Zanzibar – 10 most beautiful beaches

After visiting the mainland of Tanzania, I decided to go to Zanzibar. My plan was in no way original, hundreds of tourists do that. Zanzibar seems to be a natural choice for rest after a safari tour or climbing Kilimanjaro. It was the end of the year, so the peak of the season, I knew what awaited me there. The thought of hundreds of tourists made me feel sick. My expectations weren’t high, I just wanted to look around the island in peace.

Zanzibar surprised me positively. You probably know that feeling when you leave the hotel and suddenly all the charm is gone. Usually, places outside tourist zones don’t look like from travel catalogues. Meanwhile, virtually everywhere in Zanzibar you can feel that sepecial exotic vibe. Coconut palms, banana trees and traditional buildings made me feel like I was on exotic holidays. What were the beaches like? Maybe check it out by yourself… 😉

During my stay, I only visited the island of Unguja, which is colloquially and incorrectly called Zanzibar. Actually, Zanzibar isn’t just one island but an archipelago of islands. The largest islands are: Unguja, Pemba, Mafia and Latham. In addition, the archipelago consists of around 50 smaller islands.

Nungwi

I chose Nungwi, located in the northern part of the island, as my starting point. Maybe the location was not optimal in terms of logistics, but Nungwi is a typical bustling tourist resort. After all, I needed some civilisation. I would simply run wild being alone in some remote area on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s such a paradox, during the day I try to visit deserted places, but in the evening I like to be among people. Nungwi fitted this role perfectly, in the evening, after a whole day of sightseeing, I had many pubs and bars with numerous events and there was always something to do.

Plaża Mtende

Number two is my favorite. Mtende Beach is located on the far southern part of the island. It’s located in a secluded place, away from civilisation, which is why it has retained its wild character. The interesting cliff coast is a unique sight in Zanzibar.

Matemwe

Matemwe Beach is a good choice for hermits. It seems endless, and believe me you won’t see many living creature on the horizon. There, You can feel as if you were on a desert island.

Pongwe

A beach with a long pier from where you can admire amazing views of ocean. At low tide you can take a long walk into the sea.

Kiwengwa

Kiwengwa Beach is worth visiting not only because of its paradise scenery, powdery sand and turquoise water. Right next to the beach there’re numerous shops of famous brands… 😉

Mangapwani

It’s a secluded, tiny beach in the western part of the island, where I didn’t meet a single living soul. Abandoned fishing boats add additional charm to the beach. It’s a perfect place to relax.

The Rock Restaurant i plaża Michamvi Pingwe

The Rock restaurant is one of the most popular places in Zanzibar. The idea of creating a restaurant on a small island is quite original. However, what is even more interesting is that this restaurant, depending on the time of day, may be located on the ocean or on land. Zanzibar is famous for its high tides, and The Rock restaurant is the best place to observe this phenomenon. In the morning, when the tide is low, you can visit the restaurant without getting your feet wet. Meanwhile, in the afternoon it can only be reached by boat.

Paje

The beach in Paje delighted me with its white and flour-like sand, contrasting with the intense turquoise colour of the water. It’s also a favorite place for kitesurfers. At low tide you can see many kites floating above the water. The beach in Paje also offers a wide selection of restaurants serving local dishes. There’s a fishing village nearby, so fresh fish and seafood is guaranteed.

Paje is also famous for seaweed farming. Algae are grown on special poles immersed in water. Cultivation is done mainly by women. At low tide you can see them tending the seaweed, picking it and then drying it on the shore. Algae are now used to produce many cosmetics and are one of Zanzibar’s main export goods.

Traditional dhow boats are another popular sight on the beaches of Zanzibar. They are built by hand according to a pattern passed down from generation to generation. The key element of construction is the selection of a tree which has appropriate shape in order to shorten the time of processing it. It can take up to even a year to build such a boat.

Jambiani Beach

I was enchanted by this beach mainly because of its local vibe. There you can see children playing in the water, women tending algae plots and men repairing fishing nets.

Zanzibar – Safari Blue

Last but not least Safari Blue is the most popular attraction in Zanzibar. It’s cruise during which you can observe the amazing underwater world of Zanzibar. During the trip you can see corals, swim with colorful fish and even wild dolphins. An additional attraction is swimming in the lagoon.