Tumbatu Island

Tumbatu Island
Beach on Tumbatu Island
Tumbatu Island
Geography
LocationZanzibar Channel
Coordinates05°49′06″S 39°13′20″E / 5.81833°S 39.22222°E / -5.81833; 39.22222
ArchipelagoZanzibar Archipelago
Adjacent toIndian Ocean
Length10.14 km (6.301 mi)
Width3.0 km (1.86 mi)
Administration
RegionUnguja North Region
DistrictKaskazini A District
Demographics
LanguagesSwahili
Ethnic groupsHadimu

Tumbatu Island (Kisiwa cha Tumbatu, in Swahili) is an island located in Fumba ward of Kaskazini A District in Unguja North Region, Tanzania. In Zanzibar Archipelago, Tumbatu is the third-largest island, after Pemba and Unguja island. The Island is amanitered by three wards; Tumbatu Jongowe, Uvivini and Mtakuja. As of right now, the island is home to two major settlements: the village of Jongowe in the southern end of the island and the town of Kichangani, also known as Gomani, on the northern end.

Tumbatu is a little bit isolated from the rest of Zanzibar despite having a southern side that is only 2 km (1.2 miles) long and surrounded by a reef from Mkokotoni on the island. Tumbatu Island has two islets, Popo Island to the east and Mwana wa Mwana Island to the north. The island has an average elevation of 12 m (39 ft). The Island is the native home of a sub cultural group of the Hadimu known as the Tumbatu.