Nakupenda Sandbank Tour

Overview

Take a boat from Stone Town to Nakupenda Sandbank and spend a few hours swimming, relaxing on the sand and enjoying time out on the water.
The sandbank sits offshore and is reached by boat, making it a good choice for visitors who want a simple beach-and-sea experience without spending the whole day travelling around the island.

Nakupenda is a sandbank located a short boat ride from Stone Town. Unlike a normal beach connected to the island, you travel out by boat and spend your time on a stretch of sand surrounded by the Indian Ocean.

Once at the sandbank, the experience is mostly unhurried. There is time to swim, relax, walk along the sand and enjoy being away from the busier parts of Stone Town.

Snorkeling is also commonly offered during Nakupenda trips, although conditions and the exact snorkeling arrangement can vary.

Many Nakupenda excursions also include lunch and tropical fruit on the sandbank, but this should only be listed as included once the exact arrangement for this tour is confirmed.

The shape and size of the sandbank can change with the tide, so the experience may look slightly different depending on the time of day.

If you are already spending time in Stone Town, this is one of the easiest sea excursions to combine with a visit to the historic centre.

Additional Information

Bring swimwear, sun protection and a towel if you plan to swim.
Because the tour takes place on an exposed sandbank, there is limited natural shade, so sun protection is especially useful.
The sandbank changes with the tide, and the amount of visible sand can vary during the day.
Water conditions can also change, so swimming and snorkeling should follow the guide or boat crew’s advice on the day.
Hotel pickup and return can be arranged from other parts of Zanzibar. Transport is separate from the tour fee.

Alice M November 4, 2025

Amazing Stone Town Tour!

Mady gave us the best and most educational tour of Stone Town! It was a walking tour that went way beyond our expectations. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about the history and culture of Zanzibar, Stone Town, and Tanzania — basically the entire African continent as a whole. You can tell he truly loves what he does and takes pride in sharing his country’s rich heritage. We learned so much more than we ever would have on our own. Having someone who knows the backstreets and local spots made all the difference. We visited the spice market and the night food market, learned about local foods and customs, and shopped at a community center that supports local women and artisans. We had an amazing time and highly recommend Mady to anyone looking for an authentic, fun, and enriching experience in Zanzibar!

gracesmy November 14, 2025

Absolutely the best guide in Tanzania, nevertheless Stone Town

Mady was BEYOND fabulous in every sense of the word- we arrived on a delayed flight and with only a half hour’s notice he had us on a private Dhow sunset cruise (with a PLATTER of fresh fruits and fresh coconuts (water and then meat). Met up with us again the next morning for an AMAZINGLY informative walking tour of Stone Town, completely directing the tour based on our interests. Showed us the best spice vendor in town, the only textile vendor who still uses a loom, the best local restaurant, provided many suggestions for activities, food, and entertainment, and of course showed us the churches, mosques, slave Museum, and a devout and thorough history of Stone Town from its origins with Natives, colonizations and all the way up to today. After our walking tour he even set us up with a great snorkeling and beach trip to finish out our day, securing all our gear for fair prices. Mady’s understanding and communication of the English language is second only to his patience and answering all 10,000 questions we had for him. It was truly a wonderful experience getting to know Stone Town through Mady and I will recommend him to everyone I meet.

Tripp W November 2, 2025

Best tour guide in Zanzibar

Mady is a phenomenal tour guide who is extremely knowledgeable and doesn’t rush you through the city. He takes his time and answers all questions you may have about anything in Stone Town. He gives you the accurate prices from the vendors before you visit them. You’re missing out if you don’t book a tour with Mady. Avoid the guys who don’t give the true facts and book with him.

Maria G November 11, 2025

Informative, fun tour!

Amazing tour! Thanks Mady! We did almost three hours through stone town. We got an overview of the history, the culture, etc. We saw all of the sights and explored the small streets.

Questions & Answers

The sandbank is reached by boat from the Stone Town area.

Yes. Swimming is one of the main activities during a Nakupenda visit, subject to sea conditions on the day.

This depends on the tour arrangement. Many Nakupenda trips include seafood or another lunch on the sandbank, but we should confirm this for your client before stating it as included.

Nakupenda Sandbank Tour

Overview

Tour Highlights

What's Included

What's Not Included

Additional Information

Tour Photos