The main island of the Zanzibar archipelago is traditionally an attractive destination for tourists who are attracted to a beach holiday on the picturesque ocean coast. The beaches of Zanzibar, where the water is clear and the wide coastline is covered with white sand, are considered to be among the best in the Indian Ocean.
What are the attractions of a beach holiday in Zanzibar?
The geographical position of the island is such that the air temperature almost does not fall below 21 degrees, and this is in August, but keeps the average values within 29-31 degrees and a minimum of about 24 during the year. Therefore, summer here is year-round, although the calendar falls on our winter months-Zanzibar is still located in the southern hemisphere. The sea, accordingly, warms up perfectly, up to 25-28 degrees, depending on the month.
The swimming season on the best beaches of Zanzibar lasts almost all year, with the exception of rainy periods, which fall in April-May and November. Swimming at this time is still possible, since neither the amount of rain nor its intensity is ever known for sure. However, there are also severe and prolonged downpours that affect the life of the entire island.
Despite these isolated “buts”that occur only a couple of times a year, in general, the resort island of Zanzibar is a very suitable place for a beach holiday. Especially if the vacation fell far from the summer. It remains to choose the best beach for swimming on the whole island: with or without low tide, with a beautiful shore, safe bottom and comfortable service!
Nakupenda Beach – bright colors of the ocean
From all the photos of Zanzibar beaches, Nakupenda Beach stands out with emerald-blue shades of sea water. Framed by snow-white coastal sand under a deep blue sky, the scenery looks especially picturesque. Visiting tourists are impressed by the colorful and friendly nature of local residents, who complement the overall picture of paradise.
The beach was named – the disappearing island of Nakupenda, in fact, the surface of the island-beach is regularly hidden under water due to strong tides. It is located near Stone Town in the western part of the island. The infrastructure is all imported, as well as visitors – tourists. However, they all agree that this is the best place, and it is worth it to get to it and see everything with your own eyes.
The beach is relatively small, but clean and visited – two or three hundred tourists can easily be accommodated. The surface of the coast is exceptionally sandy, the entrance to the sea is comfortable, there are many boats for walking and excursions, various diving options, visually accessible marine bottom inhabitants, fish and even dolphins. Here they offer excellent hearty lunches-lots of seafood (always fresh), beans, French fries and drinks. There are also souvenirs, colorful reefs, lots of opportunities for photos and new experiences.
Jambiani Beach – tidal attraction
On the map of Zanzibar beaches, Jambiani is marked almost at the south-eastern point of the island. This is one of the most remote places of the resort and for this reason is less visited by tourists.
The coastal cover is fine white sand, according to vacationers, cool even in the heat. The sea floor consists of coral slabs, at some distance from the coast there are thickets of algae, some of them fall on the beach after low tide. The inhabitants of the ocean are very different: sea urchins, stars, cucumbers, crabs, etc., which leads to the admiration of children.
When entering the sea, you should be careful – there are rocks on the bottom that become clearly distinguishable during low tide. This inconvenience can be corrected with the help of special slippers. Lovers of tides will be able to observe kilometer-long versions of these amazing natural phenomena, wander through the open expanses, and get acquainted with the fauna.
The place is famous for its quietness and sparseness – the best place for a secluded holiday, which is facilitated by numerous small cafes, cozy and inexpensive. There is a market in the village nearby, but the service is not very well represented on the beach itself.
Kendwa Beach for lovers of beaches without tides
Among the best non-ebb Zanzibar beaches, travelers often choose Kendwa Beach. Small in length, with a wide beach strip, it is considered the most attractive on the north-west coast. From the nearby popular Nungwi Beach, about half an hour’s walk south along the sandbar. Although, according to observations, there is sometimes muddy water.
