Best Beaches of Zanzibar

Beaches of Nungwi - Zanzibar Tanzania

2009-10-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

A visit to Zanzibar is incomplete without making the trek north to the most stunning beaches of the entire Zanzibarian Archipelago. We're talking about the Nungwi area, a town located on the northern tip of Zanzibar. The reason this area is so beautiful, is probably due to the coral reef that has for centuries deposited tons of shimmering grains of sand on its shores - this is because of the Indian Ocean wave action from the northeast.

Then again, it's probably God's blessing to the island, which you can take in - even today and see it as it was, pretty much identical to when it was created.

We found the contrast of the turquoise water, the deep blue sky, brilliant white sand, and unusual large rock outcroppings made the whole Nungwi area just simply breathtaking. It's like when someone asks you to explain how it looks and you just stand there speechless. You're not avoiding them - you just can't put it into words.

And believe us when we tell you that the pictures here don't do justice as well.

Come here to recharge your batteries as the safari travelers have done for centuries. Nungwi is still a small fishing village where traditional wooden boats (dhau's) are made by hand, and you'll have a chance to view the craftsmen close up. The fishing village has evolved into a resort area - but not in a big way. There is still the old village charm which you'll appreciate.

One of the things you'll note immediately when you wade into the water is that the sandy shore here slopes rather steeply allowing you to swim low tide or not. Because of this feature, little seaweed grows here - which mean less for you to contend with when you're relaxing in the crystal clear waters.

There are good cabana-style resorts, great food, lots of activities including scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, and depending on the wind, windsurfing and kiteboarding. Try your skill at beach volleyball or football, played every afternoon near the resorts on the beach at Nangwi.

Beach bars and dance floors have popped up at a few of the resorts. Know that on the weekends, deejays will have the music going until well past midnight. But save some of that energy for a few of the tours offered at your resort.

There is a tour of the boat-building craftsmen, which seemed a little strange to us since there aren't but a few trees still standing on the island. You can also be taken on a "Spice" tour. Don't expect fields and fields of spices. Here on Zanzibar the plots of spices are small. You'll be able to smell the cloves along the road as the locals dry out the pods preparing them for sale.

Many locals don't have running water or electricity. Children have few toys, but are always playing with what they can find - a ball made of plastic bags, small hoops from old bicycles. The men build, harvest, and fish, but one interesting scene is of the women dragging nets through the shallows every morning to catch the day's meal.

Even though you seem to be in some remote bungalow, you're actually only an hour and a half across the island from the major port of Stone Town. As a matter of fact, if you arrive in Zanzibar without having booked Nungwi, you can do so from there - resort, diving, the works.

Enjoy your stay here. It's full of culture and the primitive feel won't last forever. More development is on the drawing board for resorts and infrastructure. Come stay in Nungwi, where the Best Beaches in Zanzibar are found.

Nungwi Beaches - Beach Index:

Sand -fine grain, coral based, steep slope, little debris
Facilities - mainly around resorts
Shade -few shade huts, high palms
Sports -diving, snorkeling
Notes -soak it all in - recommended stop

Best Beaches of Zanzibar

2006-04-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

When most Americans hear the word Zanzibar, they think Spice Island, that tropical paradise east of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. Visions of huge travel trunks complete with stickers from all destinations. It appears today as it did more than a century ago when famed missionary/explorer Dr. David Livingstone lived just before his last safari into deepest, darkest Africa.

One of our favorite beaches in this part of the world is Matemwe Beach. Children use the beach as their hang out just like kids do across the globe. And it serves good purpose as adults can keep a keen eye on them as they play all day in the sun. Most of the commerce is done along the beach area, with the exception of herbs and spices. And even those make their way here to get transported elsewhere in the world. Life seems stopped in time in Zanzibar.

As a matter of fact, you can walk down the streets and alleys of Stone Town, a world heritage site, and feel as if you're in an old movie. Zanzibar is an island only 50 miles long, but full of variety. For instance, you can visit the ruins of the palaces created with "spice" wealth for the Sultans of Oman.

Once the eastern gateway to Africa, Zanzibar is home to the enchanted Jozani Forest, where curious red colobus monkeys are found. At Nungwi, on the northern shore, you can see boat builders, hewing out the same designs handed down to them centuries ago.

And, of course, miles and miles of the best beaches in this part of the world. The majority are along the East Coast, where the quaint fishing villages dot the landscape. The big secret hasn't been told to the major resorts. You'll find one or two along this Island paradise.

The very best beaches of Zanzibar lie along the east coast and Nungwi, near the northern tip of the island. A great runner-up is the enchanting Mangapwani Beach located on the west coast.

There are more than 30 beaches in Zanzibar with some of them so isolated, time has literally stood still. Waves lapping these brilliant shores for eons have hewn such an artistic pattern of natural beauty, we're kind of glad they're not that close to civilization.

Okay, so if the beaches are so unattainable, but they're spectacular - what should we expect when we visit?

Zanzibar's coastline is mainly a shallow slope allowing lush coral build-ups and providing a natural home for thousands of marine animals. Because of its location, Zanzibar enjoys warm currents almost year-round. Perfect for spawning, you'll see a wealth of life just beneath the surface.

The northeast coast is where you'll find the unspoiled beaches of Matemwe. Nearby is the grand Mnemba Atoll, a prime dive site known world wide. Of course, snorkeling is unparalleled along the rock outcroppings of Zanzibars many beaches. Bring that underwater camera. Check out our extra report on Mnemba Island and Atoll. It's out of this world!

Zanzibar's climate is equatorial. Days are filled with sun, but some heavy rainfall occurs during April and May. Best months to visit are from July through March, with February and March the warmest months.

Let's visit the beaches!

