Turaco Nungwi Resort, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is a comfortable mid-range beach base on the north coast, the part of Zanzibar with the best swimming and the finest sunsets. It sits in Nungwi village on a sandy beach with sunbeds and shade umbrellas, where the water stays deeper than on the tidal east coast and the sun sets over the sea. Rooms are spacious, each with a private balcony or terrace looking over the pool, the gardens or the Indian Ocean, and accessible rooms are available. The outdoor freshwater pool has a swim-up bar, Dolphin’s Bar, and ZeeBar on the beach is the place for a sunset drink. Ngalawa is the main buffet restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with weekly live entertainment; Fisherman’s Seafood and Grill serves à la carte seafood and international dishes by the beach; and Kasuku Café in the lobby does coffee. A small wellness centre offers massages and facials, and there is a gym and bicycle hire. Parking is free.
Location and getting around: Nungwi is at the northern tip of Unguja, about 67 kilometres from the airport, so allow around an hour and a half by road. The resort does not run its own shuttle, but a partner company offers transfers for a set fee. From the beach you can walk to the village, the dhow-building yards and the beach bars, and boats leave from Nungwi for Mnemba Atoll and sunset sails.
Rooms: all rooms have a balcony or terrace. Ocean-view rooms cost more but are worth it for the sunsets; pool and garden views are quieter.
Who it suits: couples and adult friends who want an easy, good-value beach stay with Marriott Bonvoy benefits, and travellers who plan to spend their days on boat trips from the north coast. The minimum check-in age is 18, so it is not for families with children.
Good to know: check-in is from 16:00 and check-out at noon. Wi-Fi is free for Bonvoy members who book direct. Bikes can be hired for a small fee. Book Fisherman’s Seafood and Grill for a beach dinner, and arrange Mnemba and dhow trips through the hotel or a trusted operator.
Why stay here
- ✓Outdoor pool with swim-up bar
- ✓Sandy beach with sunbeds
- ✓Fisherman’s Seafood and Grill
- ✓Ngalawa buffet restaurant
- ✓ZeeBar beach bar
- ✓Wellness Centre and gym
- ✓Free parking
- ✓Bicycle hire
Good questions
Is Turaco Nungwi Resort on the beach?+
Yes, it is on a sandy beach in Nungwi village with sunbeds and shade umbrellas. Nungwi faces west, so the sunsets are over the sea.
How far is Turaco Nungwi from the airport?+
It is about 67 kilometres from Zanzibar airport, roughly an hour and a half by road. Transfers can be booked through a partner company for a set fee.
Can children stay at Turaco Nungwi Resort?+
The minimum check-in age is 18, and the resort is aimed at adults. Families should look at the RIU Jambo or the Stone Town hotels.
