Unguja North Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Kaskazini Unguja) covers the northern end of Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar. The 2022 census recorded a population of 257,290 in 407 km2, and the regional headquarters is the fishing and boat-building town of Mkokotoni on the west coast. Nungwi, at the island’s northern tip, is the largest settlement and the centre of Zanzibar’s dhow-building trade.
Districts of Unguja North Region
The region is divided into two districts, Kaskazini A in the north and Kaskazini B in the south, each with its own council.
| District | Council type | Population (2022 census) |
|---|---|---|
| Kaskazini A (North A) | Town council | 157,369 |
| Kaskazini B (North B) | District council | 99,921 |
| Total | 257,290 |
The two districts return eight constituencies to the Zanzibar House of Representatives: Chaani, Matemwe, Mkwajuni and Nungwi in Kaskazini A; Bumbwini, Donge, Kitope and Tumbatu in Kaskazini B.
Towns and Villages in Unguja North Region
The list below covers 252 recorded towns, villages and hamlets, grouped by district and listed alphabetically. Nungwi, Mkokotoni, Kivunge, Matemwe, Kiwengwa and Donge are the largest.
Kaskazini A District
- Banda Kuu
- Banda Maji
- Bondemali
- Bundi Ndege
- Bwereu
- Chaani
- Chaani Bondeni
- Chanjani
- Chemani
- Chongowe
- Chutama
- Ficheni
- Gamba
- Gazija
- Geuni
- Gomani
- Jifenge
- Jomba
- Juakuu
- Kandwi
- Kendwa
- Ketwa
- Kiamboni
- Kibeni
- Kibuyuni
- Kichanga Jako
- Kichangani
- Kichungwani
- Kidaazini
- Kidagoni
- Kidoti
- Kidunda Mbaazi
- Kiganja
- Kigomani
- Kigongoni
- Kigunda
- Kijage
- Kijini
- Kikobweni
- Kikombe Tele
- Kilima Juu
- Kilima Juu Pwani
- Kilimani
- Kilindi
- Kimembe
- Kinyasini
- Kivunge
- Kongeni
- Kongoo
- Kureke
- Machatu
- Makadara
- Makunge
- Matemwe
- Mchuma Janga
- Mfisini
- Milingoni
- Misufini
- Mitondooni
- Mjungu
- Mkokotoni
- Mkujaa
- Mkuuni
- Mkuyuni Pwani
- Mkwajuni
- Moga
- Mpandeni
- Msa Nani
- Mto wa Maji
- Mto wa Pwani
- Muyuni
- Mvinjani
- Mvuleni
- Mwanahaza
- Mwembe Kiwete
- Mwombali
- Ndizi
- Ndogo
- Nungwi
- Paguu
- Pale
- Panga Punju
- Pitanazako
- Potoa
- Potweni
- Pumbaya
- Pwani Mchangani
- Pwani Mchangani Mdogo
- Shindoni
- Shingwi
- Shinooni
- Tazari
- Tengoni
- Utchwa Jua
- Uyagu
Kaskazini B District
- Banda Maji
- Bondeni
- Bumbwini
- Bwaga
- Changalaweni
- Chanjani
- Chechele
- Dola
- Donge
- Donge Kewera
- Donge Kichavyani
- Donge Kisima Wifu
- Donge Kiungani
- Fujoni
- Fumwali
- Fungoma
- Gulioni
- Jangwani
- Jengandege
- Jongowe
- Karange
- Kazole
- Kichanga
- Kichwele
- Kidagoni
- Kiduka Kongwe
- Kidutani
- Kigongoni
- Kijimoto
- Kikobweni
- Kinduni
- Kinduni Mchonga
- Kinyasini
- Kipange
- Kisimani
- Kisongoni
- Kitaluni
- Kitope
- Kitope Mchungwani
- Kitope Mkumbi
- Kitungani
- Kiunduu
- Kiungani
- Kiwengwa
- Kiziwa Nyambo
- Kiziwani
- Machungwa Miwili
- Mafufuni
- Mahonda
- Mahonda Mkataleni
- Mahonda Mwana Kombo
- Maji Mekundu
- Makadara
- Makoba
- Mangapwani
- Masingini
- Matetemwe
- Mbaleni
- Mbaleni Mchenzani
- Mbaleni Zingwe Zingwe
- Mbiji
- Mbiji Kiziwani
- Mchangani
- Mchonga
- Mchongomani
- Mfenesini Mkubwa
- Mgambo
- Mgambo Barabarini
- Mgambo Kinyasini
- Mgeukeni
- Mgombewa
- Mgonjoni
- Midodoni
- Migombani
- Mikindani
- Minazini
- Mji Mpia
- Mkadini
- Mkage
- Mkiwa
- Mkunguni
- Mnazi Mmoja
- Mnyimbi
- Mnyimbi Mkunguni
- Msalani
- Mtuba
- Mtundua
- Mulani
- Mvumo Cheche
- Mwanzo
- Mwembeduka
- Ngava
- Nguli
- Njia Kuu
- Nyanjani
- Pahama
- Panga Maua
- Pangaani
- Pangeni
- Punguni
- Sebleni
- Tebani
- Tunduni
- Upenja
- Zingwe Zingwe
- Ziwani
Other localities
GeoNames records these places in the region without a district assignment.
