At Zanzibar, women are reshaping the seaweed industry, blending tradition with sustainability. On the east coast of Zanzibar, a group of women harvest seaweed in harmony with the tides, continuing a practice passed down through generations, while helping to create a more sustainable future. Mwani Zanzibar is a skincare brand that seeks to build an economy that benefits both local communities and the ocean. On the east coast of this island archipelago, daily life is guided by the tides rather than clocks. In the village of Paje, at dawn, residents walk into the warm, shallow waters to care for seaweed farms that have supported coastal communities for many years. Known as the Mwani Zanzibar Mamas, this group was formed to give women a steady income while protecting the marine environment they rely on. Local seaweed is grown on ropes submerged underwater, where it absorbs nutrients for about six weeks before being hand-harvested. As the tide recedes, this daily task has become one of the most iconic images along Zanzibar’s coast: at sunrise, women gather seaweed with outstretched arms as daylight spreads across the bay. For generations, Zanzibar’s communities have understood the healing power of seaweed, long before it became a popular ingredient in cosmetics. After harvesting, the seaweed is cleaned and transformed using traditional knowledge combined with scientific methods to create soaps and skincare products. Founded by Klaartje Schade and Andrew Anthony, Mwani Zanzibar aims to create an economy that benefits both local people and the ocean. Each soap sold supports the employment of women in the region and highlights the benefits of sustainably grown seaweed. By turning an abundant marine resource into high-quality skincare products, the collective demonstrates that environmental protection, cultural heritage, and economic growth can coexist. This approach also allows visitors to experience one of Zanzibar’s most iconic coastal traditions from the inside. Visits to the seaweed farm, including a tour of the processing plant, cost $10 (about 9€) per person. This article was originally published in the magazine National Geographic Traveller (UK) in English, Indian Ocean Collection 2026.