Salaam Cave Turtles and Mtende Beach Half-Day Tour

Salaam Cave and its turtles

Salaam Cave is a natural karst pool near the village of Mtende, close to Makunduchi at the southern tip of Zanzibar, about forty-five minutes by road from Paje. The cave opens onto a sheltered pool of clear water where turtles are kept and cared for, and guests can enter the water to swim alongside them and take part in feeding time. The shade of the cave walls, the slow, curious turtles make it an easy and memorable swim for children and adults who may not be ready for the open sea.

Is Salaam Cave worth visiting? For families, yes: it combines wildlife and swimming in one gentle stop of about an hour and a quarter. Please respect the animals by not grabbing or chasing them and by keeping sunscreen out of the water, so apply it well before. The entrance fee to Salaam Cave is paid on site. Salaam Cave opening hours run through the day, and the afternoon departure of this tour reaches it after the midday heat.

Mtende Beach, the quiet cove of the south

Mtende Beach lies a few minutes from the cave on the southern tip of the island. Unlike the long open beaches of Paje and Jambiani, it is a compact cove of fine white sand tucked between coral cliffs, with deep turquoise water close to the shore and a few casuarina trees for shade. The village keeps the beach and charges a small entrance that is included in this tour. There are no large resorts here, so even in high season it stays calm.

Swimming at Mtende is best around mid to high tide, when the water is deep enough right off the sand; at low tide the exposed rock makes reef shoes useful. Best time to visit Mtende Beach is the afternoon, when the sun has moved off the cliffs and the light is softer, which is exactly when this tour arrives. Expect about an hour and a half of free time to swim, float and take photos before the drive back.

Makunduchi and the road to the southern tip

The drive from Paje to the south passes through Jambiani, with its seaweed farms and fishing boats, and then inland through coconut and cassava plots to Makunduchi, the main town of the south. It is a traditional farming and fishing area where you see village life as it is: children walking home from school, women carrying water and men mending nets. Kizimkazi, famous for its dolphins and its old mosque, lies a short distance to the west.

How to get to Mtende and Salaam Cave is a common question, because public transport in the south is slow and the sites are not signposted. This tour solves it with a vehicle and a local guide who knows the villages, stops for photos on the way and explains what you are seeing. Dress modestly on the road and in the villages; swimwear belongs on the beach and in the cave.

The south-east coast: Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu and Michamvi

The tour is designed for guests staying on the south-east coast of Zanzibar, the long stretch of white sand and shallow lagoon that runs from Michamvi in the north through Bwejuu and Paje to Jambiani in the south. Hotels here are mostly small and relaxed, the lagoon empties at low tide to reveal sand flats and seaweed gardens, and the afternoon wind makes Paje a kitesurfing centre. Pickup is included from all four villages, with the shared departure at 11:30.

If you are looking for things to do in Paje beyond the beach, this half day is the simplest option: it takes the afternoon, needs nothing but swimwear and a towel, and brings you back for sunset. Guests staying in Stone Town or on the north coast can choose the private option with pickup from anywhere in Zanzibar.