Planning a Day Out from Kendwa
Advisory dated October 2026: Tanzania sits at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, on the US State Department’s scale (travel.state.gov ). The UK does not warn against Zanzibar and names only the Mozambique border zone. UK officials add that protests can flare after elections, that you must not photograph demonstrations, and that mobile data may be switched off. A day trip that depends on one ferry or one road should have a fallback. Read the UK advice first.
Planning a Day Out from Kendwa
Kendwa is far from the island’s main sights, so a day out needs a driver or a boat and an early start. This table shows what is within reach.
| Destination | From Kendwa | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Nungwi | about 3 km | boatyard, fish market, turtle pond |
| Stone Town | about 60 km, 1h15 to 1h30 | old town, waterfront, history |
| Spice farm | about an hour | a spice farm visit |
| Jozani forest | about two hours each way | red colobus monkeys |
| Prison Island | via Stone Town, then a boat | giant tortoises |
| Mnemba Atoll | by boat | snorkelling |
Stone Town
Stone Town is the standard full-day trip. Book a driver for the day so the car waits while you explore. The old town is a UNESCO site, and the usual route covers Ngome Kongwe (the Old Fort), the Anglican Cathedral and the former slave market memorial, and the Forodhani seafront gardens. The Beit al-Ajaib or House of Wonders dominates the waterfront. It has been described as closed or under restoration, so treat it as something to admire from the street and confirm access before planning an interior visit. Give the cathedral and memorial a quiet, respectful visit.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Jozani protects the Zanzibar red colobus. The forest lies roughly 30 to 35 km south-east of Stone Town, so allow about two hours in each direction from Kendwa. Entry requires a guide. Fees are collected at the gate.
Prison Island
From Stone Town a boat crosses to Changuu, called Prison Island, where Aldabra giant tortoises roam. The entrance fee is about US$4, plus the cost of the boat.
Spice farm
Spice farms lie about an hour away, and your hotel can arrange a visit. Browse spice and Stone Town tours
A half day nearby
Walk or ride to Nungwi for the dhow yard and morning fish market. The beach route between the two villages can be walked only when the tide is out. Mnemba and Tumbatu are boat outings, covered in our attraction tours guide .
Transport options
- Hotel taxi or private car: from Stone Town about TSh 70,000 or US$40 and more.
- Airport shuttle from Stone Town: around US$10, on older prices.
- Daladala 116: leaves from Darajani in Stone Town for Nungwi, then a 1.5 km walk downhill from the Kendwa junction. Fares were around TSh 2,000 to 2,500 on older prices, and the buses are packed, which makes them a poor fit with bags.
- Self-drive: traffic keeps left, and a Zanzibar temporary licence is required in addition to your own, so ask the rental firm what it needs.
Visitors must also hold Zanzibar’s mandatory insurance policy, US$44 per adult for up to 92 days, available from zic.co.tz and the visitzanzibar.go.tz portal.
Read more: Multi day trips including Kendwa .