Tumbatu Island cultural tour: Fishing village & Shiraz ruins

The witch doctor and the baobab classroom are real stops on this island tour.

A six to seven hour cultural tour from Zanzibar to Tumbatu Island, the second largest island nearby, with a local English or Spanish-speaking guide. You start at Mkokoni fishing village, cross by small boat in 30 minutes, then visit fish and furniture markets, watch dhow builders and net repairers at work, learn local fishing traps at the lagoon, and walk to the old baobab trees where children once studied. The tour includes a visit to a spiritual healer to learn about traditional treatments and herbs, then ends at the Shiraz ruins, the settlement of the earliest rulers, with a hot lunch of rice, coconut curry, seafood and fruit.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Tumbatu Island culture and nature

• Start at Mkokoni dhow harbor
• Visit local fish and furniture market
• See cargo dhows and fishing boats
• Boat to Tumbatu Island (30 minutes)
• Stop at lagoon to learn fishing methods
• Visit harbor, dhow crafters, and fishermen
• See old baobab trees school site
• Meet witch doctor and learn traditional healing
• Visit Shiraz ruins
• Enjoy hot local lunch

The experience

The tour departs at 9:00 am from Mkokoni, a working fishing village and dhow harbor on Zanzibar's coast. You'll spend time there first, walking past the local fish and furniture market and the wooden cargo dhows and fishing boats moored in the water. Then a small boat takes you across to Tumbatu Island in 30 minutes. The crossing itself is part of the experience: you stop at the lagoon to watch how locals fish and see the traps they've built and used for generations.

Once on the island, the tour moves through different neighborhoods to show daily life as it happens. You meet dhow crafters repairing wooden boats and fishermen mending nets by hand. You walk to the old baobab trees: massive, hollow trunks that served as an outdoor classroom before modern schools existed. Then comes the less expected part: a visit to a spiritual healer (witch doctor) who explains traditional remedies, ritual treatments and the herbs used in them. This is not theater. It's how some islanders still practice medicine.

The final stop is the Shiraz ruins, the settlement where the earliest rulers of Zanzibar and Tumbatu lived before the 12th century. Lunch is served here: hot rice, coconut curry with seafood, and fresh fruit. An air-conditioned vehicle is included for any land transport, and all fees and taxes are covered in the price. The tour ends in the early afternoon, leaving the rest of your day free.

What’s included

• Lunch with rice, coconut curry, seafood and fruit.
• all fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle for land transport.
• local guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 80 years) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by HALISI AFRICA TOURS

Is this one for you?The tour involves six to seven hours of walking between neighborhoods, a 30-minute boat crossing, and time standing in the sun at each stop, so a moderate fitness level and comfort with water travel help you enjoy it fully. Children from age 8 can join, though the pace and heat suit older kids and adults better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 12 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

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 is the Shiraz ruins and why does the tour end there?

Shiraz was the settlement of the earliest rulers of Zanzibar and Tumbatu Island before the 12th century. The tour ends there because it's a significant historical site on the island, and lunch is served at this location, making it the natural conclusion to the day.

How long is the boat ride from Zanzibar to Tumbatu Island?

The crossing by small boat takes 30 minutes. You stop at the lagoon on the way to watch local fishing methods and see the traps islanders use.

What does the spiritual healer part of the tour involve?

You visit a spiritual healer (witch doctor) who teaches you about traditional and ritual treatments used on the island, and explains the herbs and plants involved in these practices. It's an introduction to how some locals still approach medicine and healing.

What should I wear on this tour?

Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees to respect local culture. If you're a woman and need additional coverage, the tour provides extra clothes if necessary.

What's included in the lunch?

Lunch is a hot meal of rice, coconut curry with seafood, and fresh fruit, served at the Shiraz ruins at the end of the tour.