Swimming with turtles in Zanzibar is one of those experiences people talk about for years afterwards. The good news: there’s a place where it’s practically guaranteed, and another where you can meet sea turtles in the wild. Here are a few tips from us on where to go, what to expect and how to make the most of it.
There are two quite different ways to do it, and it helps to know which one you’re after.
At Salaam Cave, the turtles are always there. You get into the water with them, they swim right next to you, and you can feed them seaweed. This is the one to choose if you want a sure thing, or if you’re travelling with kids.
Around Mnemba Atoll, you snorkel in the open ocean and turtles are one of the animals you may come across, alongside reef fish and, with a bit of luck, dolphins. It feels wilder and more exciting, but the ocean doesn’t take bookings.
Salaam Cave, often simply called the turtle cave, is in Kizimkazi, a fishing village in the south of Zanzibar. Inside is a natural pool of calm, clear water where giant sea turtles live, and you can get in and swim with them. Keepers are there the whole time: they look after the feeding, and you can ask them anything about the turtles.
The best part is how close they come. They glide just a few centimetres away from you, and once you’re holding seaweed, you’ll find they suddenly know exactly who you are. You can buy the seaweed on site for a small amount, around a dollar. It’s a simple thing, but feeding a turtle this big with your own hands is hard to describe until you’ve done it.
One thing that surprises many people: the cave is small. Much smaller than the photos suggest. In high season it can get busy, so it helps to go with realistic expectations and a bit of patience. The turtles are worth it.
Mnemba Atoll lies about 3 km off the north-east coast of Zanzibar and is a protected marine area. The island itself is private, but the reefs around it are where most snorkelling trips on this side of the island go, and for good reason: clear water, colourful coral and plenty of reef fish.
Green turtles live on these reefs, and snorkellers and divers see them here regularly, sometimes resting on the bottom, sometimes swimming past near the surface. Green turtles also nest on Mnemba’s beaches, which is one of the reasons the area is protected.
Dolphins are often spotted around Mnemba too, so with a bit of luck you could see turtles and dolphins on the same trip. That’s a lovely combination, but please take it as a bonus: these are wild animals in the open ocean, so neither is ever guaranteed.
If you do spot a turtle, give it space. Don’t chase it, don’t touch it, and just enjoy watching it go about its day. It’s a much better memory than a blurry photo taken while swimming after it.
Want to swim with the turtles at Salaam Cave and see the red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest on the same day? Our tour picks you up from your hotel, takes you on a guided walk through the forest and the mangroves, then heads south for 30 guaranteed minutes in the water with the turtles, followed by lunch. Entrance fees are included.
From $75 per person · Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
A lot of people search for “swimming with tortoises” in Zanzibar, so let’s clear this up: the giant tortoises on Prison Island live on land. They’re built for walking slowly, eating and napping, not for swimming, and at their age they’ve earned it.
Prison Island (Changuu) is a short boat ride from Stone Town. Its tortoises are Aldabra giant tortoises, and the story behind them is a nice one: in 1919 the Governor of the Seychelles (then a British colony) sent four of them to the island as a gift. By the 1950s there were around 200. Later, many were stolen, and by the mid-1990s only a handful were left, so the population was rebuilt with young tortoises. Today they live in a protected sanctuary, and some are well over 100 years old.
You can walk among them, and the keepers usually hand you some leaves so you can feed them. It’s very relaxed and great for all ages.
And the name? The island was built to hold a prison, but it never actually held prisoners. It was later used as a quarantine station.
Paje and Jambiani on the south-east coast are wonderful beaches, but the shallow, sandy lagoon inside the reef isn’t where turtles live. Turtles are occasionally seen on the outer reefs further out, but if a turtle encounter is the reason you’re going, Salaam Cave or Mnemba are much better bets.
In Nungwi, at the northern tip, there’s the Mnarani Marine Turtles Conservation Pond, a community project that looks after injured turtles and rescued hatchlings and releases them back to the sea. Nungwi also has Baraka Natural Aquarium, where you can swim with turtles too.
You can visit Salaam Cave on your own and pay the entrance fee on site, usually around $10–15 per person for a swim of about 30 minutes (prices change, so check on the day). That's the most basic option, just entry. Kizimkazi is in the far south, so you'll also need transport there and back, which is why tours with hotel pickup, other stops or lunch are priced differently. On our Jozani & Salaam Cave tour, pickup, entrance fees, the guide and lunch are all included.
Note: Seaweed for feeding the turtles costs about $1 and is completely optional. Bring a few small notes.
At Salaam Cave and on Prison Island, you feed the animals with the staff who look after them. In the wild, at Mnemba, never feed or touch turtles, and don't chase them. Keep your distance and let them come to you.
