Turtles Sanctuary in Zanzibar
Description
You are welcome to visit one of Zanzibar's best kept secrets – (Turtles Sanctuary) – a unique swimming pool in Unguja Zanzibar. A special place to reconnect with nature, explore the underground life, relax and enjoy the peace while swimming and taking photos with the turtles and beautiful birds from the above. You won't want to leave swimming with the Turtles and making unforgettable memories . Enjoy the peaceful cave.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Itinerary. This is typically itinerary. Pick-up from your hotel at 9:00am or 12:00pm depending on your option, then transfer to nearby turtles Sanctuary from your pickup point in Unguja Zanzibar. You are welcome to visit one of Zanzibar's best kept secrets - Turtles Sanctuary – unique natural swimming pool. A special place to reconnect with nature, explore the underground life, relax and enjoy the peace while swimming and taking photos with the turtles. You won't want to leave without swimming, taking photos and making unforgettable memories . Enjoy the peaceful cave. After finishing, your driver will be ready to give you a ride back to your beautiful hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pickup all travelers from all hotel in Zanzibar.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(38)
I have just completed 25 scuba diving trips in the north and south of Zanzibar and I only saw one turtle. I found out this is because they have all been stollen from the sea and put in various aquariums around the island and used for profit. Some of these aquariums say they are all about conservation and charge a lot of money to see them. They even charge people to help release they. The turtles will be caught again and put back in the aquariums. I asked at the door of the Nungwi aquarium if I can go in and swim with them, they said you can do what you like with them. I was so shocked by this, I never went in. I met Chinese tourists on the beach collecting seaweed to feed the turtles. These people paid a lot of money to be with the turtles and to release some on a certain date. If you love turtles please do not go in these so called turtle sanctuarys. Go see them in the sea where they belong. Your money is paying for them to be imprisoned.
The attraction is to go down very narrow stairs to a small cave where there are some turtles. The space is tiny and is shared with about twenty people who crowd to get into the water. The situation seemed disrespectful to me and the turtles appeared clearly disturbed. I went straight back up: in my opinion this is a real case of animal abuse. I don't understand how this place can be so famous, when even a simple zoo would guarantee better conditions.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry the experience did not feel positive for you. The turtles’ welfare is a top priority for us, and we follow strict guidelines to protect them and their natural environment. Your comments are appreciated and will help us continue improving.
Very nice to see the turtles! But it didn't feel right, when we heard they were trapped and saw so many people go into the water and feed and touch them. So this itself did not go!
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. After reviewing your comments, it appears that this experience was not related to our company. We believe the review may have been posted under the wrong provider. We kindly ask if you could please remove this review from our page and share it with the correct provider who delivered the service you described, so they can properly address your concerns. Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you all the best.
I visited the turtle sanctuary and it was a nice experience, but not entirely satisfying. The turtles are divided into three pools and the most engaging part is definitely the fact that you can go into the water with them. Seaweeds are provided to give to the turtles, so they get very close and swim all around, making the moment suggestive. That said, it’s fair to point out that some people have been bitten, probably from food-related excitement, so a little attention is needed. What also puzzled me the most is that turtles are not in a natural environment, but in an artificial space created by man, which takes away some of the authenticity of the experience. Overall it is an interesting visit, especially for those who want close contact with turtles, but personally I expected something more natural.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We’re happy you found swimming with the turtles to be a special experience, and we understand how the setting may feel less authentic for guests expecting a fully natural environment. When it comes to feeding, our team always gives guidance to help prevent the turtles from becoming overly excited, which can lead to accidental bites. Your feedback helps us improve how we communicate and manage these interactions, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share it.
The experience appears like it could be nice but they do not moderate how many people go at each time slot. We went at 12 and it was crowded and chaotic. We waited a long time and then people kept yelling and overreacting in the water. There is only one way in/out of the cave and one stair case in/out of the water and it was not managed well. People throw their seaweed food and if it floats to close to you, you could get bit. We did not stay long and did not enjoy it but the turtles are beautiful.
