Every Zanzibar beach photograph looks the same: white sand, turquoise water, a palm leaning over it. They are all real, and they tell you almost nothing about what a week in that spot is like.
What separates the coasts is the tide, and after that the atmosphere. Get those two right and the rest of the trip arranges itself around them. This is the honest version, coast by coast.
Start with the tide, not the beach
Zanzibar has a large tidal range, and on the east coast it changes the beach completely. At high tide the sea is at the wall of your hotel. At low tide it can be several hundred metres out, over exposed sand, seagrass and reef flat.
The north of the island, around Nungwi and Kendwa, is the exception. The water there stays close to shore and deep enough to swim in through most of the day. That single fact is the reason most first-time visitors are happier in the north, and the reason the east coast disappoints people who did not know about it.
The coasts at a glance
| Beach | Coast | Swimming | It suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nungwi | North | Most of the day | First trips, activity, evenings out |
| Kendwa | North-west | Most of the day | Couples, families, sunsets |
| Matemwe | North-east | Around the tide | Quiet, snorkelling, Mnemba |
| Kiwengwa | East | Around the tide | Resort holidays, families |
| Pongwe / Uroa | East | Around the tide | Small hotels, no crowds |
| Paje | South-east | Around the tide | Kitesurfing, cafés, a young crowd |
| Jambiani | South-east | Around the tide | Village life, long stays |
| Bwejuu | South-east | Around the tide | Quiet, near Paje without being in it |
| Michamvi | South-east | Around the tide | Seclusion, honeymoons |
Nungwi
The northern tip, and the busiest beach on the island. Hotels of every size, restaurants along the sand, dive centres, boat operators, and something happening in the evening. The water is swimmable through most of the tide.
It is the easiest place to be if you want the sea, dinner and a bar within walking distance of your room. It is also the least quiet. If you came to hear nothing but the water, this is the wrong end of the island.
Kendwa
A few kilometres south of Nungwi, on the west-facing side. Same easy swimming, wider beach, calmer feel. It faces the sunset, which is why the sunset boats leave from here and why couples tend to end up on this stretch.
Our pick for a first visit if you want to swim whenever you feel like it and still have somewhere to eat. Book the sunset dhow cruise from this side of the island.
Matemwe
North-east coast, and the closest beach to Mnemba atoll. Small hotels, very little noise, a long stretch of sand and a working village behind it. The tide matters here, and most guests plan around it without minding.
If snorkelling is the reason you came, staying here shortens the boat ride to the best reef on the island. See the Mnemba atoll trip.
Paje
The kitesurfing capital of Zanzibar, and the most energetic beach on the east coast. A wide shallow lagoon, steady wind, kite schools along the sand, and cafés full of people who came for a week and stayed for a season.
The tidal range is at its most dramatic here. That is exactly what the kiters want, and it is why swimming has to be timed. If you are not going to kite, Paje is about the atmosphere rather than the swimming.
Jambiani
South of Paje, and much quieter. Guesthouses and small hotels rather than resorts, a village that is genuinely a village, and seaweed farms worked at low tide along the shore.
This is the coast for long stays and slow days. There is less to do, which is the point.
Kiwengwa, Pongwe and Uroa
The middle of the east coast. Kiwengwa carries most of the large resorts and all-inclusives, which makes it straightforward for families who want the hotel to handle everything. Pongwe and Uroa are smaller and quieter, with a handful of hotels each and not much beyond them.
Michamvi and Bwejuu
The peninsula at the south-east corner. Michamvi has the most secluded hotels on the island and faces west at its tip, which is unusual on this coast and means sunsets over the water. Bwejuu sits between Paje and the quiet, close enough to walk to the cafés and far enough to sleep.
Both suit honeymoons and both are short on things within walking distance. You will be arranging transport for anything you want to do.
Should you split your stay?
For three or four nights, stay in one place. Moving hotels eats half a day and you do not have half a day to spare.
From about six nights it starts to pay. Two or three nights in Stone Town or the north, then the rest on the coast that suits you, gives you two different islands in one trip. Our seven-day plan is built that way.
The beach does not decide your tours
This is worth saying plainly, because it changes how much the choice matters. We collect from every beach on the island. Staying in Jambiani does not put Mnemba out of reach and staying in Nungwi does not rule out Safari Blue. It only changes how long you sit in the car.
The days that leave from the south, Safari Blue in particular, make for a long morning from the far north. Everything else is comfortable from anywhere.
Days that work from any beach
Half dayMnemba Sandbank & Atoll
One of the island's best snorkelling spots: turquoise water, coral reefs and tropical fish.
Full daySafari Blue
A full-day ocean adventure: snorkelling, sandbanks, lagoon swimming and a seafood lunch.
Half dayStone Town Tour
The historic heart of Zanzibar: carved doors, markets, narrow lanes and old landmarks.
Half dayJozani Forest
Zanzibar's only national park, home to the rare red colobus monkeys and a mangrove boardwalk.
Frequently asked questions
Which Zanzibar beach is best for swimming?
Nungwi and Kendwa. The north keeps enough water close to shore to swim through most of the tide, which is not true of the east and south-east coasts.
Which beach is best for families?
Kendwa for easy swimming and calm water, Kiwengwa if you want a large resort to handle the details, Matemwe if you want quiet. All three work with children.
Which beach is best for a honeymoon?
Michamvi for seclusion, Matemwe for quiet with good snorkelling, Kendwa if you want sunsets and somewhere to have dinner.
Where do you go for kitesurfing in Zanzibar?
Paje. The lagoon, the wind and the schools are all there, and the tidal range that makes swimming awkward is what makes the kiting good.
Can you swim at low tide in Zanzibar?
In the north, yes, most of the time. On the east coast the water can retreat several hundred metres, so swimming is planned around the tide rather than assumed.
How many nights should we spend on the beach?
Five to seven for a first trip, which leaves room for two or three excursions and days that are genuinely empty. Longer stays are better split across two coasts.
Have us plan the days for you
Send your dates and what you would like to see. We are a local team in Stone Town and we reply ourselves.
