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Ocean & Marine · Half day
Nakupenda Sandbank
A pristine sandbank that emerges from the sea at low tide, swim, relax and lunch surrounded by nothing but ocean.
Overview
Nakupenda, meaning "I love you" in Swahili, “I love you” in Swahili, is a stretch of white sand that appears from the sea at low tide, ringed by clear, shallow turquoise water.
A boat brings you out from near Stone Town to this natural sandbar, where there's nothing to do but swim, snorkel, relax on the sand and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch served right there on the beach. Because the sandbank is tide-dependent, the timing is planned carefully around the day's tides, which is exactly the kind of detail we handle for you.
One of the island's most photogenic and relaxing half-days.
Highlights
- A pristine sandbank surrounded by clear ocean
- Swim and snorkel in warm, shallow turquoise water
- A fresh seafood lunch served on the sand
- One of Zanzibar's most photogenic spots
- Relaxed pace, simply sand, sea and sun
- Short boat trip from near Stone Town
What your day looks like
An illustrative flow, exact timings are confirmed before your trip.
- Timed to the tideDepart by boat. Set out from near Stone Town, with timing planned around the low tide.
- The sandbank. Arrive at the sandbar to swim, snorkel and relax on the white sand.
- Seafood lunch. A fresh seafood lunch is served on the sandbank.
- Return. Boat back as the tide turns.
What's included
Included
- Boat transfers
- Seafood lunch on the sandbank
- Snorkelling equipment
- Guide
- Bottled water
Not included
- Hotel transfers to departure point (can be arranged)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
Good to know
Tide-dependent. The sandbank only appears at low tide, so timing is set by the tides and confirmed close to your date, not the other way around. We handle this planning for you.
Shade. There's little natural shade on a sandbank, so bring a hat, plenty of reef-safe sunscreen and a cover-up.
Gallery
Frequently asked
The sandbank is only exposed at low tide, so the departure time follows the tide chart for your chosen day. We confirm the exact timing in advance.
Natural shade is limited. A simple sun shelter is often set up for lunch, but bring a hat, sunscreen and cover-up to be comfortable.
Yes, both depart from the same area near Stone Town and are sometimes combined into a fuller day. We can arrange this depending on tides.
Yes. The water around the sandbank is shallow and calm, and you can simply relax on the sand. Life jackets are available for snorkelling.
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