Best Beaches in Zanzibar: A US Traveler's Guide

Zanzibar's coastline is not one beach, it is many, and each one has its own personality. The north coast gives you white sand and calm water you can swim in any time of day. The east coast gives you dramatic tides, kitesurfing and a quieter pace. This guide walks American travelers through the island's top beaches, so you can match your stay to the kind of trip you actually want.

Why Zanzibar's Coast Isn't All the Same

The biggest thing to understand before picking a beach is the tide. Zanzibar's north coast, where Nungwi and Kendwa sit, has only a small tidal range, so the water stays swimmable through most of the day.

The east coast is different. Beaches like Paje, Jambiani and Matemwe sit on a wide, shallow shelf. At low tide, the water pulls back a long way, sometimes exposing sand and reef for a considerable distance. This is not a flaw, it just changes what the beach is good for. Low tide on the east coast is perfect for long walks and exploring rock pools, while high tide brings the beach back to a classic turquoise lagoon.

Keep this in mind as you read through the individual beaches below. It affects which one suits the kind of holiday you are picturing.

Nungwi: Lively and Reliable

Nungwi sits at the very northern tip of Zanzibar and is one of the island's most popular beach destinations. The sand is white and fine, the water is clear, and because of the calm tides here, you can swim at almost any hour.

It is also the busiest beach on the island, with plenty of restaurants, bars and resorts lining the shore. Traditional dhow boats are still built by hand on parts of this beach, which adds a genuine local touch to an otherwise resort-heavy stretch of coast.

Nungwi suits travelers who want an easy first Zanzibar stay, reliable swimming, and things to do within walking distance of their hotel.

Kendwa: Calm, Wide and Famous for Sunsets

Just south of Nungwi, an easy walk or short drive away, Kendwa offers a wider, more laid-back beach with the same calm, swimmable water. It has a reputation for some of the best sunsets on the island, uninterrupted by headlands or buildings.

Once a month, Kendwa hosts a full moon beach party that draws visitors from across Zanzibar for music and dancing on the sand. Outside of that one night, the beach has a noticeably quieter, more relaxed feel than Nungwi.

Kendwa works well for couples, honeymooners and families who want the same reliable swimming as Nungwi with a calmer, more spread-out atmosphere.

Paje: The Kitesurfing Coast

Paje sits on the east coast and is Zanzibar's main hub for kitesurfing, thanks to steady wind and the wide, shallow lagoon that forms at low tide. The beach itself is wide, with soft white sand and turquoise water at high tide.

Beyond watersports, Paje has a relaxed, slightly bohemian atmosphere, with beach bars and yoga studios alongside the surf schools. It suits active travelers more than those looking purely to swim, since the tide here needs to be timed if swimming is your main goal.

Jambiani: Quiet and Authentic

Jambiani, further down the east coast from Paje, is one of the more peaceful beaches on the island. It has fewer resorts and a slower pace, with local fishing villages still very much part of daily life along the shore.

Like Paje, Jambiani has a large tidal range, so swimming works best around high tide. What it offers instead is space, quiet, and long stretches of beach that rarely feel crowded even during busier months.

This is a good choice for travelers who want an authentic, unhurried Zanzibar experience away from the resort clusters in the north.

Matemwe: Snorkeling and Diving Access

Matemwe sits on the northeast coast and is best known as the gateway to Mnemba Atoll, one of the top snorkeling and diving spots in the region. The beach itself is quieter than Nungwi or Kendwa, with a more scattered set of resorts.

Like the rest of the east coast, Matemwe has noticeable tides, so plan water activities around the tide chart your resort will usually provide. For travelers whose main goal is snorkeling or diving over Mnemba's reef, Matemwe is one of the most convenient bases.

Bwejuu: Peaceful and Palm-Lined

South of Paje, Bwejuu is one of the quietest beaches on the island, lined with palm trees and largely free of the crowds found further north. It shares the east coast's tidal pattern, so swimming times shift through the day.

Bwejuu suits travelers who have already seen the busier beaches on a previous trip, or who simply want a slow, undisturbed stretch of sand with little else around it.

Matching a Beach to Your Trip

A simple way to decide where to base yourself:

• Want reliable swimming any time of day? Choose Nungwi or Kendwa.
• Want nightlife and a lively atmosphere? Choose Nungwi.
• Want calm and quiet with great sunsets? Choose Kendwa.
• Want kitesurfing or an active beach scene? Choose Paje.
• Want a quiet, authentic coastal village feel? Choose Jambiani or Bwejuu.
• Want easy access to snorkeling at Mnemba Atoll? Choose Matemwe.

Many travelers combine two areas in one trip, spending a few nights on the lively north coast and a few more on the quieter east coast for contrast.

Planning Your Zanzibar Beach Trip

Zanzibar's beaches are varied enough that the right choice really does depend on what kind of holiday you want. We help American travelers match the right stretch of coast, and the right resort, to their trip every day.

We have arranged Zanzibar holidays since 1948 and know these beaches well enough to steer you toward the right one. Full details on our Zanzibar packages:

Zanzibar Island — Beaches, Stone Town & Island Holidays