Tanzania · NAKUPENDA SANDBANK TRIPS
Nakupenda is a sandbank that appears at low tide and is gone by evening, so the tide table sets the departure. The 15 below differ on lunch, snorkelling time and whether Prison Island is included, each priced per person.
From Stone Town, guide Milano Prada or another multilingual guide takes you by boat to Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank. Expect tortoises, old prison cells, swimming, snorkeling, fresh seafood, fruit, and a long beach stop. Hotel pickup is optional, and private groups are available.
“Milano was a great guide. We had the best day from start to finish - would highly recommend!!”
Sail from Stone Town to Changuu, known as Prison Island, for colonial ruins and giant Aldabra tortoises. Then spend several hours at Nakupenda Sandbank swimming, snorkeling, and eating a BBQ lunch. Guides such as Salim and Bahama lead friendly, informative small-group trips.
“The activities were great! Very well planned and organized. Very nice tour guides!”
Spend 7 to 8 hours moving from Prison Island to Nakupenda Sandbank and Stone Town. Guides such as Muhammad, Yaser, and Suliman lead the day, with boat transport, a seafood or chicken BBQ, fruit, drinks, and snorkeling equipment included.
“This tour was great. Driver was on time to pick us up to our hotel. The tour was just as described. Lunch was good and enough for everyone. Wish we had some time to walk on our own in old town but other than that everything went well.”
Spend 6 to 9 hours off Zanzibar with guides such as Jeff, Milano, or Mulebe. Visit Prison Island’s Aldabra giant tortoises, snorkel in clear water, then eat seafood, fruit, and drinks at Nakupenda Sandbank. Pickup may be available from your hotel.
“This tour was really amazing. Milano is very fun and nice guide. Really recommend to book with him. Food on Nakupenda Sandbank was delicious! All fresh seafood and a lot of it. And also fresh fruit, yum! Prison Island was a little disappointing and overpriced for 15$. This agency also take care of our backpacks in their office and took care for taxi after tour. Amazing guys.”
Join guides such as Milano or Sangi for a full-day Zanzibar outing to Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank. Meet Aldabra giant tortoises, snorkel from a dhow, swim in clear water, and eat a seafood barbecue with fruit and soft drinks.
“We had the best day out, a bit of Zanzibar culture, visiting Prison island and the tortoises on the island, some are almost 200 years old. We then travelled Nakupenda island where we snorkelled and swam and had a seafood barbecue. Everyone was helpful and efficient”
From Stone Town, you’ll visit historic Prison Island, meet giant Aldabra tortoises, then boat to Nakupenda Sandbank for snorkeling, a seafood lunch, fruit, and beach time. The $42 price excludes a $21 entry fee and may not include transfers outside Stone Town.
“Fatal el guía vino 2 horas tarde con la excusa que no nos encontraba Tuvimos problemas con todo por que nos obligó a pagar propinas cuando no nos dio el cambio de unos dólares Horrible”
Join Captain Eddy for a full-day dhow trip from Fumba through Menai Bay. You’ll snorkel coral reefs, pause on a white sandbank with fruit, eat a seafood barbecue on Kwale Island, and visit a mangrove lagoon and ancient baobab tree.
“Leuke activiteit waarbij je ook echt 8-9 u weg bent. Top ervaring en zeer lekker eten”
Spend seven hours between Prison Island and Nakupenda Sandbank with an English-speaking guide such as Haji, Fahad, or Obama. See giant tortoises and old island ruins, swim in clear water, and eat freshly prepared seafood or vegetarian food by the sea. Hotel pickup is available.
“Had an excellent day, good food, helpful attentive and happy crew. We got to the sandbank early so were able to walk around in the quiet before the crowds came. Would recommend this trip.”
Meet your English-speaking guide by Stone Town’s Old Fort, then boat to Prison Island. See its unused prison buildings, feed tortoises over 100 years old, snorkel among fish and coral, and finish with a Swahili seafood BBQ, fruit, cheese, snacks, and water on the sandbank.
Sail from Kendwa on a private traditional dhow to Mnemba Island, with a chance to swim near dolphins, snorkel over coral, enjoy seafood and chicken barbecue, and stop at a sandbank when the tide allows. Crew members such as Matthias, Mbwana, Yusef, and Musa guide the day.
“We enjoyed our trip to Mnemba with Dream Dhow. We were picked up on time and we did the private tour, which we were glad we did. We booked directly with dream dhow through WhatsApp which was easy and efficient. The communication was good which is always iRead more”
Spend about 10 hours visiting Nakupenda Sandbank, Prison Island, and Stone Town. You’ll sail by dhow, snorkel, eat a Swahili seafood lunch, meet giant tortoises, and tour historic landmarks with guides such as Ibrahim, Abraham, Adam, Malcolm, and Isaac.
“C'était vraiment super à refaire ,nous avons découvert de magnifiques lieux et les tortues juste impressionnantes”
From Stone Town, you’ll take a dhow to historic Prison Island, meet giant Aldabra tortoises and peacocks, then spend four hours at Nakupenda Sandbank swimming, snorkeling, eating seafood, and relaxing. English guidance, equipment, drinks, fruit, and a private boat transfer are included.
“The trip was okay, prison island was excellent but Nakupenda sandbank guide was not as good.”
Spend 7 to 8 hours with guide Yasco exploring Stone Town, Changuu Prison Island, and Nakupenda Beach. Your private tour includes boat fare, lunch, shopping time, tortoises, historic sites, and snorkeling, with pickup and return at Mizingani Seafront Hotel.
“Yasco, our tour guide was absolutely amazing! Such a kind soul and truly made our experience an unforgettable one. He provided so much information about Zanzibar and its history. Traveling this far away from home with best friends can be Read more”
Spend a full day with a private guide visiting Prison Island’s giant tortoises and historic buildings, snorkeling at Nakupenda Beach, eating a seafood lunch, and walking Stone Town. Guides such as Amina, Ibrahim, and Hassan are praised for warm, clear storytelling, though Stone Town time can feel short.
“We had a full and delightful day visiting wonderful places with the guide Ibrahim and the driver Abdul (Simba). We started with Prisoners' Island where we learned the history of the place and could admire the beautiful giant turtles. Then we arrivRead more”
Spend about eight hours sailing from Zanzibar to Prison Island and Nakupenda Beach. You’ll see giant tortoises, snorkel when sea conditions allow, eat seafood on the sandbank, and travel with a guide such as Juma or Alex in a group of up to 15.
“Expérience assez mitigée car la visite de l'île Island ne nous apport pas grand chose . Un simple batiment pour la prison et l'espace tortue est très sale et abimée. Ensuite 40 minutes de bateau pour aller sur Nakupenda. Le repas est bon mais rien à faire et pas de Snorkeling comme indiqué car il y a des vagues et pas de poissons ! Retour déjà à 15 heures !”
Pick a park, a reef or a route up the mountain.
