Nakupenda Sandbank & Spice Farm tour from Zanzibar City

Coconut palms and spice plants come before the sandbank. The farm visit is where the day actually begins.

A full-day tour from Zanzibar City that starts at a spice farm with a guided walk through cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, turmeric and vanilla plants, then moves to Stone Town and boats out to Nakupenda Sandbank for snorkeling, seafood lunch and local beers. Hotel pickup is included. The boat ride takes 25–30 minutes. A knowledgeable guide explains both the spices and their everyday uses, and you'll see how coconut palms are climbed and taste fresh coconut water straight from the tree.

Step-by-step itinerary

Spice farm tour and Nakupenda Sandbank

• Travel from hotel to spice farm
• Guided tour of spice farm
• See coconut palm climbing and taste coconut water
• Boat ride from Stone Town to Nakupenda Sandbank
• Enjoy scenery and take photos
• Have seafood and vegetarian lunch
• Drink local beers, cool drinks, and tropical fruits
• Snorkel around the sandbank

The experience

Your hotel pickup takes you straight to the spice farm, where a guide walks you through plants growing in the open air: cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, vanilla and others. The guide explains how each one is used in cooking and in homes across Zanzibar, not just as tourist information but as practical knowledge. You'll watch people climb the coconut palms and sing as they work, then taste natural coconut water pulled fresh from the tree. This is not a manicured garden. It's a working farm where the spices are actually grown and harvested.

After the farm, you head to Stone Town and board a boat for the 25–30 minute crossing to Nakupenda Sandbank. The word Nakupenda means "I love you" in Swahili. The sandbank itself is a shallow strip of sand and coral where the water stays calm and clear. You'll have time to swim, snorkel around the sandbank, and take photographs. Lunch is seafood and vegetarian dishes served on the sand, with local beers, soft drinks and tropical fruit included. The snorkeling happens all around the sandbank, so you're in the water for as much or as little of the afternoon as you want.

The tour runs about four hours total and includes air-conditioned transport, all entrance fees, and the boat ride. An English-speaking guide is with you the whole time. WiFi is available on board. The minimum age is 18 for alcohol. Children from age 2 are welcome on the tour itself.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and air-conditioned transport.
• guided spice farm tour with explanations of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, vanilla and other plants.
• fresh coconut water tasting.
• boat ride to Nakupenda Sandbank (25–30 minutes).
• all entrance fees.
• seafood and vegetarian lunch.
• local beers, soft drinks and tropical fruit.
• snorkeling around the sandbank.
• WiFi on board.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 11:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (2 to 6 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 40 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Zanzibar marab

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Zanzibar City with a free afternoon and want to combine two very different stops (a working farm and an island sandbank) in a single outing. The spice farm comes first, so you're learning and walking in the morning before the boat ride and water time in the afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 6 years).

What spices will I actually see growing at the farm?

The farm grows cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, turmeric and vanilla, among others. Your guide shows you each plant and explains how it's used in cooking and in daily life at home, not just as a tourist stop.

How long is the boat ride out to Nakupenda Sandbank?

The boat takes 25–30 minutes from Stone Town to reach the sandbank. The crossing is calm and the sandbank itself sits in shallow, clear water.

What's included in the lunch at the sandbank?

Lunch includes seafood and vegetarian dishes, local beers, soft drinks and tropical fruit, all served on the sand. You eat and swim at your own pace during the afternoon.

Is snorkeling included, and what will I see?

Snorkeling is included all around the sandbank. The water is shallow and clear around the coral, though the reference material does not detail which fish or coral species you'll encounter.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the tour, or is pickup included?

Hotel pickup is included. The air-conditioned vehicle collects you and takes you to the spice farm first, then to Stone Town for the boat.