Dhow building
By hand on the beach.
Moongateclimber — CC BY 3.0 · ObonyoML — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Morten Idriss Nygaar… — CC BY-SA 3.0 · BrixL — CC BY-SA 4.0
A fishing village at the northern tip of Zanzibar island that has become its most famous beach, with soft white sand and turquoise water. Its tides are gentler than on the east coast, so you can swim for most of the day. Nungwi's people still build traditional wooden dhows by hand on the beach, as their grandfathers did, so you see great hulls taking shape among the coconut palms. At Ras Nungwi stands an old lighthouse, and nearby a small sea-turtle sanctuary can be visited. Snorkelling trips leave from the beach for Mnemba island and its coral reefs, and sunset dhow cruises set off in the evening; Nungwi's sunsets are among Zanzibar's best, with the sun dropping straight into the sea. The beach is free and open, lined with hotels and restaurants. Dress modestly when walking in the village away from the beach, out of respect for its Muslim residents. The best months are June to October and December to February.
By hand on the beach.
Snorkelling the reefs.
By dhow.
Northern tip of Unguja island, about 60 km from Stone Town
Its tides are gentler than on the east coast, so you can swim most of the day, and the sunsets over the sea are superb.