Island Guide

Best Beaches in Zanzibar

Zanzibar's coastline isn't one beach — it's a dozen very different ones. Here's which stretch of sand actually suits the holiday you're planning.

Warm year-round Diving, kitesurfing & dhow sailing

NORTH, EAST OR SOUTH

Zanzibar's Coastline Has Real Variety

The north coast around Nungwi and Kendwa has the calmest swimming water and the liveliest evenings. The east coast — Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu — has powdery white sand, dramatic tides, and the island's best kitesurfing. The south is quieter still, with a handful of low-key lodges and easy access to spice farms and Stone Town's old streets.

Mind the tides on the east coast: Paje, Jambiani and Bwejuu have a large tidal range — the sea can retreat a long way out at low tide. Great for kitesurfing and walking, less ideal if you want to swim right off the beach at any hour.

North Coast

Nungwi & Kendwa

The most popular area for good reason: calm, swimmable water at any tide, the island's best sunsets, and the widest choice of resorts, restaurants and beach bars. Kendwa in particular is known for its full-moon parties.

East Coast

Paje & Jambiani

Wide, postcard-white beaches with a laid-back, slightly bohemian feel. Paje is East Africa's kitesurfing capital, with steady wind from June through September; Jambiani is quieter and more traditional.

South Coast

Bwejuu & Kizimkazi

Fewer crowds and fewer big resorts. Kizimkazi is best known for dolphin encounters and easy day trips to spice farms and Stone Town, making it a good base if you want beach time with a bit of culture mixed in.

FOR NIGHTLIFE & SWIMMING

Choose Nungwi or Kendwa

If this is your first time in Zanzibar, or you want to be able to swim whenever you like plus have restaurants and bars within walking distance, the north coast is the easiest choice to get right.

FOR ACTIVE TRAVELLERS

Choose Paje or Jambiani

Come for the kitesurfing or the long beach walks at low tide, and stay for the quieter, more local pace — this coast attracts a different, more outdoorsy crowd than the north.

Not sure which coast fits your trip? Tell us what you're after — nightlife, water sports, or total quiet — and we'll recommend the right beach and place to stay.

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