The 11 Best Beaches in Zanzibar

A guide to the best beaches in Zanzibar and other Indian Ocean spots in Tanzania 

If you want to talk about an island, Zanzibar is one located just off the coast of Tanzania. The main island of Zanzibar is 55 miles long and 25 miles wide. You can enjoy an easy Zanzibar beach holiday or some time on the beach before or after a safari. It has world-class beaches. 

From Stone Town, the ancient part of the island’s capital, to Nungwi, the northernmost point, the drive takes just under two hours. While Stone Town is easily accessible in one day from many places, we recommend staying at least one night there. It takes approximately 12 hours to travel from Europe to Zanzibar. Not all International flights go straight to the island. If not, you’ll have to fly to Dar es Salaam on the mainland of Tanzania and then take a light flight to the island. It takes twenty minutes. 

Beaches in Eastern Zanzibar 

The eastern beaches in Zanzibar are nice in general, but the tides go out so far that it’s hard to swim in many places at low tide. There may be a lot of seaweed on some beaches in the east, especially those farther south. As long as it’s not excessive, most reputable hotels will clean it up daily. But sometimes it’s impossible to avoid (especially from December to February). Mangroves around Chwaka Bay’s margins degrade the quality of the local sand and water. 

Zanzibar Beaches in the North and Northwest 

These are the least affected by tides, so they’re often the best choice if you want to swim all day. However, because of this, these areas are among the busiest, especially near Nungwi. On the northeastern beaches, the waves are still making things change. 

Southwest Beaches on Zanzibar 

The best beaches in Zanzibar’s Southwestern region are more likely to have coral cliffs than sandy ones, but there are a few sandy spots. You can swim, snorkel, and dive here, but the best places to snorkel and dive are near Mnemba Atoll, which is on the east side of the island. 

Instead of going to Zanzibar, you could relax on one of the smaller islands in the Indian Ocean off of Tanzania, like Mafia or Pemba, or you could explore the mainland coast, which is also called the Swahili Coast. Tanzania is a fantastic beach holiday spot. 

11 Best Beaches in Zanzibar  

1. Nungwi Beach 

The island’s north, especially Nungwi, is crowded.  Many tourists are drawn to Nungwi, a bustling town with a great nightlife. Although Nungwi is a party location, it won’t be as wild as Ibiza. However, full moon beach parties are thrilling. The quieter portion of Nungwi is east along the coast. This is the finest peaceful area to relax. 

One of Zanzibar’s most gorgeous beaches is Nungwi. It’s a beautiful beach with clear water and interesting rock formations. Check out the turtle refuge, too. Mungwi is also wave-resistant, making it ideal for swimming at any time of year. Sea urchins hurt, so avoid stepping on them at low tide. Seaweed is absent at northern Zanzibar beaches. 

Nungwi has two beaches and three sea sides. The one with hotels, bars, and restaurants is loud and busy day and night. The area’s charm is eroded by tourism and commercialism, but staying at the correct hotel can help you avoid it. 

2. Kendwa Beach 

Kendwa, located southwest of Nungwi, may be a better option. It’s cleaner, broader, has fewer people, and features year-round swimming without tides, a beautiful beach, azure water, and little seaweed. Bars, restaurants, and dive centres remain, but the atmosphere is more relaxed. Amazing sunsets. 

At full moon, the beach comes alive for parties, making Kendwa too loud for peace. Many partygoers are locals, and the atmosphere is light-hearted, making dancing enjoyable. However, not everyone likes it, so be sure to check the lunar calendar before booking. Kendwa has some “beach boys” and touts, although fewer and less persistent than Nungwi. 

3. Matemwe Beach 

Matemwe is a beautiful beach in the northeast. Hotels and cabins in this part of the island show that it is a very high-class area. There are still some beach vendors and touts who might try to sell you something, but not as many as in Nungwi and Kendwa. It has a big tidal range, like many beaches on the east coast, so you can’t swim here at low tide without first walking for a long way. However, you can explore the exposed coral flats on the way to water that is good for swimming, and when the tide is in, the swimming is great. From here, you can go on great dive trips that take you to the beautiful Mnemba Island area. 

4. Mnemba Island 

You should visit Mnemba Island if you want to find a white-sand beach that is straight out of a dream. It’s just outside of the main island, near Matemwe. But this is a private (and very small) island, and you can only get there if you stay at the luxurious, private, and very expensive Mnemba Island Lodge, which is run by And Beyond. If you don’t need the money, don’t even think about it. 

5. Pongwe Beach 

Beyond Matemwe on the east shore is Pongwe. This is calm and distant, yet your lodge or hotel’s restaurants may be too rare. One virtue of its isolation is that beach merchants rarely visit. This unspoiled, quiet spot is perfect for honeymooners! 

