What Are The Best Zanzibar Beaches For 2024-2025 Vacation Holiday? A Comprehensive Guide for the Top 8 Best/Beautiful Beaches in Zanzibar (Including Hotels) for a 20224-2025 holiday Vocation: The beaches of Zanzibar, an African island paradise, are the major attraction, whether you’re traveling there from Tanzania for a romantic honeymoon, a laid-back beach vacation, or some post-safari leisure. But how do you pick the finest beach for the kind of Zanzibar vacation you want when there are so many gorgeous white-sand beaches to pick from?
When you picture an exquisite tropical beach with white sand, turquoise water, and palm trees swaying gently in the breeze, you’re picturing Zanzibar’s beaches. The island’s beaches are regarded as the best in Africa, with Kendwa Beach on Zanzibar’s northwest coast recently named the best beach in Africa and the fourth-best beach in the world. High praise indeed, which we believe any visitor to our island would agree with.
Zanzibar’s beaches, which are well-known for their clean, tropical waters and fine white sands, serve as a gateway to an array of vibrant coral reefs and marine life that can be found just offshore. And when we’re not diving, snorkeling, or swimming, we like to unwind in the palm trees’ shade. We are taking in the sounds of this enchanted environment, such as the breeze blowing through the trees, the birdsong, and the bustle of daily existence. Although the phrase “tropical paradise” is overused, we believe it best describes Zanzibar.
If you want to get off the main path and spend some quiet time in nature, the island is home to around 25 well-known beaches, in addition to several smaller ones that are well worth visiting. Our response to the question “Which beach in Zanzibar is the best?” is that there isn’t a best beach—there is just the beach that is best for you.
The activities you have scheduled for your Zanzibar vacation will determine which beach is best for you to visit. There are beaches that are ideal for kitesurfing and wind surfing, beaches that are close to top-notch dive spots, and beaches that are picture-perfect for spending the entire day at a beach bar relaxing. This guide to Zanzibar’s beaches might help you determine whether the region you have picked fits your expectations and planned activities if you are a first-time visitor.
The beaches in the island’s north are typically busier, there are more alternatives for lodging, and there are more activities geared toward tourists. If you enjoy lounging and mingling with others, the beaches in the north are an excellent option. Divers and surfers favor the beaches on the eastern side of the island because they are usually calmer and have a more relaxed vibe.
It is important to remember that the west coast has far less severe tide variations and calmer waters than the east coast. During low tide, east coast tides can cause the ocean to be several hundred meters from the shore. It’s not ideal if all you want to do is swim and you have to walk five minutes to reach the water’s edge, even though this is fantastic if you want to explore and look into tidal pools. It’s something to consider.
Below, we’ve included a list of our top beaches in Zanzibar along with thorough descriptions of the amenities, activities, and lodging options available at each to perhaps ease your decision. Our list is arranged precisely geographically, beginning in Stone Town, the point at which the majority of visitors will arrive on the island, and proceeding northward and clockwise around the island. We hope you find a beach that entices you to come to our island and take in everything that Zanzibar’s natural beauty and cultural legacy have to offer. Hello!
What Are The Best/Beautiful Zanzibar Beeches For 2024-2025 Vocation Holiday? Here is the list of to 8 best beaches for your vocation in Zanzibar:
- Bwejuu Beach: Relaxation, and Reef Safari
One of the best beaches in Zanzibar is Bwejuu. Stone Town is just an hour and a half away from this white sand beach on the southeast side of the island, which is fringed by palm trees. It’s one of the most tranquil areas of Zanzibar and a well-liked option for people looking for complete tranquility, seclusion, and leisure.
Numerous excursions and activities are available in the vicinity, such as a dhow boat ride through a mangrove forest, a visit to the nearby town of Bwejuu, a reef safari, diving and snorkeling, a visit to Stone Town, or a day trip to the Jozani Forest, which is home to the Red Colobus Monkey.
The Best Beach Resorts around Bwejuu Beach
- Baraza Resort and Spa is a family-owned and operated resort with stunning views of the Indian Ocean.
- Breezes Beach Club and Dive Center is a calm, peaceful resort that mostly caters to families and couples.
- The Palms is one of Zanzibar’s most exclusive private resorts, ideal for honeymooners or couples seeking privacy. Each villa has its own plunge pool and a patio with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. Travel & Leisure named it one of the world’s most romantic all-inclusive resorts.
