Mysterious island home to ‘world’s most dangerous tribe’, where tourists are banned from visiting

North Sentinel Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, is home to one of the world’s last uncontacted tribes: the Sentinelese. They’re not just isolated; they’re fiercely protective of their isolation and don’t like visitors.

The Sentinelese have lived on their island for thousands of years, effectively cut off from the rest of the world. Their way of life is a mystery shrouded in enigma, hidden beneath North Sentinel Island’s dense forest cover. What we do know comes from brief, often violent, encounters with outsiders. The tribe is estimated to number between 50 and 200 individuals, but precise numbers are a guess in the dark.

Getting close to North Sentinel Island isn’t easy. The Indian government, recognizing the dangers and respecting the tribe’s desire to be left alone, has established a three-nautical-mile exclusion zone around the island. Violate this, and you’re on your own. This is not just a suggestion, but a survival tip. The Sentinelese have made it clear that outsiders are not welcome. In 2006, two fishermen who strayed too close were killed. Their bodies were never recovered because attempts to rescue them were met with a hail of arrows.

The Sentinelese are skilled hunters and gatherers, relying on the island’s resources for survival. They fish in the shallow waters, hunt wild animals, and gather plants. Their tools are simple but effective, made from materials available on the island. Metal items, sometimes recovered from shipwrecks that wash up on shore, are fashioned into tools and weapons, showing their ingenuity.

Their language, customs, and social structures remain a mystery. No successful communication has been established, and no one has managed to learn their language. Attempts to establish contact, such as those in the late 20th century, have been met with hostility or indifference. In the 1970s and 1990s, Indian anthropologists made several trips to the island, offering coconuts and other gifts. While these visits were occasionally peaceful, the tribe’s general response was to point their bows and arrows at intruders. Why are they so hostile? History and common sense offer some clues.

Contact with the outside world has often brought disaster to indigenous tribes: disease, exploitation, and cultural destruction. The Sentinelese probably know this on some level. Their isolation has been their shield, protecting them from the diseases that have decimated other indigenous populations. With no immunity to common illnesses like influenza or measles, an encounter with outsiders could be catastrophic. Then there is the story of John Allen Chau, an American missionary who, in 2018, attempted to make contact with the Sentinelese. Despite the clear risks and legal restrictions, Chau paid local fishermen to take him near the island. His attempt to preach Christianity ended tragically. He was killed by the tribe, and his body was never recovered. This incident reinforced the harsh reality: the Sentinelese want nothing to do with the outside world and will defend their territory aggressively.

The Indian government’s approach has changed over the years. Where once there were attempts to study and contact the tribe, there is now a firm policy of non-interference. North Sentinel Island is off-limits, not only for the safety of outsiders, but for the protection of the Sentinelese. The island and its people are a stark reminder of the limits of human curiosity and the limits of our understanding.

The modern world, with its incessant need to explore and connect, struggles to understand the Sentinelese way of life. Yet there is a certain respect, albeit grudging, for their ability to maintain their isolation.

North Sentinel Island is a forbidden frontier, a place where the Sentinelese continue their ancient way of life untouched, guarding their secrets and their sanctuary with unwavering determination. The message from this small island is clear: stay away.

Founder of the Mysteries of the World website (2011). Science writer, but covering a wide range of subjects. Won the digital influencer award in the trivia category.