Salaam Cave in Zanzibar: price, access, swimming with turtles and ethics
Salaam Cave, near Kizimkazi in southern Zanzibar, holds a seawater pool where sea turtles are fed and watched. Entrance: 12 USD according to one reseller listing (15 USD in another); the site price is not official, so confirm on the spot. A tour with transfer costs roughly 55 to 80 USD per person depending on the offer (entry included or not) and lasts 4 to 7 hours including transfer. It is almost always combined with Jozani Forest (entrance about 15 USD) and sometimes The Rock Restaurant. Is it ethical? It is not open-sea observation: see below what is known, and how to limit your impact.
Highlights
The turtles
Turtles and small fish in a pool in Zanzibar (photo taken at Nungwi, not at Salaam): at Salaam too, turtles are cared for before being released to sea, according to a 2025 press report.
Jozani Forest
The classic stop on the same circuit: red colobus monkeys, found only in Zanzibar. See Jozani.
Swimming with turtles
Offered by most tours; operators supply seaweed to feed them.
Practical info
Tips
- Ethics: the site presents itself as a conservation programme, and Zanzibar law protects sea turtles. But no independent study of the animals' welfare was found, and operators who talk of a "natural habitat" are promoting. If it bothers you, watch without touching, do not ride or chase the turtles, keep sunscreen out of the water and choose a small group; you can also prefer the Nungwi aquarium: Mnarani. Which circuit: Paje, Jambiani or Stone Town = 4 to 5 hours (reseller listings), Nungwi or Kendwa = 6 to 7 hours, so one circuit per day; check whether entrance fees and lunch are included, as that changes the price. Departures from the south and east: Paje and Jambiani.
How to get there
Kizimkazi is about 30 to 35 minutes by road from Jozani according to listings. The simplest is a tour with hotel pickup; by taxi, negotiate the round trip and waiting time.
Opening hours
Nearby
See on the map →
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