Beaches in Tanzania

Nungwi sits at the northern tip of Zanzibar, about an hour by road from Stone Town. Its tidal range is small, so you can swim through the day here, unlike the east coast where the sea retreats for hours. The village still builds wooden dhows on the sand, and CNN listed Nungwi among its 100 best beaches in the world in 2014.

Coast: North tip of Unguja
Swimming: Possible at all tides
Activities: Diving, snorkelling, dhow sunset cruises

Kendwa is 3 kilometres down the coast from Nungwi on Zanzibar's northwest shore, with the same forgiving tides and a wider strip of sand. It faces west, so the sunset lands directly on the beach. Kendwa Rocks runs the island's best known Full Moon Party, which fills the beach through the night once a month.

Coast: Northwest Unguja
Swimming: Possible at all tides
Activities: Snorkelling, diving, kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing

Paje is Zanzibar's kitesurfing centre, on the east coast where a shallow lagoon inside the reef gives flat water and steady trade winds. The same reef means the tide goes out several hundred metres twice a day, so swimming here is a high-tide activity. Kite season is strongest from December to February and June to September.

Coast: East Unguja
Swimming: High tide only
Activities: Kitesurfing, kite schools, scuba diving

Jambiani is a working fishing and seaweed-farming village on Zanzibar's southeast coast, quieter and cheaper than Paje just to the north. The beach runs about 7 kilometres of white sand and coral rock, and the local pace of life is slow enough to have its own name, pole pole.

Tidal Tip: Swim at high tide. At low tide the water pulls back far enough to walk out onto the reef flats, where local women tend their seaweed lines.

Coast: Southeast Unguja
Activities: Snorkelling, scuba diving, dolphin spotting, kiteboarding, kayaking, reef walks, dhow trips
Facilities: Restrooms available

Matemwe runs for several kilometres along Zanzibar's northeast coast and is the closest shore base for Mnemba Atoll, about 15 minutes away by boat. It is still a fishing village rather than a resort strip, so it stays quiet even in high season. Tides here are moderate: less extreme than Paje or Jambiani, not as forgiving as Nungwi.

Coast: Northeast Unguja
Swimming: Best around high tide
Activities: Snorkelling and diving at Mnemba Atoll, dolphin spotting, kayaking

Kiwengwa is the long resort strip on Zanzibar's northeast coast, backed by low coral cliffs and holding the island's biggest cluster of large all-inclusive hotels, which is why most package holidays land here. The sand is wide and white and the tides are gentler than on the southeast beaches, though the sea still pulls back at low water. Kuza Cave, a freshwater swimming cave, is a short drive inland.

Coast: Northeast Unguja
Swimming: Good through most of the tidal cycle
Activities: Snorkelling, diving, kitesurfing, Kuza Cave
Best For: All-inclusive resort stays

Bwejuu sits between Paje and the Michamvi peninsula on Zanzibar's southeast coast, with the same wide reef flats and a fraction of the people. Just north, the Michamvi peninsula holds The Rock Restaurant at Pingwe and, on its western side at Michamvi Kae, the only beaches on this coast that face the sunset.

Coast: Southeast Unguja
Swimming: High tide only
Activities: Beach walks, dhow trips, kitesurfing at Paje nearby
Day Trip: Michamvi Kae for sunset, The Rock Restaurant at Pingwe

Nakupenda is a sandbank rather than a beach, a 15-minute boat ride from Stone Town harbour. It surfaces at low tide and is swallowed by the sea as the water rises, so the trip is timed to the tide rather than the clock. Boats go as half-day excursions with a seafood lunch, usually combined with Prison Island. The Swahili name translates as "I love you".

Access: Boat from Stone Town, 15 minutes
Time Required: About 3 hours
Best Time: Early morning, before the day-trip boats arrive
Combine With: Prison Island
Note: No shade and no wheelchair access

Mnemba is a private island about 3 kilometres off Zanzibar's northeast coast, leased by andBeyond, so you cannot land on it unless you are a lodge guest. What you can do is snorkel and dive the Mnemba Atoll conservation area around it, the best reef within easy reach of Unguja and the usual place to see green turtles and dolphins. Boats leave from Matemwe and Muyuni.

