Tumbatu is one of Zanzibar’s best kept secrets, as the vast majority is forbidden to set foot on the Island.

Tumbatu is one of Zanzibar’s best kept secrets, as the vast majority is forbidden to set foot on the Island. To enter the island you need special permission from the elders of the community on Tumbatu. People called the Watumbatu – the inhabitants of Tumbatu - aloof and unfriendly, just because they are living as a very close self-supporting community. You will not find cars or scooters here and Tumbatu has only one road to walk on within the island, even though they are living on the island where in the 11th century the Shiraz built the first stone building in the entire Zanzibar Archipelago. See how the Watumbatu fish with net and traps, prepare their fishing nets, traps and also how they build and maintain their fishing boats by hands. Visit the School of Jongowe and learn about the founder of the school and the importance of the huge and old Baobab trees to the community. You will see the difference between new and old sections of the village, and you will visit the house of a fisherman’s family. We will show you the unspoken secrets of Tumbatu, as they are world famous for witch craft.