- Birikani
- Bumbwi Buyuni
- Bumbwi Kitoroni
- Bumbwi Langoni
- Bumbwi Malindi
- Bumbwi Mtoroveni
- Bumbwi Sudi
- Chimba Mawele
- Dongongwe
- Dundua
- Kama
- Kiangani
- Kiboje
- Kiboje Sheha
- Kikaangoni
- Kisima Mchanga
- Kitongani
- Kitundu
- Kitundu Bondeni
- Kitundu Machangani
- Kizimcheli
- Kumba Urembo
- Maji Mekundu Pwani
- Makaje
- Mbale
- Mbaleni Mkubwa
- Mbuzini
- Mdudu Mdogo
- Mdudu Mkubwa
- Mfenesini Mdogo
- Migogoni
- Mile
- Mjura
- Mkanyageni
- Mkuku
- Mnakana
- Mti Meupe
- Muungoni
- Mwadudu
- Mwanda
- Myonge
- Ndagaa
- Poopo
- Pwani
- Salaya
- Selem
- Selem Mbuyuni
- Selem Mdogo
- Uwandani
- Vungwi
- Zungukeni
Geography
The region covers 407 km2 and lies entirely on Unguja island. The Indian Ocean wraps it on three sides to the north, Unguja South Region adjoins it to the south-east and Mjini Magharibi Region to the south-west. Uwemba Hill, at 84 metres, is the highest ground.
The west coast is a run of shallow bays and mangrove creeks; the east coast, from Matemwe down to Kiwengwa, is white sand behind a wide fringing reef that dries at low tide. Two islands belong to the region: Tumbatu, settled by the Tumbatu people and reached by dhow from Mkokotoni, and Mnemba, a small coral islet off Matemwe ringed by a protected reef.
Economy and Local Life
Fishing feeds most households on both coasts, and Nungwi is where the boats themselves are made — shipwrights still build and repair wooden dhows on the beach by hand. Seaweed farming occupies the tidal flats at Matemwe, Kiwengwa and Pwani Mchangani, and is largely women’s work.
Inland, around Donge, Kitope and Bumbwini, smallholders grow cloves, coconuts, cassava, bananas and rice. Tourism is the third earner: the beach strip from Nungwi and Kendwa round to Matemwe and Kiwengwa holds most of the island’s hotels, and Mangapwani on the west coast draws visitors to its coral caves.
Two inland places anchor the district economy. Kivunge, on the main north road, has the region’s referral hospital and the busiest daily market in Kaskazini A. Mahonda, in Kaskazini B, grew around Zanzibar’s sugar estate and factory, and the surrounding valley still carries cane alongside rice paddies fed by the seasonal streams.
Mkokotoni itself is a working town rather than a resort: the daily fish auction on the shore, a market, the district offices and the boats for Tumbatu. Tumbatu island holds three villages, Jongowe, Gomani and Kichangani, and its people keep a distinct dialect and a reputation for keeping to themselves. On the west coast at Mangapwani, a coral cave and a walled underground chamber cut into the rock were used to hide slaves after the trade was outlawed in 1873; both are open to visitors.
Getting There
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, in neighbouring Mjini Magharibi Region, is the entry point for the whole island. A tarmac road runs about 56 km north from Zanzibar City to Nungwi, with a second surfaced route east to Kiwengwa and Matemwe; daladala minibuses work both. Small boats cross from Mkokotoni to Tumbatu island, and dive boats run out to Mnemba from Matemwe.
FAQ
How many districts are in Unguja North Region?
Two: Kaskazini A and Kaskazini B, together holding eight constituencies.
What is the population of Unguja North Region?
The 2022 census recorded a population of 257,290, up from 187,455 in 2012.
What is the capital of Unguja North Region?
Mkokotoni, a west-coast fishing town in Kaskazini A district, is the regional headquarters.
What villages are in Unguja North Region?
The region records 252 settlements. Nungwi, Kendwa, Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Kivunge, Mkokotoni, Donge, Bumbwini, Mangapwani and Jongowe on Tumbatu are among the best known.
Is Nungwi in Unguja North Region?
Yes. Nungwi sits at the northern tip of the island in Kaskazini A district and is the region’s largest town.