Swimming with Sea Turtles in Zanzibar, Africa

If you have ever dreamed of being a mermaid and swimming alongside majestic sea creatures, then Salaam Cave is the perfect place for you! Nestled on the shores of Kizimkazi Village, Salaam Cave is one of the newest sea turtle conservatories on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, Africa. Sea turtles are rescued and are able to receive rehabilitation services at the conservatory before being returned to the ocean. The natural cave provides a tranquil environment for the turtles to rest and reset before they are released.

I visited Salaam Cave on an early morning with a small group. Upon arrival, the staff gave us a brief explanation of the conservatory and their rescue efforts. They also gave us a crash course in sea turtle etiquette and how to properly engage and swim with the animals. After the brief, we eagerly began our descent into the cave.

The steep descent was about twenty steps, with the final few requiring us to scale down a small wooden ladder. The ladder ended on a rocky ledge, where a lady stood tossing seaweed into the water. We watched as the turtles soared through the water in a herd racing to wherever the next clump of seaweed landed. We quickly scrambled to put our water shoes on and slide from the rocks into the water. The lady instructed us to wade out to the center of the cave and she began throwing seaweed for us to scoop up and sprinkle in the water. The turtles glided from all ends of the cave and began circling around us enjoying the bits of seaweed we had distributed. We pet them as they grazed and watched as the sunlight glistened off of their brown shells. We were able to enjoy swimming and feeding the turtles for about an hour before other groups began to arrive -it was truly a magical experience!

Unlike the famous Nungwi Sanctuary, Salaam Cave is still a hidden gem and offers a more intimate experience with the sea turtles. The cave’s crystal blue waters make it easy to spot not only the turtles as they glide through the water, but also any sharp rocks on the cave floor. The turtles, although harmless, are not afraid to give you a little nibble if you are slow on distributing the seaweed.

Water shoes are highly recommended for this activity. The conservatory can be reached via a tour group or hiring a private driver.