At low tide, the water retreats to the seaweed farms on the east coast, making a hotel or lodge with a pool essential. Pongwe’s bottom is stony, making paddling uncomfortable. When the tide is high, the sand is wide enough to allow for sunbathing. 

If you like diving or snorkelling, expect an hour-long drive to a good spot. 

The cove location of Pongwe Beach Lodge makes it less impacted by tides than other East Coast hotels, and it offers one of the nicest beaches. Book early! 

6. Kiwengwa Beach 

Kiwengwa, north of Pongwe, is another lovely beach. Several all-inclusive resorts (aimed towards Italians) and wonderful smaller places have opened here. Low tide prevents swimming, but paddling in shallow, warm water is a great way to relax. Touts and beach boys aren’t a problem. Here, you can snorkel, dive, fish, walk on coral reefs, and visit the Kiwengwa Caves with their stalactites and stalagmites. 

7. Paje Beach 

Paje’s beach is perfect for surfing, windsurfing, diving, kitesurfing, and sailing. It’s lively and easygoing with many bars and coffee shops. Low tide is not ideal for swimming, but otherwise, it’s fine. Try the Rock Restaurant up the coast north. You may play football on the beach with locals and visitors in the evening after visiting the Seaweed Centre, which explains how important this marine product is to the women who cultivate it locally (these eastern beaches are all affected by seaweed). Many places have beach boys, but it’s typically not horrible. This beautiful beach hosts White Sands, one of Zanzibar’s greatest hotels. 

8. Bwejuu Beach 

Bwejuu is another beautiful beach that has been on Conde Nast’s list of the world’s 30 best beaches. Overall, it’s a quiet and out-of-the-way place, so don’t expect to find bars and restaurants there. Instead, you’ll probably stay at the beach lodge or resort you’ve chosen. People traditionally fish for seaweed off of Bwejuu and many of the other beaches on this south-eastern side of the island. This means that you can expect to find seaweed here. However, most people don’t mind, especially if there is a good pool. 

9. Kizimkaze Beach 

Kizimkaze is a fishing town located on the Menai Bay, situated on the western side of the southernmost tip of the island. At high tide, the sand disappears, making this a good place to swim. At low tide, you’ll have to walk a bit to get to a good depth, and at high tide, there aren’t many places to lie out in the sun. You can dive and snorkel here, and this is where big fish from the deep sea, like tuna, are caught and sold at sale on the beach. The oldest mosque in East Africa is open to visitors. Dolphin tours are what Kizimkaze is known for. We think these are wrong, though, because there are so many of them, and the animals become stressed and sometimes get hurt. Please stay away from them. 

It gets less influenced by the waves as you move farther south. One of the busiest areas on the island used to be south of the Michamvi Peninsula, particularly among low-cost tourists. These people now tend to head north, but there are still a fair number of backpackers in this area. Kite riders also come here because the winds are great for their sport. 

From Zanzibar Airport and Stone Town, it’s easy to get to this area, and there are some great hotels here. 

10. Pemba Island  

Zanzibar’s 50 km north neighbour, Pemba, is often neglected. Pemba, on the other hand, is green and has fertile hills and clove farms that cover 40 by 14 miles. Zanzibar is flat and sandy. 

This hidden island has some of Africa’s best diving and snorkelling, but extensive mangroves make good beaches hard to find. Explore Pemba’s coral reefs to see the variety of sea life that lives there. A short boat ride away are offshore islands, such as Msili, with magnificent beaches that Pemba lacks. 

Pemba offers a remote island experience with diving and snorkelling. 

11. Mafia Island 

The Mafia Archipelago includes the lovely, quiet islands of Chole, Juani, Jibondo, and Juani. Mafia is 30 miles long and 9 miles broad. 

This less-visited location, partly covered in rainforest, grasslands, mangroves, and beaches, is ideal for a relaxing beach holiday with a ‘desert island’ atmosphere. 

Due to the Mafia Island Marine Park, which protects the coral reefs, diving here is better than in Zanzibar and quieter. Chole Bay offers tranquil seas for snorkelers and divers, a shallow coral reef for tropical fish, and endless sandy beaches fringed with coconut palms for relaxation. 

Why should you take the best beaches in Zanzibar for 2025–2027? 

Zanzibar, the “Spice Island,” is one of Africa’s most gorgeous tropical resorts. It will likely remain one of the best destinations for sun, sand, and culture between 2025 and 2027. Zanzibar has something for every tourist, whether they’re coming after a safari in Kenya or Tanzania, or want a beach holiday on their own; we’ve got you covered.  

Some highlights are: 

• Turquoise seas that are very clear 
• Places with white sand 
• Historical Stone Town  
• Beachfront destinations that are both fancy and affordable 
• Tours of islands and spices that are like no other 

FAQS for the best beaches in Zanzibar