- ‘The Zanzibar Collection,’ a collection of privately owned luxury hotels and resorts inspired by the charm of this exotic beach destination, includes all three of the aforementioned beach properties.
- Michamvi Beach: A Remote Coral Lagoon
On the island’s central east coast is a peninsula known as Michamvi. Michamvi has huge expanses of uninhabited beaches to explore and seems remote despite having two sizable beach resorts nearby. There are two sections to the peninsula: Michamvi-Pingwe and Michamvi-Kae.
Michamvi-Pingwe is located on the eastern side. It features a colorful coral lagoon and lovely palm-lined beaches arranged in a series of picturesque bays amidst towering coral cliffs. Michamvi-Kae is located on the western side and faces westward toward Chwaka Bay.
Where to Stay Around Michamvi Beach
- Kichanga Lodge is a private lodge hidden among tropical gardens on a mountain. The resort offers a swimming pool that overlooks the beach and a traditional weathered dhow boat that serves as a bar on the beach.
- Konokono Beach Resort is a peaceful haven that offers tranquility and romance in the midst of nature. It’s popular with couples and those on a Zanzibar honeymoon.
- Z Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel that emanates sophistication. The beachside resort is particularly well-known for its culinary and drink offerings, which include Asian-fusion tapas, sharing platters, and a creative cocktail menu.
- Nungwi Beach: A Lively Beach for Night Owls
One of Zanzibar’s most stunning and well-liked beaches, Nungwi Beach, is located on the northwest coast. It was just included in TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards list of the Top 25 Beaches in the World.
Undoubtedly, Nungwi is one of the liveliest parts of the island, with a wide range of nighttime entertainment available at the many hotels, restaurants, pubs, and beach resorts.
But this beach isn’t only for wild party animals. Wonderful coral reefs around the Nungwi coast make for excellent diving and snorkeling. If you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins, green turtles, and whale sharks during specific seasons of the year. Nungwi Beach, which faces west, offers some of Zanzibar’s greatest sunsets; a sunset voyage aboard a traditional dhow sailing boat is an absolute must.
Where to Stay Around Nungwi Beach
- Hotel RIU Palace Zanzibar is a luxurious oceanfront spa resort located around three kilometers from Nungwi Beach, giving a serene and private ambiance away from the bustling coastline. All of the rooms and suites feature their own patios with views of the gorgeous gardens and Indian Ocean.
- Kendwa Beach: Sunsets, and Swimming
Kendwa Beach, sometimes called Nungwi Beach‘s “little sister,” is considerably more sedate than its northern twin. Since the tide doesn’t really vary at this beach—one of the few on Zanzibar—the crystal-clear waters are ideal for diving, snorkeling, and swimming.
This beach is also home to colorful starfish, which may be found slightly offshore. Just remember not to pick up or disturb these creatures in their natural habitat. Choose a location on the beach as the sun begins to set, since Kendwa Beach is known for its amazing sunsets. As the sun sets, the beach comes to life with lively nightlife and laid-back beach parties.
- Kizimkazi Beach: Authenticity, and Dolphin Safaris
Kizimkazi Dimbani to the north and Kizimkazi Mkunguni to the south are two nearby communities that make up this little fishing community on Zanzibar’s south coast. The traditional palm-backed lagoon of the east coast is not at all like the beach here.
Here, the shoreline is elevated above the ocean by a coral cliff, and the beaches are narrow coves rather than wide stretches of sand. As a result, the neighborhood has a unique and genuine vibe and offers fewer lodging possibilities.
The dolphin safaris in Kizimkazi village are well known. But if you plan to visit Kizimkazi, please exercise caution while booking boat excursions that include the chance to swim with dolphins.
In Zanzibar, dolphin tourism is unregulated, and the majority of tours are guided by boat drivers who have no knowledge of or interest in the behavior of animals. Tourists frequently leap into the ocean to swim while boats swarm around and chase the dolphins, all without keeping an eye on the dolphins’ behavior. Alternatively, if you would like to learn more about how to swim with dolphins in Zanzibar responsibly while on vacation, please get in touch with us.
Where to stay around Kizimkazi Beach
- The Residence Zanzibar is a magnificent and family-friendly hotel on Zanzibar’s southwest coast, 20 minutes from Kizimkazi, nestled by 32 hectares of tropical gardens and bordered by a pristine mile-long beach.
