Maziwi Island Marine Reserve- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Off the northern coast of Tanzania, Maziwe Island Marine Reserve stands as one of the country's oldest protected marine areas, established in 1975. Once a larger, palm-covered island, erosion—partly due to human activity and environmental shifts—has reduced it to a dynamic sandbank that disappears at high tide. Despite its changing form, Maziwe remains a critical habitat, hosting over 400 fish species, 35 types of coral, and serving as East Africa's most significant green turtle nesting site. Its waters also shelter the endemic Tectopontonia maziwiae shrimp, found nowhere else. The island's ecological importance extends beyond wildlife. Local communities, alongside conservation groups like the Dorobo Fund, have collaborated since 2005 to safeguard its resources. A key initiative, the Friends of Maziwe Turtle Conservation Program, has relocated hundreds of vulnerable nests to safer shores, releasing over 60,000 hatchlings. These efforts highlight the delicate balance between human livelihoods and marine preservation in the region.