Travel notice, October 2026: The US rates Tanzania at Level 3 (Reconsider Travel); see travel.state.gov when you plan. The UK does not advise against Zanzibar and names only a zone beside the Mozambique border. UK advice does say that the island has seen election violence before, that sharing images of protests is illegal and that internet access may be cut. Pick routes with an easy way home, and read the UK summary .

Kendwa Day Trip Distances and Costs

Day trips from Kendwa are decided by distance. Here are the destinations from nearest to furthest, with what each one costs in time and money.

Nearest: Nungwi, 3 km

Nungwi is the northern tip of the island. It has a dhow yard, a fish market that is best at dawn and the Mnarani turtle pond. The walk along the sand from Kendwa takes about half an hour and is possible only when the tide is out. At high tide the rocks block the shore and people use the back road. A boat from Nungwi to Kendwa has cost from about TSh 20,000, going by older prices.

By boat: Mnemba and Tumbatu

Both are sea outings with a snorkel stop. Mnemba cannot be landed on. Tumbatu has guided cultural visits that elders must approve, set up through an operator. Look up island boat trips

An hour away: spice farm

Spice plantations lie roughly an hour from Kendwa. Plantation names and prices change, so ask your hotel to propose a farm and a driver.

60 km: Stone Town

• Time: 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car.
• Cost: a private taxi runs at least TSh 70,000, which is US$40 or more; an airport shuttle from the town was about US$10 on older listings.
• See: the UNESCO old town, the Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe), Forodhani gardens and the Anglican Cathedral. Treat the cathedral and the slave market memorial beside it as solemn places.
• Skip: going inside the House of Wonders, which has been reported closed for restoration. Admire it from the street.

Two hours: Jozani forest

Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park lies about 30 to 35 km south-east of Stone Town, so Kendwa to Jozani is around two hours one way. Red colobus monkeys are the draw. You must enter with a guide, and the fee is collected at the gate.

Boat from town: Prison Island

Changuu, or Prison Island, is a short boat ride from Stone Town. Aldabra giant tortoises live there. Entry is about US$4, plus the boat.

Public transport option

The daladala numbered 116 starts at Darajani in Stone Town and ends in Nungwi. Passengers for Kendwa get off at the junction and walk about 1.5 km downhill. Fares were roughly TSh 2,000 to 2,500 on older listings. The vehicles are crowded and unsuited to heavy luggage.

Driving yourself

Traffic keeps left. You need a Zanzibar temporary licence as well as your own, and the rental agency can tell you the fee and whether an international permit is also needed.

Insurance and cash

Every foreign visitor must hold the island’s government insurance, US$44 per adult for up to 92 days, via zic.co.tz . Keep Tanzanian shillings for fares, as US dollars are also taken widely.

Read more: Attraction tours near Kendwa and the Zanzibar guide .

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