Nakupenda Beach guide ( +TIPS, Tours and Visit Info)
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Nakupenda beach, also known as Zanzibar sandbank, Nakupenda sandbank or Nakupenda island, is a sandbank island in the Zanzibar archipelago. It is a place of breathtaking beauty to unplug and enjoy. It is located just 15 minutes boat ride from the Stone Town harbor. The island is the perfect day trip to enjoy Zanzibar pristine aquamarine water, do some snorkeling and try some delicious Indian Ocean seafood. This tour to Nakupenda beach nature reserve includes a delicious barbacue meal.
In this guide I will share all you need to know to visit Nakupenda sandbank , this beach island in the Zanzibar archipelago, and I will share with you some of my photos, videos and my experience visiting the island.
Let’s jump into this guide and get into the details.
NAKUPENDA SANDBANK ISLAND VIDEO
Find here the video of my visit to Nakupenda island. The video includes the boat trip to the island, a walk along the sandbank Zanzibar and eating the delicious seafood offered during our tour.
ABOUT NAKUPENDA BEACH SANDBANK ISLAND
Nakupenda is a Swahili word that means “I love you”. The Nakupenda sandbank island is one of the most beautiful beaches in Zanzibar and East Africa. The pristine water surrounding this Zanzibar sandbank and the heavenly white sand beach is the ideal destination for beach lovers and romantic couples. That is why maybe, the name “Nakupenda”. The place is so stunning that will make you love life and everybody around you more.
The island is a Zanzibar sandbank, meaning Nakupenda beach is only above sea level during low tide. You can only reach the beach by boat and you must careful of the time of the day when you visit the island. But no worries, local people know the best time of the day to bring you there.
BOOK: Nakupenda and Prison island tour
WHERE IS NAKUPENDA BEACH SANDBANK ISLAND
Nakupenda beach sandbank island is located just a few km away from Stone Town harbour. Find here a pin with the location of this Zanzibar sandbank, Nakupenda beach.
HOW TO GET TO NAKUPENDA SANDBANK
The only way to get to the island is by boat. You can either go with a public boat that you can share with some more people or charter private transport.
This all depends on your budget and needs. You can find several boats that will bring you to the island by walking along the Stone Town harbor and asking around. This is a good option if you have plenty of time and energy for negotiating the price. Boats are not leaving everyday as they need to have a minimum of passengers to go to the island.
Getting your private boat is a good option but prices can be pretty expensive, depending on the time of the year and how well you negotiate, the best option is to book a tour that usually comes with a very nice lunch included
There are some people selling food and clothes at the sandbank but in my experience the food you get in the tours is usually seafood that is not always available in the island.
HOW TO BOOK A NAKUPENDA BEACH SANDBANK ISLAND TOUR
As I mentioned in the previous section, if you are visiting Zanzibar for a short time, the best option is to visit Zanzibar sandbank with a tour.
There are several tour agencies scattered in Stone Town where you can get a tour package to Nakupenda beach. You can just go to the isalnd and return after your visit or do a combined visit to Prison island.
Prison island is one of the most touristic attractions in Zanzibar and visiting both islands is the best option and the one that I recommend.
BOOK: Nakunpenda sandbank tour
BOOK: Nakupenda sandbank tour and prison island
NAKUPENDA BEACH NATURE RESERVE TOUR AVAILABILITY
You can use this calendar below to see the availability of tours. It’s important to book this tour in advance during high season as it can be a very popular activity in Zanzibar and they try and limit the number of boats in the water.
SNORKELING IN NAKUPENDA SANBANK ISLAND
There are some coral reefs in Nakupenda beach and you can see some colorful fish. However the water can be a bit wavy some times and you will need to swim deep inside to be able to see some marine life. It is pretty safe as there are no currents but check always with your boat captain. Yes, snorkeling is worth in Nakupenda island so make sure your tour provides you with snorkel equipment or bring your own.
BEST TIME TO VISIT NAKUPENDA BEACH SANBANK ISLAND
The best time to visit the island is in the early morning as it can get pretty crowded during the afternoon. When I arrived in the island it was almost empty but at the time we left to head to prison island there were hundreds of people in the sandbank, not my kind of thing.
The island literally shrinks and sinks under water in the evening due to the tide so it is not an option to visit at this time.
Most tours will bring you first to Prison island and then to Nakupenda island for lunch. Request if this order can be switched as you do not want to be there when the island becomes to crowded.
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING NAKUPENDA SANDBANK
Unguja in Zanzibar is a big beautiful island but not all locations are close to this stunning beach in the island. The closest place and best location to stay when visiting this sandbank island is in Stone Town. There plenty of things to do in Stone Town and you can combine your visit this historical place with half day trip to this place.
There are a wide range of accommodation in Stone Town and some of them are beautiful historical colonial buildings with a history.
I am writing here a recommendation to the best hotels to stay in Stone Town, I have stayed several times and have stayed in these hotels.
Antonio Garden Hotel: This hotel is my favorite place in Stone Town. I stayed here for a week the first time I landed in Zanzibar and I can only say good things about this place. The rooms and room service is outstanding and the beautiful patio with a swimming and bar restaurant is the perfect place to socialize. The building is a beautiful colonial style and the staff working at the hotel is super nice. I highly recommend this place for your stay. It is a bit pricey but well worth what you pay for. You can always also visit their restaurant for a meal or a coffee.
Kelele Square: I have also stayed in this place and in fact I stayed here when I did my trip to Nakupenda. The place is a simple accommodation located very close to Stone Town beach and some historical buildings. The rooms are small and simple but pretty clean. The hotel building dates back to 1995 and it is very close to the famous House of Wonders. Services is very good and there are free Wifi with a fridge and kettle in every room.
Zava house: Simple and basic accommodation close to the Old Fort in Zanzibar with excellent service. They have a kitchen you can use to cook. I also stayed in this place and it was very safe.
The property is very close to the Old Fort in Zanzibar.
Spice Palace Hotel: This is a beautiful colonial building with a great rooftop terrace where you can see the sunset while having a delicious dinner. I have stayed here for one night and the rooms are really clean and luxurious. The hotel has a little hotel in the ground floor and they have some live bands playing in the restaurant and cafe areas at certain week days.
WHAT TO PACK FOR NAKUPENDA ISLAND
Some packing essentials for Nakupenda island:
Sun screen: The are no trees or any shadows in Nakupenda beach so please bring enough sun screen or you will get sunburn very fast.
Snorkel equipment: Make sure your tour includes snorkeling equipment or bring your own.
Hat: If you are planning to walk along the sandbank for a long time bring a hat. The sun gets very strong in Zanzibar and mostly in Nakupenda as it is just a small sandbank in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Camera: The island is a dream for landscape photographers. Do not forget to bring a good camear and your wide angles lenses.
IS NAKUPENDA WORTH VISITING?
Yes, Nakupenda beach is really worth a visit. It is one of the most beautiful beaches I have visited in East Africa. It can feel a bit too crowded sometimes but if you plan wisely you can enjoy a paradise island and some lovely local Tanzanian food.
If you are visiting Zanzibar you should really spend at least one day in Nakupenda sandbank.
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