In general, Kendwa is known for its white sand and turquoise-hued sea. It is usually crowded, as there are many hotels and restaurants nearby, as well as small shops and merchants. Due to the high level of competition, prices are quite low. The entrance to the water is comfortable, without hedgehogs, but with beautiful starfish. Near some hotels and cafes, when purchasing, for example, a drink, you can use a beach umbrella or a sun lounger.
Nungwi Beach-beauty on the shore and under water
Nungwi Beach is located at the extreme northern point of the resort island and is considered one of the best beaches in Zanzibar for swimming without low tide. The main local attraction is the coral reef, which is actively visited by divers. The sand is also of coral origin, soft, white and does not heat up in the sun. The color of the water delights tourists with rich shades of sea turquoise. The entrance to the water is comfortable, the sea is clear and clean. The tides are low.
The beach is visited by numerous tourists, from here popular sea excursions to the islands of the archipelago begin. Many people consider Nungwi to be the best place for a swimming holiday due to the lack of waves. A huge number of hotels and restaurants provide all possible amenities, fresh seafood, quality lunches, inexpensive menu. In the evenings, you can enjoy beautiful sunsets and watch Maasai dances.
Paje Beach – perfect for kiting
It occupies the eastern coast five kilometers north of Jambiani Beach. The beach is extensive, approximately equally remote from the extreme (northern and southern) points of Zanzibar. This place is distinguished by the absence of rocks on the sea floor and is considered one of the smallest and smoothest – so it is best suited for holidays with children. The weather is always great.
Paje Beach belongs to the beaches of Zanzibar with almost no ebb-the water goes relatively close and remains knee-deep, and arrives approximately chest-neck. The sand is white and smooth, when entering the water, you need to make sure that you do not get on the hedgehog and it is better to use special shoes.
There are two kite schools at once, which help you quickly master the technique of riding on a board. You can rent a kite or go paddle boarding on your own. Nearby there are many restaurants, cafes, hotels, it is possible to book a bungalow right on the beach. Thanks to the dive center, scooter rental, sailboats for walking to the reef, the place is quite visited by tourists, it is almost always crowded.
Matemwe Beach – high tides for swimming
It is located on the north-eastern coast of the island, near the village of the same name. Matemwe is distinguished by the presence of hotels that are the best place for Italian tourists. The hotels are expensive, and the staff speaks Italian. There are manicured green lawns around, and air-conditioned bungalows on the coast. Although the beach itself is sparsely populated.
The sandbar is wide, the beach is rolled up and comfortable, with a warm breeze. The sea coast is richly populated with animals – hedgehogs, stars, crabs and other inhabitants are forced to wear special shoes while swimming. The tides are very high, and since the sea here is shallow, you can swim almost only during the incoming water. There are many offers from boat owners to go fishing, from the Maasai to watch a show or go on excursions.
Uroa Bay – original and colorful
Uroa is located on the east coast of Zanzibar, about 40 km from Stone Town. Local residents are active on the beach – their village is located nearby, there is a farm for growing seaweed. The tides are very remote – the water goes for 2-3 km. At low tide, women come to collect seafood or work on seaweed plantations. On walks along the low-tide banks, you can find beautiful shells.
The sand is white and soft, the entrance to the sea is almost safe, there are not many hedgehogs, the water is bright green. Local residents offer guided tours, including Russian-speaking ones, as well as henna paintings, souvenirs, and custom-made items. The beach itself is sparsely populated-tourists prefer to stay at their hotels.
Kiwengwa Beach – beach recreation and entertainment
The best beaches in Zanzibar for swimming include Kiwengwa. This is the northeastern coast, with well-defined tides. The sand is white and soft, the ocean is bright blue shades, palm groves that shade hotels. Swimming is comfortable, the bottom is clean. The beach is teeming with offers from local merchants and attention-seeking local kids. There is a lot of music, performances, fun, but you can also find secluded places.
For tourists visiting the beaches of Zanzibar, this is an unforgettable time full of new experiences, admiring the beauty and definitely-the desire to return!
