Private Salaam Cave, Mtende and Paje Beach Day Tour
4.9 (42 reviews) from travellers who booked this experience
Overview
This private Salaam Cave, Mtende and Paje beach day is a relaxed seven-hour tour of southern Zanzibar with everything arranged for you. Our driver and your private English-speaking guide collect you at your hotel anywhere on the island in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the entry fees to Salaam Cave and Mtende Beach are included. You swim beside the turtles in the natural cave pool, enjoy free time on Mtende cove and Paje Beach, and stop for photos at The Rock off Michamvi. Start at 08:00, 09:00 or 10:00 and change the order or length of each stop as you wish. Ideal for families, couples and friends.
Highlights
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking guide for your party only
- Swim with the turtles in the natural pool of Salaam Cave
- Mtende Beach, the quiet white-sand cove between coral cliffs at the southern tip
- Free time on Paje Beach and its shallow turquoise lagoon
- Photo stop at The Rock off Michamvi Pingwe, with help reserving a lunch table
- Entry fees and government taxes for Salaam Cave and Mtende Beach included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Zanzibar, bottled water on board
- Choice of three start times and a flexible pace at every stop
Full Description
Salaam Cave: swimming with the turtles
Salaam Cave is a natural pool inside a limestone cave near the village of Mtende, at the southern tip of Zanzibar close to Makunduchi. Turtles live in the sheltered, clear water and are fed by their keepers, and guests may enter the pool to swim beside them. The cave roof keeps the water cool and shaded, which makes it an easy, calm swim even for children and for guests who find the open sea intimidating. Watching a turtle surface for air an arm's length away is the moment most families remember.
On this private tour the entry fee is already included and your guide arranges the visit, so you simply walk in, change and enjoy about an hour in and around the water. Please respect the animals: no holding, no chasing and no sunscreen in the pool, so apply it early. Is Salaam Cave worth visiting? Yes, especially as the first stop of the day, when the pool is quiet.
Mtende Beach, the hidden cove of the south
A few minutes from the cave, Mtende Beach is a small cove of powder-white sand enclosed by coral cliffs, with deep blue water close to the shore and a few shady trees. It is kept by the village, which collects a small entrance that is included in this tour, and because there are no large hotels nearby it stays quiet even when the main beaches are busy. The cliffs frame the view and make Mtende one of the prettiest spots for photos in the south of Zanzibar.
Swimming is best around mid to high tide, when the water comes right up the sand; at low tide the exposed rock makes reef shoes handy. Best time to visit Mtende Beach is late morning or early afternoon on this tour, and you can stay as long as you like, typically an hour to an hour and a half. There is little shade, so a hat and sunscreen matter here.
The Rock at Michamvi Pingwe and lunch
Heading north along the east coast, the tour stops at Pingwe on the Michamvi peninsula, where The Rock stands on a coral outcrop a short way from the beach, reachable on foot at low tide and by small boat at high tide. With the turquoise lagoon and the reef line behind it, this is the classic east-coast photo of Zanzibar, and the stop takes about twenty minutes.
If you would like to have lunch at The Rock, tell us when booking: we help to reserve a table, and the meal is at your own expense. Otherwise your guide suggests restaurants in Paje or Jambiani, with Swahili grilled fish, rice and fresh fruit. Lunch is not included in the tour, and the lunch break is yours to time as you prefer.
Paje Beach and the south-east lagoon
Paje Beach is the long white strand at the heart of the south-east coast, about an hour by road from Stone Town. Its shallow lagoon runs out to a reef far offshore, seaweed farmers work the sand flats at low tide, and the afternoon wind fills the sky with kites. The village behind the beach is relaxed and friendly, with cafes and small guesthouses under the palms. The best time to swim at Paje Beach is around high tide, when the water reaches the shore; at low tide you can walk far out across the flats.
