Zembra and Zembretta Islands National Park

Zembra and Zembretta Islands National Park comprises two Mediterranean landmasses in the Gulf of Tunis with contrasting geography. The larger island rises steeply with rocky shorelines, while the smaller one remains mostly barren and windswept.

Ancient seafarers knew the islands as Aegimuri, a name recorded by the natural historian Pliny the Elder. Ruins of a harbor from that era remain visible on the southern coast today.

The islands serve as a protected breeding ground for seabirds that nest on rocky slopes and depend entirely on the isolation for survival. Visitors witness how the place functions as a nature sanctuary where human activity remains minimal and wildlife takes priority.

Access requires permits that must be arranged before traveling to the islands. Boat transportation operates only when sea conditions are suitable for the crossing.

The park holds the Mediterranean's largest breeding population of a particular seabird species, with thousands of pairs nesting in cliff crevices. These birds are nocturnal and elusive, rarely seen by daytime visitors.