Half-Day Nungwi & Kendwa Tour: Swim with Sea Turtles

Swim with sea turtles in a natural coral pool, then watch traditional dhows being built by hand

A half-day tour of Nungwi village in northern Zanzibar combines a swim with endangered sea turtles at Baraka Natural Aquarium, a stop at the working fish market, a visit to the dhow boatyard where craftsmen build boats by hand, and free time at Kendwa Beach. The tour runs six hours with a professional guide, hotel pickup, snorkeling masks, and entrance fees included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Nungwi and Kendwa beaches

• Visit Baraka Natural Aquarium
• Swim and feed sea turtles
• Stop at Nungwi fish market
• Relax at white sand beach
• Visit blacksmith and dhow construction
• Try traditional dhow craft
• Explore Kendwa Rock Beach
• Enjoy free time at Kendwa Beach

The experience

Baraka Natural Aquarium is a tidal pool carved into coral bedrock where sea turtles live in their natural environment. You swim directly with them, feed them seaweed if you want, or use a snorkeling mask to watch from below. The pool's depth rises and falls with the tide, so the water and light shift throughout the day. Entrance and snorkeling gear are included, and the guide handles the logistics so you arrive ready to get in.

The tour moves through Nungwi village's working waterfront: the fish market where local fishermen and women sell the day's catch (tuna, king fish, dorado, squid, octopus), and the boatyard where dhows have been built for centuries. At the shipyard you meet the owner, see how wood is sourced and joints are cut, and can try your hand at the craft yourself. The blacksmith shop shows the traditional tools made on-site for boat construction. This is not a museum. It is where the boats are actually made.

The day ends at Kendwa Beach, a wide, calm stretch of white sand in the northwest with a gradual slope into clear water. The beach has space to explore, play or simply sit, and the southern end is quiet enough to watch the sunset. Free time here lets you move at your own pace after the structured stops. A private air-conditioned car picks you up from your hotel and returns you at the end, and the guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language depending on availability.

What’s included

• Professional guide fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• private hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned car.
• mineral water throughout the tour.
• entrance fees to Baraka Natural Aquarium.
• snorkeling masks for the tidal pool.
• and a contribution to the local community.

Options for this experience

4 options

From Kidoti, Kendwa and NungwiGuide in 5 languages · 12:30Pickup from the North Coast: this applies to clients staying on the North Coast (Kidoti, Kendwa and Nungwi). Pickup is included.

From Uroa, Matemwe and KiwengwaGuide in 5 languages · 12:30Pickup from the East Coast: this applies to clients staying on the East Coast (Matemwe, Pwani Mchangani, Kiwengwa, Pongwe, Chwaka and Uroa). Pickup is included.

Departing from Stone Town, Kama and ChuiniGuide in 5 languages · 12:30Pickup from the urban/west coast: this applies to clients staying in Zanzibar City (Stone Town Area, Chukwani, Mbweni, MangaPwani, Fumba, Kama & Chuini). Pickup is included.

Pickups in Jambiani, Paje and MichamviGuide in 5 languages · 12:30Pickup from the South Coast: this applies to clients staying on the South Coast (Kizimkazi, Makunduchi, Jambiani, Paje, Pingwe, Bwejuu and Michamvi). Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 12:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Green Zanzibar Tours & Safari Company Limited

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided loop through Nungwi's main stops (aquarium, boatyard, market, beach) in one morning or afternoon, leaving your hotel and returning without navigating between them yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Baraka Natural Aquarium and how do you swim with the sea turtles there?

Baraka Natural Aquarium is a tidal pool formed naturally in coral bedrock by wave erosion over millions of years. Endangered sea turtles live in this pool year-round. You enter the water and swim alongside them, feed them seaweed, or snorkel to watch them underwater. The water depth changes with the tide, creating a natural habitat rather than a tank.

Can I see the fish market and the dhow boatyard on the same visit?

Yes. The tour stops at Nungwi's working fish market where you see the daily catch, then moves to the boatyard nearby where traditional dhows are built. You meet the shipyard owner, watch craftsmen bend wood and cut joints, and can try the craft yourself. The blacksmith shop is also on-site, showing how tools for boat-building are made.

How much free time do you get at Kendwa Beach?

Kendwa Beach is the final stop of the tour. You have free time to explore, swim, play or relax on the sand before the return to your hotel. The beach is calm with a gradual slope into the water, and the southern end is quieter if you want to watch the sunset.

What's included in the tour price and what do I need to arrange separately?

The tour includes a professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned car, mineral water during the day, entrance fees to Baraka Natural Aquarium, snorkeling masks, and an 18% government VAT. Gratuities for the guide and driver are separate.