Choosing a beach in one minute
- Swim at any tide, sunsets, lively: Nungwi and Kendwa (north-west)
- Quiet, reef and snorkelling: Matemwe and Pwani Mchangani (north-east)
- Resorts and long white beach: Kiwengwa (east)
- Kitesurfing, laid-back villages: Paje and Jambiani (south-east)
- Peaceful and romantic: Michamvi and Bwejuu (south-east)
Understanding the tides
Zanzibar has big tides. On the east and south-east coasts, the sea can go out hundreds of metres at low tide, leaving rock pools, seaweed farms and sandbanks — beautiful to walk on, but you cannot swim until the water returns. On the north and north-west, around Nungwi and Kendwa, the tide makes much less difference, so you can swim at almost any time. Check the tide times with your hotel each day.
The north: Nungwi and Kendwa
At the island's northern tip, Nungwi is a busy fishing village with plenty of hotels, restaurants and boat trips, and dhows built on the beach. Just to the south, Kendwa has a long, wide white beach where the sea stays deep enough to swim all day, and the island's best sunsets. Both are good bases for trips to Mnemba Atoll.
The north-east: Matemwe and Pwani Mchangani
Quieter and more traditional, with fishing villages, a beautiful lagoon and the reef offshore. Matemwe faces Mnemba Atoll, one of the best snorkelling and diving spots in Zanzibar. Tides here are strong.
The east: Kiwengwa
A long, straight white beach lined with larger resorts — a good choice for all-inclusive holidays and families. Low tide reveals wide sand flats.
The south-east: Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu and Michamvi
Paje is Zanzibar's kitesurfing centre: a wide, shallow lagoon, steady winds and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere. Further south, Jambiani is a long village beach with seaweed farms and small guesthouses. Bwejuu and the Michamvi peninsula are quiet and romantic, with calm water on the sheltered bay side and lovely sunsets from Michamvi. Nearby, the famous restaurant on a rock in the sea, at Pingwe, is reached on foot at low tide and by boat at high tide.
Islands and sandbanks
Day trips take you to sandbanks such as Nakupenda off Stone Town, to Prison Island with its giant tortoises, and to the islands and lagoons of Menai Bay in the south-west. See things to do.
Beach etiquette
- Swimwear is fine on hotel beaches; cover up when you walk into villages.
- Wear water shoes at low tide — watch for sea urchins.
- Politely decline "beach boys" offering trips; book excursions through your hotel or us.
Where to stay on each coast: where to stay in Zanzibar.
