Zanzibar Beach Holiday
Which beach, which month, which hotel — honest advice on Zanzibar from the team that sends travellers there every week.
Zanzibar beach holiday
Choosing the right stretch of coast
Zanzibar is not one beach but a dozen very different ones. The north is about swimmable water, sunsets and a bit of nightlife. The east is wide, tidal and windy — a kitesurfer's dream, a swimmer's frustration at low tide. The south-east is quieter and cheaper, the north-east suits honeymooners and the west is Stone Town's history and dhow harbour rather than swimming.
Tell us how you like to spend a beach day and we will match the coast to it, then choose a hotel that fits your budget. We work with everything from simple family-run guesthouses to beachfront suites.
Beach guide
Where to stay, in plain terms
- Nungwi & Kendwa (north) — swimmable at all tides, sunset dhows, restaurants and bars
- Matemwe & Pwani Mchangani (north-east) — Mnemba atoll snorkelling, quiet luxury
- Pongwe & Uroa (east) — sheltered lagoons, small hotels, very peaceful
- Paje & Jambiani (south-east) — kitesurfing, backpacker energy, best value
- Michamvi & Kae (south-east point) — the only east-coast beaches with sunset views
- Stone Town (west) — history, food and markets; one or two nights, not a beach base
Things to do
Beyond the sunbed
- Sunset dhow cruise with grilled seafood and local music
- Snorkelling or diving at Mnemba atoll — turtles, reef sharks, huge fish diversity
- Safari Blue sandbank day: dhow sailing, snorkelling, seafood lunch and a mangrove lagoon
- The Rock restaurant at Michamvi, reachable on foot or by boat depending on the tide
- Jozani Forest for the endemic red colobus and a mangrove boardwalk
- Stone Town food tour and the Forodhani night market
Photographs
What it looks like
Questions
Questions about this trip
Which is the best beach in Zanzibar?
Nungwi and Kendwa in the north have deep water at all tides, the best sunsets and the liveliest evenings. Paje and Jambiani in the south-east are wide, shallow and windy — ideal for kitesurfing and budget travel. Pongwe, Matemwe and Michamvi are quiet and best for honeymoons and families.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
June to October and December to February are dry and hot. The long rains fall in April and May, when many hotels close or discount heavily; short rains come in November and are rarely trip-ruining.
How do I get to Zanzibar from Arusha or the Serengeti?
Direct flights operate daily from Arusha, Kilimanjaro Airport and Serengeti airstrips, taking 75 to 150 minutes. Ferries run only from Dar es Salaam, a two-hour crossing.
Is Zanzibar suitable for families?
Very. North-coast hotels have swimmable water at all tides, pools and family rooms, and boat trips to Mnemba or Prison Island keep children busy. We suggest a north or north-east beach for families with young children.
Enquiry
Request a free, no-obligation quote
We do not publish fixed prices, because no two trips are the same. Tell us your dates and what you would like to see, and a local guide — not a call centre — will send you a tailored itinerary and a personal quote.
- Reply within 24 hours from our Arusha office
- Itineraries built around your dates, pace and budget
- Free quote, no deposit and no obligation
Email info@rutalegacysafaris.com
WhatsApp / Call +255 670 912 578 (0670 912 578 in Tanzania)
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