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave this feedback. We’re sorry your visit felt overwhelming — it should be a peaceful and memorable experience, not chaotic. Crowd levels and flow through the cave are things we’re actively working to improve, and your comments help us see where adjustments are needed. Your concern about the feeding behavior and safety is also very important to us, and we’ll be addressing this with both our staff and guests. We’re glad the turtles still made a positive impression, and we hope you’ll visit again so we can provide the experience you were expecting.
You get to a place where there are a lot of people queuing up to go down very narrow stairs and reach a cave where there are quite a few turtles. In my opinion, you captivate, inside a natural pool and share a very small space with 20:00 to 30 people who push to reach the water. I personally felt sorry for the poor turtles. I certainly didn’t pay to go down to see those turtles and went to the Hotel thinking it was still a joke, in fact, in my opinion, this is a case of animal abuse. I can't understand that this attraction has such fame when any zoo would have the animals in better shape.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are truly sorry that your experience did not meet your expectations and we understand that the unusually high number of visitors during the Christmas holiday period may have caused discomfort. During Christmas, an unexpected situation occurred due to a significantly higher influx of visitors than usual, which is very different from our normal daily operations. This resulted in longer waiting times and a higher concentration of people at certain moments, and we acknowledge that this affected the overall experience. We would like to clarify that the well-being of the turtles is our highest priority. They live in a protected natural environment, monitored by specialists, and are not kept in captivity for exhibition purposes, but rather within a regulated space dedicated to their conservation. We are very sorry that the visit gave you a different impression, as animal mistreatment is never permitted or tolerated. We take this kind of feedback very seriously and are already reviewing measures to improve visitor flow management during peak seasons, ensuring a more respectful experience for both visitors and the natural environment. Thank you again for taking the time to share your comments, which help us continue improving.
It was a very great event and very well organized .Also the round trip transport.The turtles are beautiful
Vielen herzlichen Dank für Ihre freundliche Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Sie das Erlebnis genossen haben und mit der Organisation sowie dem Transport zufrieden waren. Die Schildkröten sind wirklich faszinierend, nicht wahr? Wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder in Sansibar begrüßen zu dürfen! Herzliche Grüße, Mo Tours & Safaris Team
You get to Salaam caves, they give you seaweed, and you go down steps into the caves where there are turtles in the water, you get in the water with them and you hand feed them the seaweed, It’s great fun but you only have 30 mins with them which goes by to quick, try to get there early before to many people turn up, When you come out there is changing facilities and a shower so you can change your clothes which is good. Also shop and restaurant there to have a drink and take in the views,
Dear Karen, Thank you so much for sharing your experience at Salaam Caves! We’re glad to hear you had fun feeding the turtles and enjoyed the facilities available after the tour. We appreciate your suggestion about arriving early to make the most of the experience — that’s a great tip for future visitors! We’re always working on improving our service, and your feedback helps us a lot. We hope to welcome you again soon for more unforgettable moments in Zanzibar! Warm regards, Mo Tours & Safaris Team
Our excursion guide was on time and very pleasant. He pointed out different sites during our ride to the caves and explained what to expect.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that your excursion guide made a great impression and helped enhance your visit with informative and engaging commentary. We’re glad you enjoyed the journey to the caves and appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back on another adventure soon!
A truly horrible experience as a defender of animal rights and against their abuse. Many people complained that more turtles had bitten them, a normal reaction if they are stressed in a small pool full of people. Moreover, the team working there is aggressive and rude.
Bonjour, Merci d’avoir partagé votre avis. Cependant, après vérification, nous ne trouvons aucune réservation effectuée à votre nom ni aucune trace de votre visite dans notre établissement. Nous pensons qu'il pourrait s'agir d'une confusion avec un autre endroit. Nous accordons une grande importance au bien-être des animaux ainsi qu’au respect de nos visiteurs, et prenons très au sérieux toute critique fondée. Si vous avez réellement visité notre établissement, nous vous invitons à nous contacter directement pour clarifier les faits. Dans le cas contraire, nous vous serions reconnaissants de bien vouloir retirer cet avis afin de ne pas induire en erreur les futurs visiteurs. Cordialement, Mo.