The tour ends with free time here before the drive back, and because the day is private you choose how long: a quick swim and a rest in the shade, or a full hour on the sand. Afterwards our driver returns you to your hotel, wherever you stay on the island.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickup at 08:00, 09:00 or 10:00Our driver and your private guide meet you at reception at the booked time, confirm your name and set off south in the air-conditioned vehicle.
- Salaam CaveSwim beside the turtles in the natural cave pool and watch feeding time, about one hour; entry fee included.
- Mtende BeachFree time on the white-sand cove to swim, relax and photograph the cliffs, about one hour to an hour and a half; entry included.
- The Rock, Michamvi PingwePhoto stop at the restaurant on its coral outcrop, about twenty minutes, or lunch there if you reserved a table.
- Lunch breakAt The Rock or at a restaurant in Paje or Jambiani, at your own expense, about one hour.
- Paje BeachFree time to swim and relax on the sand for as long as you like, typically about one hour.
- Return to your hotelDrive back in your private vehicle, arriving about seven hours after pickup.
What's included
- Private hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Zanzibar
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Private English-speaking guide
- Entry fees and government taxes (Salaam Cave and Mtende Beach)
- Bottled water
- Visits to Salaam Cave, Mtende Beach, Paje Beach and The Rock
- Help reserving your lunch table at The Rock
Not included
- Food and drinks (lunch at The Rock is at your own expense)
- Tips
Meeting point
We pick you up at the reception of your hotel anywhere in Zanzibar at 08:00, 09:00 or 10:00, as booked. Our driver and your guide come to reception at the exact time, confirm your name and booking and leave with you straight away, so please be ready a few minutes early.
Important information
- Entry fees and government taxes for Salaam Cave and Mtende Beach are included; lunch and drinks are not
- Wear swimwear under light clothes and bring a towel, reef shoes and a change of clothes
- Apply sunscreen well before the turtle pool and never touch, hold or chase the turtles
- Cover shoulders and knees in the villages and on the drive; swimwear only at the beaches and in the cave
- Bring a hat, sunglasses and water; shade is limited at Mtende
- If you want lunch at The Rock, tell us when booking so we can help reserve a table
- Swimming at Mtende and Paje is best around high tide; your guide plans the order of stops accordingly
- Bottled water is provided in the vehicle
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this tour private?
Yes. The vehicle, the guide and the day are for your party only, with no other travellers.
Can we change the itinerary or the pace?
Yes. Stay longer at the cave or the beaches, skip The Rock or swap the order to match the tide; just tell your guide. Extra places can be discussed when booking.
How many people fit in the vehicle?
We provide a private air-conditioned vehicle sized to your party. Tell us how many adults and children are travelling and we confirm the right one.
Is the price per person or per group?
The tour is priced per person on a private basis, with a youth rate for children. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for your date.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, private pickup and drop-off are included from any hotel in Zanzibar, including Stone Town and the north coast.
What is included?
Private vehicle and English-speaking guide, hotel transfers, entry fees and government taxes for Salaam Cave and Mtende Beach, bottled water, the visits to Salaam Cave, Mtende Beach, Paje Beach and The Rock, and help reserving a lunch table at The Rock. Lunch, drinks and tips are not included.
How long is the tour?
About seven hours from pickup to drop-off, a little more for hotels far from the south coast or if you choose to linger on the beaches.
Is it suitable for children and people with reduced mobility?
Children enjoy the turtles and the calm beaches very much. The cave has steps that can be slippery; guests with reduced mobility can enjoy the beaches and the viewpoints and watch the turtles from the edge.
Do I need to be a good swimmer for the turtle pool?
No. The pool is calm and you can stay near the steps where you can stand; the keepers and your guide are with you. Tell us in advance if anyone cannot swim.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, towel, reef shoes, sunscreen, hat, a change of clothes and cash for lunch. A waterproof phone case is useful at the cave.
What is the best time of year?
The dry months from June to October and December to February are ideal for beach days. The cave is pleasant all year; April and May bring the heaviest rain.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date and start time in the booking panel and send the request. Our team confirms on WhatsApp within minutes and asks whether you would like a lunch table reserved.
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