Access: Boat from Matemwe or Muyuni; the island itself is closed to non-guests
Highlight: Snorkelling and diving at Mnemba Atoll
Accommodation: andBeyond Mnemba Island

Mafia is Tanzania's third largest island at 394 square kilometres, a 30-minute flight south from Dar es Salaam, and it belongs administratively to the mainland's Pwani Region rather than to Zanzibar. Mafia Island Marine Park, the country's first, was gazetted in 1995 and protects the southern coast and its reefs. Whale sharks feed in the channel roughly October to March, and this is the one place in Tanzania where you can reliably snorkel with them.

Main Town: Kilindoni
Marine Park Fee: About $23.60 per person
Activities: Diving, snorkelling, whale shark trips
Best For: Divers rather than resort holidays

Pemba lies about 50 kilometres north of Unguja and roughly the same distance off the mainland, a hilly, clove-growing island of 988 square kilometres with almost no package tourism. Divers come for the steep drop-offs and coral walls off the west coast, which are more demanding than Zanzibar's reefs. Chake Chake is the main town and Pemba Airport connects to Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

Access: Flight or ferry from Zanzibar
Main Town: Chake Chake
Activities: Wall diving, snorkelling, mangrove kayaking, dolphin spotting
Wildlife: Humpback whales pass offshore in July and August
Best For: Experienced divers and travellers who want quiet

Pongwe is a small cove on Zanzibar's east coast between Kiwengwa and Uroa, with the reef sitting unusually close in. That reef holds water in the lagoon, so unlike Paje or Jambiani you can normally swim here whatever the tide is doing. There are only a handful of small hotels and no nightlife at all.

Coast: East Unguja
Swimming: Usually possible, sheltered lagoon
Best For: Couples and quiet stays on the east coast

Uroa is a fishing village on Zanzibar's central east coast, roughly halfway between Kiwengwa and Chwaka Bay. A few mid-range resorts sit along a working beach where dhows still come in with the catch, so it feels less packaged than the northeast strip. The tide recedes a long way here, as it does everywhere on this coast.

Coast: Central east Unguja
Swimming: High tide only
Activities: Dhow trips, snorkelling, seaweed farm walks, village visits

Kizimkazi is a pair of fishing villages at Zanzibar's southern tip, Kizimkazi Dimbani and Kizimkazi Mkunguni, and it is the base for the island's dolphin boat trips. Bottlenose and humpback dolphins are resident offshore. Go at first light, both for the calmest sea and to get ahead of the boats that chase the pods later in the morning. Dimbani also holds a mosque with an inscription dated 1107, the oldest in East Africa.

Coast: South Unguja
Activities: Dolphin trips, snorkelling, Dimbani Mosque, Kuza Cave
Tip: Pick an operator that keeps its distance from the pods rather than driving at them

Muyuni is a short stretch of sand just south of Matemwe on Zanzibar's northeast coast, sheltered by the same reef and used mainly as a launch point for boats to Mnemba Atoll. There is very little development, so treat it as a beach to visit for the day rather than a place to base yourself.

Coast: Northeast Unguja
Swimming: Best around high tide
Activities: Boat trips to Mnemba Atoll, snorkelling, dolphin spotting

Mtende is a small cove on Zanzibar's southeast tip, held between two coral rock headlands with a path down the cliff to the sand. It is a stop rather than a base, with no hotels on the beach itself, and it works best as a swim on the way to or from Kizimkazi.

Coast: Southeast tip of Unguja
Swimming: High tide only, and the cove is small
Best For: A half-day stop combined with Kizimkazi dolphin trips

Chumbe Island lies about 8 kilometres southwest of Stone Town and has been a closed reef sanctuary since 1994, which is why its coral is in visibly better shape than anything off the main beaches. Visitor numbers are capped, there are seven eco-bungalows and no mains electricity, and day trips have to be booked in advance.

Access: Boat from Mbweni, near Stone Town
Highlight: Snorkelling the protected reef
Note: Numbers capped, advance booking required
Best For: Snorkellers and anyone who wants the reef at its best

Zanzibar, an archipelago, lies in the Indian Ocean, just over 15 miles off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa. The main island, Unguja, often referred to as Zanzibar Island, is located about 25 miles from the mainland.  A visit to Zanzibar offers a rich blend of experiences, from exploring historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to lounging on the idyllic beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa. The narrow streets, bustling bazaars, and richly decorated buildings reflect the island's Arab, Persian, Indian, and European influences. The island's spice farms, which produce cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper, are also a major draw, providing a sensory adventure for visitors.

