwi divides the beach into two sections that are similar in length but very different in character. Facing northwest, the main swimming beach is densely lined with hotels, restaurants, bars
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and other developments backing onto the town center. At high tide, the narrow seafront comprises an attractive sequence of coral outcrops, sandy bathing coves and palm-shaded hotel gardens. At low tide, by contrast, the beach is very wide and sandy, and ideal for long walks (but not always for swimming).East of Ras Nungwi, the beach is lined with a few luxurious hotels set in large tropical gardens. It is far quieter and feels somewhat removed from the hustle and bustle of the town. Indeed, many visitors to Nungwi never visit this lovely stretch of beach and are presumably unaware of its existence. Swimming is possible here at high tide only, but the overall feel is wilder and more scenic than the main beach.Sleeping
Nungwi has a wide range of accommodations. Generally speaking, hotels here are small and low-rise, with palm-shaded gardens or rustic wooden terraces that blend agreeably into the surrounding village. Many of these hotels are owner-managed and
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have something of a boutique feel, and most are either on the beach or very close to it. There are also plenty of places that cater to travelers on a tight budget. Relatively few large resorts operate at Nungwi, and they are mostly found east of Ras Nungwi.Eating & Drinking
You could easily spend a week at Nungwi and not eat lunch or dinner at the same place twice. Having said that, restaurants here are mostly of a high standard, so many visitors quickly adopt a
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couple of favorites and stick to these. As might be expected, seafood dominates most menus and it tends to be excellent, with beach barbecues the specialty at several popular seafront spots. Vegans and vegetarians will find they are reasonably well catered for. And for adventurous palates, there are specialist Turkish, Italian, French and Asian restaurants.Many restaurants double as beach bars and stay open late, especially at weekends, when Nungwi has a very active party scene by Zanzibari standards. Local beers are generally refreshing and well priced, but a good variety of South African wines and decadent cocktails are also on offer. Wine is much cheaper at supermarkets than in bars.Things To Do at Nungwi
Most visitors to Nungwi are content to spend their days chilling on the beach or at the hotel swimming pool. This can be broken up with the occasional short walk, dip in the ocean, or visit
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to the colorful Maasai handicraft market. A highlight at the end of a quiet day at the main beach, which faces northwest, might be sipping a cocktail while you watch the ocean swallow the orange African sun.Popular activities that take place in Nungwi or along the beach include guided horseback rides, kitesurfing, canoeing and jet-skiing. It should be noted, however, that kitesurfing conditions here don’t usually compare to Paje, which is the beach to visit if that is your main interest.Nungwi Mnarani Aquarium, at Ras Nungwi, is the focal point of a long-serving community-based turtle conservation project. Its centerpiece is a large natural rock pool where turtles accidentally caught and injured in fishing nets are rehabilitated before being released back into the wild. There is also an egg hatchery for , the most common species in this part of the world. The aquarium stands alongside (and offers the best view of) Ras Nungwi Lighthouse, which dates to the 1880s but is closed to the public.Nearby Things To Do
Popular diving and snorkeling excursions are offered by half a dozen dive shops on Nungwi’s main seafront. These generally involve taking a motorized or other boat to the reefs of Mnemba Atoll, which is widely
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regarded to have the best snorkeling and diving conditions on Zanzibar. Dolphins are often encountered on the boat trip to Mnemba, and the selection of reef fish in the coral gardens is simply dazzling.Other local sites of interest include the extensive Tazari Twin Caves and the medieval Fukuchani Ruins, a few kilometers south of Nungwi. Farther afield, if you will not be staying in Zanzibar City’s fascinating Stone Town, we would strongly recommend booking onto a guided walking tour to explore the many historical buildings that line its alleys.How To Get to Nungwi
Nungwi lies about 65km/40mi north of Stone Town and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, the main port of entry to Zanzibar Island. Road transfers from Stone Town or the airport take around 90 minutes and can