Nungwi

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lighthouse nungwi Original 4b713299-08fb-4d32-9299-6844e8a97a78 IMG 20211201 154556.jpg
lighthouse nungwi
View of the main beach. Nungwi (2010-011-1318-T).jpg
View of the main beach.

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 30,762 (2022 census), Nungwi is the second largest settlement on the island. [4] [5] [6] 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 [7] on the Nungwi Peninsula, about an hour drive from Stone Town. [5] To the south Nungwi shares a border with the neighboring Matemwe- and Tazari villages. [6] 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. [8] [9] 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. [10] [11]

Contents

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 TSh  2,000/=. 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. [12] [13]


Economy

In the past it was mostly known as a dhow boatyard and fishing village. [14] Until the 1990s, the local population was opposed to tourism. Nungwi's beach was one of the last in the area to host hotels and other tourist structures; however, in recent years, it has emerged as the most visited tourist destination in Zanzibar. [15] [16] [17] Between 2008 and 2013, hotel capacity increased by 129 percent to roughly 1,000 rooms. [12] The recent increase in tourism has been due to its coast and beaches [17] lined with palm, mangrove, and casuarina trees, as well as the good snorkeling and scuba diving. [15] The main beach of Nungwi is nicknamed "Jambo Square". [18] 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. [19]

See also

Historic Swahili Settlements

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. ↑ Citypopulation.de Population of cities & urban localities in Tanzania
  5. 1 2 "A Tour of Nungwi Village in Zanzibar - Go Backpacking". 16 June 2014.
  6. 1 2 Pfeifer, Kimberly (2000). Echoing silence and narcissistic violence, Volumes 1-2. University of Florida. Page 267.
  7. ↑ Luhikula, Gratian (1991). Tourist guide to Tanzania. Travel Promotion. Page 127. ISBN   9789976986037.
  8. ↑ "100 best beaches around the world". 29 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Briggs, Philip (2009). Bradt Tanzania: With Zanzibar, Pemba & Mafia. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 328. ISBN   9781841622880.
  10. ↑ "Nungwi safaris, tailor-made vacations to Nungwi, Nungwi holidays - ATR". www.africatravelresource.com.
  11. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Mary (2010). Tanzania. Lonely Planet. Page 129. ISBN   9781742203843.
  12. 1 2 McIntyre, Susan and Chris (2013). Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 218. ISBN   9781841624587.
  13. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Mary (2015). Tanzania. Lonely Planet. Page 66. ISBN   9781743605417.
  14. ↑ Meadows, Mana (30 November 2009). "Nungwi, the Ibiza of East Africa". theeastafrican.co.ke. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  15. 1 2 Briggs, Philip (2006). Northern Tanzania with Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 253. ISBN   9781841621463.
  16. ↑ McIntyre, Chris and Philip Briggs (2013). Northern Tanzania: Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 373. ISBN   9781841624570.
  17. 1 2 McIntyre, Susan and Chris (2013). Zanzibar. Bradt Travel Guides. Page 217. ISBN   9781841624587.
  18. ↑ McIntyre, Chris; McIntyre, Susan (2009). Zanzibar (7 ed.). Chalfont St Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN   1-84162-254-0.
  19. ↑ Pfeifer, Kimberly 2000). Echoing silence and narcissistic violence, Volumes 1-2. University of Florida. Page 271.

5°43′34″S39°17′46″E / 5.726°S 39.296°E / -5.726; 39.296

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