Bongoyo is an uninhabited island in the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve, a 30-minute boat ride from The Slipway at Msasani. Boats run to a fixed timetable through the day, there is a grilled-fish kitchen on the sand and nothing else, which is the appeal. It is the easiest beach day from the city and fits around a flight.

Access: Scheduled boat from The Slipway, Msasani
Time Required: Half a day
Activities: Swimming, snorkelling, short forest walk

Mbudya is the second uninhabited island in the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve, about 20 minutes by boat from the Kunduchi hotels north of the city. Thatched bandas on the beach can be hired for the day and fish is cooked to order. It fills up with Dar residents at weekends, so go midweek if you want it quiet.

Access: Boat from Kunduchi Beach
Time Required: Half a day
Activities: Swimming, snorkelling, sunbathing

Kipepeo is the best known stretch of Kigamboni, also called South Beach, across the harbour from central Dar es Salaam and now a short drive over the Nyerere Bridge. The sand is clean, the water is calm and the beach bars and bandas make it the standard weekend escape from the city rather than a holiday destination in its own right.

Access: Nyerere Bridge or the Kigamboni ferry
Activities: Swimming, dhow sailing, kitesurfing
Best For: A day out of Dar es Salaam, or a first or last day either side of a flight

Coco Beach, also called Oyster Bay, is the public beach inside Dar es Salaam itself, on the Msasani peninsula. It is a city beach rather than a holiday one: street food stalls, families and live music at weekends, with rocks and currents that make it better for a walk and a sunset than a long swim.

Location: Toure Drive, Msasani peninsula
Swimming: Limited, rocky with currents
Best For: Sunset, street food and an evening out in the city

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city and commercial hub is a bustling metropolis, located on the east coast of Africa. Approximately 90 kilometers south of the famous Zanzibar Archipelago, it is known for its bustling atmosphere, diverse culture, and vibrant markets. Originally a fishing village in the mid-19th century, it has transformed into a popular tourist destination, boasting significant ports and trading centres. The city offers a range of attractions, from its beaches along the Indian Ocean to its historical landmarks and museums and acts as a gateway to Tanzania's famous national parks.

Bagamoyo is a historic town 75 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam, once the terminus of the caravan and slave routes and the first capital of German East Africa. The beach is broad and almost empty, and the old fort, the German boma and the Kaole ruins nearby give the stop a purpose beyond sand. The Bagamoyo Arts Festival runs in late September or October.

Distance: 75 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam
Activities: Historic town tour, Kaole ruins, dhow trips, snorkelling, fishing
Best For: History alongside the beach

Pangani is a small Swahili town at the mouth of the Pangani River on Tanzania's north coast, about halfway between Dar es Salaam and the Kenyan border. Coral rag buildings and Omani-era carved doors survive in the old town, and the beaches running south of it are undeveloped. This is a road-trip stop rather than a fly-in beach.

Nearest Airport: Tanga, about 50 kilometres north
Activities: River trips, snorkelling, town walk, cycling
Best For: Travellers driving the northern coast

Ushongo is a quiet fishing beach about 15 kilometres south of Pangani, with a line of small owner-run lodges under the palms and no resort development at all. Boats run out to the Maziwe Island Marine Reserve, a sandbank that surfaces only at low tide and holds the best snorkelling on this coast. Green turtles nest along the shore.

Coast: Mainland north coast
Activities: Snorkelling at Maziwe, diving, deep-sea fishing, sailing, beach walks
Facilities: Restrooms and showers at the lodges
Best For: An unpackaged mainland beach

Saadani is the only national park in East Africa with a shoreline on the Indian Ocean, which makes it the one place where a morning game drive and an afternoon swim happen in the same spot. Elephants and buffalo do come down to the sand, so you swim where the rangers say it is safe. Sange Beach fronts the park, and the Wami River boat safari is the highlight.

Entry Fee: About $20 per adult
Access: Road or light aircraft from Dar es Salaam or Pangani
Activities: Game drives, Wami River boat safari, walking safaris, beach
Best For: Combining safari and beach without changing region

Fanjove is a private island in the Songo Songo archipelago off Tanzania's southern coast, with a single small lodge and 11 kilometres of reef around it. Green turtles nest on the beach and dolphins work the channel. Access is by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam, which puts it in a different price bracket from Zanzibar and rules it out as a casual add-on.

Access: Light aircraft from Dar es Salaam
Capacity: One lodge only
Activities: Snorkelling, diving, kayaking, dhow sailing, deep-sea fishing, birdwatching
Best For: A remote, high-budget finish to a southern safari