Jambiani Beach - Zanzibar Tanzania

2006-04-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

Why was it so many safaris chose to end their trek in Zanzibar? During the period of the great safaris Zanzibar was an Oman colony. Wonderful palaces graced the islands, and room and board was cheap, grand, and very relaxing. We almost knew what to expect. And yet, you're tricked into thinking it's just another beach. It's not. Jambiani Beach is in its own category.

Pristine white sand, yet coarse enough to pack well near the water, Jambiani is a joy to walk on. The crystals glisten in the sun, and we thought about sunburn by reflection. Who knew this gem even existed? It's well worth the trip if you're anywhere near Tanzania.

Today, most of that rings true. The colonies are gone, but accommodations are inexpensive, and the best part of Zanzibar is that even now the beaches are largely untouched by commercial tourism.

Although when you think of Zanzibar, you think of the largest island, Unguja, Zanzibar is a collection of a few islands, including Pemba, where one of the worlds largest production of cloves is located, and the island of Mafia, where sports fishing and scuba reign.

Most tourists come to Zanzibar for the beaches. The islands are literally surrounded with them, but the best picks are on the east shore of Unguja, the main island. Zanzibar beaches on the west shore are too close to the port of Stone Town, with shipping, pollution, and what comes with city life.

If you run into a fellow tourist in Zanzibar, you may be told that the beautiful beach at Jambiani is crowded and that everyone goes there. The fact is, Jambiani Beach is miles of startling white sand. It would take a lot of tourists to crowd out this piece of paradise.

What to expect? There are no swimming pools, no casinos, no discos, bars... and mainly no electricity - except at some guesthomes. Your idea of paradise? Then welcome to Jambiani Beach, Zanzibar.

These beaches are actually home to small fishing villages. Fishing isn't for commercial gain; it's for the village. However, you will find that locals in Jambiani harvest seaweed. Because of the nature of the reef, about a mile out, the wave action litters the beach with seaweed at low tide. Seaweed is taken, dried, and sold to exporters - generally making its way as a nutritional product in Japan.

Transportation for the locals consists of riding bikes along the beach. You can rent bikes at various places along Jambiani Beach.

Another fun event would be to take a ride on a Dhow boat, the local fishing boat. Ask the locals for a ride during sunset. You'll stay within the reef and see the beach like few tourists have.

But the best diving and snorkeling on the island is one beach away... Next >>

Jambiani Beach - Beach Index:

Sand - white coral sand with medium grain, some debris from seaweed
Facilities - none, except at your oceanside guesthouse
Shade - rare, tall palms and few short trees
Sports - snorkel, biking. You can arrange diving at the few hotels. For snorkeling, try to stay near rock outcroppings where marine life is greatest. Not much to see in the sandy bottom. If you'd like to bike, try early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday sun.
Notes - some seaweed washes ashore, but hey, it's natural! Enjoy the culture of the people and mingle when you can. You will come away changed.

Matemwe Beach - Zanzibar Tanzania

2006-04-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

A small village on the northeast coast of Unguja, Matemwe is actually ten villages in one. As a tourist, you'll never know - but Matemwe is a mixture. With 7900 locals, the seaside town depends greatly on fish and seaweed farming. It has been hit and miss as far as locals figuring out what works and what doesn't. I suppose that's the way it is all over the globe.

If you could, you know you'd love to find a bed and breakfast close to or even right on the shore of the sea. Guest homes, as they're known here in Matemwe, accommodate, and most of them hug the sea. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath.

Once Matemwe was totally covered by large, natural forests. With the increase in population, the forest was reduced. Once poverty set in, the forests use was unsustainable. You'll notice only bushes in Matemwe. But there is plenty of beach and supreme diving close by at Mnemba.

Another thing that is abundant in Matemwe is silence. Your transportation drops you off and you can already hear the breeze through the palm leaves, the surf gently washing ashore. Most of the hotels are facing Mnemba Island, where diving is the sport.

The people here are friendly and accommodating. They will enjoy talking about family and island life. But you'll find them hard workers. For example, when the tide goes out, local men of Matemwe go out in their boats (dhows) to fish within the reef. The women also work at low tide, harvesting seaweed - even if low tide is in the middle of the night.

From Matemwe, fish is taken to markets around Zanzibar, but the seaweed has a more dramatic voyage. It is dried on racks, then sold for around 80 cents a kilo to exporters who ship it off to Asia.

You can arrange diving from all the hotels and guesthomes around Matemwe. But even if you don't dive - here's a tip: The hotel can arrange a boat for you to go out to the reef area where the snorkeling is indeed World Class. You will see a great variety of marine life and coral for as far as you can see.

Mnemba Atoll is the pristine dive paradise where the people who know are headed. The Mnemba Atoll surrounds the island, once called by Condé Nast Traveler - one of three most romantic ocean destinations in the world. Mnemba means "octopus head" in Arabic.

Expect great expanses of snow white beach studded with occasional rock outcroppings which contrast spectacularly with the sand, sky and sea. Best time to visit Matemwe Beach is July through to March, with high season October through to March (kaskazi monsoon).

Stress-relieving tip: Enjoy the beaches of Matemwe at night. Yes, the Milky Way is breathtaking on Matemwe Beach because there is literally no light pollution. You will be thrilled and in awe as you take in the stars and beauty of God.

Matemwe Beach - Beach Index:

Sand - powdery white, fine grain, coral based, some seaweed debris
Facilities - full Naui/Padi diving facilities, plus some sports rentals, snorkel gear
Shade - very little, some high palms
Sports - diving, snorkel gear
Notes - if you rent a car, watch for local police stops. Present your papers and be on your way. If you have any problems, demand to go to the police station.