At sea, use reef-safe sunscreen. At Salaam Cave, put it on after your swim, not before: the pool is small and anything on your skin ends up in the turtles' water.
For the seaweed, drinks and tips. Small US dollar notes (like $1 and $5) or Tanzanian shillings work best.
Salaam Cave is small, so in high season it can sometimes feel a bit crowded. Even then, it's well worth it: once you're in the water with the turtles, you'll forget about everyone else. Not sure when to come? Our guide to the best time to visit Zanzibar shows which months are busiest.
Salaam Cave is calm, sheltered water, so it works well for families. On our Mnemba trips, snorkelling gear and life jackets are provided.
The turtles come really close, so a GoPro or a phone in a waterproof pouch is worth bringing.
Salaam Cave is in Kizimkazi, in the south of Zanzibar, about 40 minutes’ drive south of Jozani Forest. Boats to Mnemba Atoll leave from Muyuni or Matemwe beach on the north-east coast, and boats to Prison Island leave from Stone Town. Salaam Cave and Mnemba are at opposite ends of the island, so it’s best to plan them as separate days.
Salaam Cave (south)
Mnemba Atoll (north-east)
Prison Island (off Stone Town)
| From | Salaam Cave | Mnemba boats (Muyuni) | Prison Island boats (Stone Town) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Town | 1 h 30 min | 1 h 25 min | In town |
| Paje / Jambiani | 35–45 min | 1 h 40 min | 1 h 10 min |
| Nungwi / Kendwa | 2 h | 40 min | 1 h 30 min |
Approximate drive times by car, from Google Maps. They depend on traffic and road conditions.
The easiest option: hotel pickup, entrance fees and the guide are all arranged. Combine Salaam Cave with Jozani Forest, spend a day snorkelling at Mnemba, or visit Prison Island together with Nakupenda Sandbank.
Salaam Cave is in Kizimkazi in the far south, boats to Mnemba leave from Muyuni or Matemwe beach in the north-east, and boats to Prison Island leave from Stone Town. A taxi can take you to any of them. Agree on the price before you set off.
Boats to Mnemba leave from Muyuni or Matemwe beach. Prison Island is about 20–30 minutes by boat from Stone Town. On our trips, the transfer from your hotel can be included.
Turtles fit nicely into a bigger day out. Here are a few combinations that work well.
Red colobus monkeys in the morning, sea turtles after that, then lunch. It’s the easiest way to see both in one day. More about the forest in our Jozani Forest guide.
A half-day on the water: snorkelling on the reef, a chance of dolphins and turtles, and a sandbank to finish.
A full day at Mnemba with two hours in areas reserved just for our boat, plus a Swahili seafood BBQ on board.
Giant tortoises in the morning, then a white sandbank and a seafood BBQ.
Our Jozani Forest & Salaam Cave tour is rated 4.9/5 by travellers on GetYourGuide. Here’s what a few of them said about the turtles:
★★★★★
“All in all, a wonderful tour. We especially enjoyed swimming with the turtles.”
Timo · Germany
★★★★★
“My wife loved everything but the Salaam caves were her favourite. Getting up close feeding them was an experience in itself.”
Benjamin · United Kingdom
★★★★★
“We had an amazing day at Jozani Forest and Salaam Cave. Everything was well organised and our guide was great. Just 1 thing to note, you need 1 dollar for the seaweed to feed the turtles.”
Lois · United Kingdom
Yes. At Salaam Cave in Kizimkazi you can swim with sea turtles and feed them, and around Mnemba Atoll you can see them in the wild while snorkelling.
Yes. Salaam Cave in Kizimkazi, in the south of the island, is a natural pool inside a cave where sea turtles live. You can swim with them and feed them seaweed.
For a guaranteed encounter, Salaam Cave. For turtles in the wild, Mnemba Atoll on the north-east coast.
No. They’re wild animals and sightings are regular, but never guaranteed.
No. The Aldabra giant tortoises live on land. You can walk among them and feed them leaves.
If you go to Salaam Cave on your own, entry is usually around $10–15 per person, plus about $1 for seaweed. That’s the most basic option, and you’ll also need transport to Kizimkazi. Our Jozani Forest & Salaam Cave tour is from $75 per person and includes hotel pickup, entrance fees, a guide and lunch.
The seaweed costs around $1. Bring small cash.
Yes, the water is calm and sheltered. Children should be with an adult in the water at all times.
Mainly green turtles and hawksbill turtles.
If you want turtles for sure, go to Salaam Cave. If you’d love to meet them in the wild, head to Mnemba and let the ocean surprise you. And if you have the time, do both. If you’d rather leave the planning to us, drop us a message on WhatsApp with any question, big or small.
