Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with advance notice. It's at the end of the track heading west from the Bububu police sta-
tion and signposted.
HONEYMOON HEAVEN
Tanzania is a popular honeymoon destination, and many upmarket hotels, both
on Zanzibar and on the mainland (especially along the coast and on the northern
safari circuit), offer special honeymoon suites, private candlelit dinners and oth-
er luxuries to help you ease into betrothed bliss. We've mentioned a few of the
suites and other services in the listings in this topic, but it's always worth ask-
ing.
MANGAPWANI
The small and unremarkable beach at Mangapwani is notable mainly for its nearby caves,
and is frequently included as a stop on spice tours.
The caves are located about 20km north of Zanzibar Town along the coast, and are an
easy walk from Mangapwani beach. There are actually two locations. The first is a large
natural cave
with a freshwater pool that is rumoured to have been used in connection with
the slave trade. North of here is the sobering
slave cave
, a dank, dark cell that was used as
a holding pen to hide slaves after the legal trade was abolished in the late 19th century.
There are no facilities at Mangapwani other than Zanzibar Serena Inn's
Mangapwani
Serena Beach Club
( 024-223 3051; set lunch with round-trip transport US$50;
lunch) , with a bar and a set, grilled seafood lunch. It's run by Zanzibar Serena Inn.
To get to the beach, follow the main road north from Zanzibar Town past Bububu to
Chuini, from where you head left down a dirt road for about 8km towards Mangapwani
village and the beach. Dalla-dallas also run between Stone Town and Mangapwani village,
from where it's a short walk to the beach. Just before reaching the restaurant area, there's a
small sign for the caves, or ask locals to point the way.
NUNGWI
This large village, nestled among the palm groves at Zanzibar's northernmost tip, is a
dhow-building centre and one of the island's major tourist destinations. This is despite lack-
ing any sort of substantial beach during much of the year, thanks to shifting tidal patterns
and development-induced erosion.
Nungwi is also where traditional and modern knock against each other with full force.
Fishers sit in the shade repairing their nets while the morning's catch dries on neat wooden
