What is "tumbatu"

Tumbatu Island is the third-largest island making up Zanzibar, part of Tanzania in east Africa. The island is located off the northwest coast of Zanzibar's main island, Unguja.

The island is long and is surrounded by a reef, making it somewhat isolated from the rest of Zanzibar, even though its southern shore is only from Mkokotoni on Unguja. The wedge-shaped island is approximately in length, but only wide at its widest point (in the south).

There are two towns on the island, Jongowe and Kichangani, both in the south of the island.

Historically, the island is of interest. Islanders who belong to the Shirazi ethnic group claim descent from Persian royalty which reputedly arrived in the ninth century, and there are important ruins at Makutani in the southeast of the island which were once one of Zanzibar's main settlements.