[3] The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Kiribati.

There aren't many rivers, but three major freshwater creeks that feed Chwaka Bay are surrounded by mangrove forests and expand into huge stretches of seagrass and calcareous Halimeda beds.4,934 acres of Unguja Island is covered with mangroves, the majority of which is in the South Unguja Region, particularly the Uzi Island complex in the south and the Chwaka Bay forest in the northeast.

There are a few clay-bound sands and gravels near to river-dominated areas, although biogenic and recent limestone origins are generally the dominant sediment types.

The highest monthly means are between 31.6 °C and 33 °C during the hot season from December to March, when the temperatures only drop to 23.5 °C to 24.1 °C.

[13] The Region is connected to adjacent areas and to the entire Unguja Island by a decent network of tarmac roads.

Other crops grown include okra, cabbage, bitter aubergine, radish, cowpeas, green peas, and many kinds of vegetables.

[16] In the South Unguja Region, fishing is the third-largest industry after agriculture and tourism, employing 3,360 fishermen in addition to 1,681 foot fishers.

Although handcrafting and some hotel jobs, particularly housekeeping, are predominately held by women, the business is largely controlled by men.

[18] Between June and November, humpback whale sightings in the Zanzibar Channel are frequently reported to be only a few miles offshore.

Unguja's protected woods and woodlands are primarily found in the South, in Jozani-Chwaka Bay.

According to figures from 2006, 94.7% of males and 90.3% of women over the age of 15 were literate, while the under-five mortality rate in Unguja South was 114 (per 1,000 live births).