Swim with turtles sanctuary Zanzibar — Attraction in Unguja

Really really wish I could have given it more, and perhaps if my husband and I had left 10 minutes earlier, I would have given 4 or 5. However, while we were at the sanctuary, a woman stepped into the water and the turtles all swam to her because she had food - it seemed to be going fine at first (we were in the water too and having a great time) when all of a sudden the woman screamed so loud and for so long, begging for someone to come help her that we scrambled out of there as fast as we could. Turns out that one of the two very large turtles had swam towards her foot under the water's surface and bit it incredibly hard, and it just would not let go. Many workers jumped into the water trying to wrestle the turtle off this poor woman and struggled to do so. Eventually the turtle released her foot, she was helped out and her foot was not in a good way, it was bleeding everywhere. It was a very scary experience and we count ourselves incredibly lucky that wasn't us! I was disappointed at the urgency of the staff members there, and how they didn't seem to take the incident very seriously once the woman was safely out of the water. We stayed with her and helped to calm her down until her taxi arrived to take her to a doctor, after which I mentioned to staff that they should not keep the large turtles in the pool where people go in. They are just too big and strong and she could have lost her toes. The man agreed but I don't know if they've changed that particular policy.

I would say that this is probably a freak accident and the turtles did seem well looked after, the facilities were good and the staff were kind and helpful while we enjoyed our time there up until that incident. This place definitely sounds better than close-by swim with turtle experiences as its quieter and the turtles have a lot of space to swim. However, if you plan to visit, please remember that these are wild animals and when you go into the water, you go in at your own risk. And word of advice, if you see there are still large turtles there, maybe stick to the boat and feeding from the side, avoid getting...

The experience of swimming with turtles is truly unique and enjoyable. The pond is beautiful and home to a lot of turtles, many of which are quite friendly and interactive, making it a memorable experience for nature lovers. However, the pond and surrounding area could benefit from a bit more care and maintenance to enhance its overall appeal and provide a better environment for the turtles.

One downside is that it can get quite crowded, so visiting during less busy hours might offer a more peaceful experience. The entry fee is $10 per person, which feels reasonable given the opportunity to interact with these amazing creatures.

Facilities like parking, shower rooms, and changing rooms are available, which adds convenience to the visit. However, I’d recommend skipping the nearby zoo attraction located in the same area, as it’s not worth the detour.

Overall, it’s a great experience for those who love turtles and want to get up close to them, but there’s definitely room for improvement in terms of maintenance and...

Swimming with sea turtles is a really special experience, I've never seen them before.

However, I would not call the place a sanctuary at all. There is no informative material about the turtles, how they got here, how long they will be here, what their future will be. We asked one of the staff members about this and he had very limited information. They were supposedly caught by fishermen by accident and have been here for rehabilitation for a year. Well, I wouldn't call it rehabilitation, being cooped up in a very small pool and being stroked by sun-oil tourists all day.

Our instinct is that the turtles will never be returned to the wild. We heard that there are several places on the island selling turtle meat. Let's hope we weren't at the turtle meat...