Experience
Zanzibar beaches
Four coasts, four different characters — Zanzibar rewards knowing which stretch of sand actually matches what you want.
- Distinct coasts, each with a different tide and wind pattern
- 4
- Boat transfer from Zanzibar to Pemba
- 90min
- The reliable dry season across every coast
- Jun–Oct
Overview
What to expect
Zanzibar's coastline is not uniform: the west and north swim at any tide, the east and south-east empty out at low water into a walk rather than a swim, and the coral reef that makes snorkelling worthwhile sits in different places depending on the season's wind direction.
Pemba, ninety minutes north by boat, is the quiet alternative for travellers who have already seen Zanzibar's main island and want the diving without the crowds.
The coasts
Four coasts compared
North · Nungwi–Kendwa
Swims at any tide, most developed
Deep water close to shore regardless of tide, which makes it the most reliable coast for swimming. Also the most built-up, with the widest choice of hotels and restaurants.
Swimming
Any tide
Character
Developed, sociable
Itineraries
Built around this experience
Honest advice
What we tell everyone
Check the tide table before you book a room
A beachfront room on the east coast at low tide overlooks sand, not sea, for several hours a day — ask what the view is at low water, not just high.
Seaweed is seasonal, not constant
Some coasts collect drifting seaweed at certain times of year. It is raked daily at maintained properties but worth asking about directly rather than discovering it on arrival.
Stone Town deserves two nights, not a stopover
Most itineraries treat it as a transit point. The old town, the spice tour and Jozani Forest are worth the extra night on their own terms.
Pemba is a deliberate trade-off
Better diving, far fewer people, and noticeably simpler infrastructure. Choose it for the reef, not for resort comforts.
Begin your journey
Ready to add the coast?
Tell us how many days you want on sand and we will find the right stretch of it.