Zanzibar North (Nungwi & Kendwa)

The northern tip of Unguja (Zanzibar Island) is home to Nungwi and Kendwa — two of the Indian Ocean's most celebrated beach destinations. Nungwi's natural tidal pool allows swimming and snorkelling at any hour regardless of tide, while traditional dhow-building yards where craftsmen construct vessels using methods unchanged for centuries operate right on the beach. Kendwa's powder-white sand and turquoise waters host the famous full-moon beach parties, drawing travellers from across the globe. The waters off Nungwi teem with whale sharks (seasonal), green turtles nesting at the Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation Pond, and some of the finest deep-water dive sites in the western Indian Ocean.