Nungwi

Nungwi, or Ras Nungwi,[1][2][3] is a large village located in the far northern end of the island of Zanzibar. With a population of about 5,563, Nungwi is the second- or third-largest settlement on the island, possibly smaller than Makunduchi.[4][5] It is situated in the Nungwi Ward in the Kaskazini A District of the Unguja North Region. It is about 35 miles (56 km) north of Zanzibar Town[6] on the Nungwi Peninsula, about an hour drive from Stone Town.[4] To the south Nungwi shares a border with the neighboring Matemwe- and Tazari villages.[5] Nungwi was traditionally a fishing village and dhow-building center, but is now a popular tourist destination, and for instance recognized in CNN’s list of "100 best beaches of the world" in 2014.[7][8] West Nungwi has changed a lot since the 1990s and is now a popular tourist destination with numerous resorts, restaurants, bars, stores, etc. East Nungwi is quieter and generally more laid-back.[9][10]

View of the main beach.

Nungwi can be reached by public bus, dala-dala or a hired vehicle from Zanzibar Town. From Zanzibar Town the main tarmac road goes through the villages Mtoni, Mahonda, Kinvasini and Kivunge. It costs about 2,000 Tanzanian shilling. Dala-dala number 116 leaves daily from Creek Road in Zanzibar Town for Nungwi every half-hour between 5:30 AM and 9 PM. Public bus on route 14 departs also every half-hour between 7 AM and 6 PM from the Darajani Terminal, Zanzibar Town.[11][12]


Economy

In the past it was mostly known as a dhow boatyard and fishing village.[13] Until the 1990s, the local population was opposed to tourism. Nungwi's beach is one of the last in the area to host hotels and other touristic structures, but has however, in recent years emerged as the most visited tourist destination in Zanzibar.[14][15][16] Between 2008 and 2013, the number of hotel rooms has increased by 129 percent to about 1,000 rooms.[11] The recent increase in tourism has been due to its coast and beaches[16] lined with palm, mangrove, and casuarina trees, as well as the good snorkeling and scuba diving.[14] The main beach of Nungwi is nicknamed "Jambo Square".[17] A small aquarium with sea turtles has also recently been created in the village. Besides tourism and fishing, agriculture constitutes a smaller portion of the economic activity. Farmers cultivate lentils, corn, beans, and cassava.[18]

Sources
  1. Fargion, Janet Topp (2014). Taarab Music in Zanzibar in the Twentieth Century: A Story of ‘Old is Gold’ and Flying Spirits. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Page 25. ISBN 9780754655541.
  2. Luhikula, Gratian (1991). Tourist guide to Tanzania. Travel Promotion. Page 117. ISBN 9789976986037.
  3. Hydrographic Dept of Great Britain (1954). Africa Pilot, Volume 3. University of California. Pages 380-383.
  4. "A Tour of Nungwi Village in Zanzibar - Go Backpacking". 16 June 2014.
  5. Pfeifer, Kimberly (2000). Echoing silence and narcissistic violence, Volumes 1-2. University of Florida. Page 267.
  6. Luhikula, Gratian (1991). Tourist guide to Tanzania. Travel Promotion. Page 127. ISBN 9789976986037.
  7. "100 best beaches around the world". 29 May 2013.
  8. Briggs, Philip (2009). Bradt Tanzania: With Zanzibar, Pemba & Mafia. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 328. ISBN 9781841622880.
  9. "Nungwi safaris, tailor-made vacations to Nungwi, Nungwi holidays - ATR". www.africatravelresource.com.
  10. Fitzpatrick, Mary (2010). Tanzania. Lonely Planet. Page 129. ISBN 9781742203843.
  11. McIntyre, Susan and Chris (2013). Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 218. ISBN 9781841624587.
  12. Fitzpatrick, Mary (2015). Tanzania. Lonely Planet. Page 66. ISBN 9781743605417.
  13. Meadows, Mana (30 November 2009). "Nungwi, the Ibiza of East Africa". theeastafrican.co.ke. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  14. Briggs, Philip (2006). Northern Tanzania with Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 253. ISBN 9781841621463.
  15. McIntyre, Chris and Philip Briggs (2013). Northern Tanzania: Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 373. ISBN 9781841624570.
  16. McIntyre, Susan and Chris (2013). Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 217. ISBN 9781841624587.
  17. McIntyre, Chris; McIntyre, Susan (2009). Zanzibar (7 ed.). Chalfont St Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 1-84162-254-0.
  18. Pfeifer, Kimberly 2000). Echoing silence and narcissistic violence, Volumes 1-2. University of Florida. Page 271.

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