- Unguja Lodge is a tiny beach lodge near Kizimkazi Mkunguni on Zanzibar’s southern tip. This is a peaceful area of the island, with little beaches and beautiful natural surroundings. The lodge has a great relationship with the inhabitants of Kizimkazi Mkunguni, and the majority of the personnel are from the village.
The Residence Zanzibar
- Matemwe Beach: Local Culture, and Scuba Diving
Matemwe is a stretch of beach northeast of Zanzibar. Matemwe’s long, picturesque beach (Zanzibar’s longest beach) has some of the finest sand on the island, and traditional fishing settlements nestled amid the palm trees at the back of the beach provide an intriguing glimpse into the local culture. Mnemba Atoll, located about two kilometers offshore, just beyond the main reef, is a popular scuba diving destination surrounded by pristine and easily accessible coral reefs. Matemwe Beach boasts some of the best diving and snorkeling on the island, as well as some good kitesurfing and sailing.
Where to Stay Around Matemwe Beach
- Matemwe Lodge is set on an outcrop overlooking a tiny, coral-fringed lagoon on Zanzibar’s tranquil northeast coast. Because of its proximity to Mnemba, this resort is an excellent choice for anyone looking to explore the Atoll.
- Mnemba Island Lodge is an elite all-inclusive resort located on a secluded island 4.5 kilometers off Zanzibar’s northeast coast, surrounded by vibrant coral reefs. Tom Cruise, Naomi Campbell, and Bill Gates have all stayed at Mnemba Island Lodge.
- Pongwe Beach: Tropical Paradise, and Calm Waters for Swimming
This peaceful arc of beach at Pongwe is bordered by lush vegetation and dotted with palm trees—it’s as close to a typical tropical paradise as you can get. Pongwe Beach is fortunate to have an offshore reef protecting the entire beach, keeping the inner waters quiet and safe for swimming. Boat tours and snorkeling can also be organized to reach the reef.
Where to stay near Pongwe
- Pongwe Beach Hotel is a modest and personal resort set on one of Zanzibar’s most stunning beaches. The apartments are designed in the classic Zanzibari manner, with coconut palm thatched roofs, lime wash walls, and handcrafted wooden doors. When the tide is out, there is also a lovely infinity pool to enjoy.
- Paje Beach: Kitesurfing, and Diving
Paje Beach, which is on the southeast coast, offers extensive expanses of white sand, palm trees that sway in the wind, turquoise waters, and breathtaking sunsets—all the characteristics of the ideal beach. Paje Beach, which is tranquil and serene and has a tiny settlement on one side, is a wonderful substitute for the busier and more developed beaches to the north of Zanzibar.
The superb kitesurfing conditions at Paje Beach attract amateur and professional kitesurfers from all over the world. This particular part of the island is well-known for its water sports offerings. Furthermore, the warm, clear seas are excellent for scuba diving because the offshore reefs are home to a variety of vibrant marine life, including moray eels, starfish, trumpet fish, and turtles.
At low tide, you may also witness residents gathering seaweed at Paje Beach, which is utilized by a women’s cooperative to manufacture soap. The soap’s natural ingredients are really beneficial for your skin, and purchasing a bar or two is a terrific way to sustainably support the community. The items are available at local shops and come wrapped in banana leaves.
THE BEST BEACHES IN ZANZIBAR FOR THE HOLIDAY YOU WANT
We hope that guide to Zanzibar’s top beaches have helped you choose the ideal beach for your kind of vacation, whether you’re planning to scuba dive the island’s vibrant coral reefs or just relax on the powder-soft sands while sipping a cocktail.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This ranking of Zanzibar’s best beaches is only a small sample of what this earthly paradise is truly all about! A journey to the Zanzibar Archipelago is highly recommended if you have a strong affinity for the ocean, dive or snorkel, or are thinking about becoming SCUBA certified.
The goal of this emerging ecotourism destination is to preserve its delicate and distinctive ecology. With breathtaking scenery both above and below the water, Zanzibar offers visitors the chance to observe and learn about rare and unusual creatures, as well as an abundance of fascinating marine life.
Together with its amazing history and culture, Zanzibar is home to welcoming people who are happy to show you around their lovely house. To travel responsibly, just be mindful of your surroundings and treat others with respect.
Anyone who explores this enigmatic and fascinating archipelago will have an amazing experience on a trip to the “Spice Islands.” Remember to leave the beaches as good as or better than when you found them, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen that is safe for coral and reefs. Being a responsible traveler includes even the most basic actions, like picking up a piece of trash.
