Nungwi is the dhow building capital of Zanzibar. Your drive to Nungwi will take you past the fish markets where you can see freshly caught seafood being auctioned. There is a stop at the ruins of old Portuguese settlement where your guide will explain the history of the ruins and the Portuguese conquest of Zanzibar dating back to 1497. A stop at the blacksmith is fascinating, tools are still made in the traditional way for constructing dhows. At the construction site dhows are built in the same way they have for centuries, skilled craftsmen bending wood to create the dhows. Visitors may be invited to try their hand at this unique craft.

A visit to the Nungwi turtle sanctuary and acquarium follows where ailing turtles are nursed back to health and released into the ocean. A guided tour of Nungwi village where mamas wrapped in kangas cook over firewood and smiling kids playing. Walk down to the beach where you can enjoy an optional lunch at one of Nungwi’s popular restaurants and enjoy some free time sunbathing and swimming.