The beaches of Zanzibar’s east coast are even more beautiful than they appear in travel literature. The sand is a brilliant white and powder fine, and stretches from Nungwi at the northern tip of the island to Chakwa in the south. The turquoise waters are warm, and a fringe reef lies less than a kilometre offshore. Find shade beneath the coconut palms bordering the beach. No wonder this coast attracts divers and fishermen, as well as couples in search of a tropical paradise.
Most of the beaches on Zanzibar’s east coast have a very small slope, so the water retreats a long way when the tide is out. As well as the gorgeous beaches Zanzibar offers a wide choice of beach accommodation.
Our selection ranges from the inexpensive and laid-back Shooting Star Lodge and Matemwe Beach Village through to the ever-popular Breezes Beach Club, stylish Matemwe Bungalows, and the 5-star luxury of The Palms and the new Residence Zanzibar. In the north, Ras Nungwi is still a firm favourite and just 15 kilometres southeast of Stone Town, the Fumba Peninsula is a quiet spot with some great beaches, and few tourists. Fumba Beach Lodge is the only place to stay in the WWF’s Menai Bay Conservation area, which protects uninhabited islands, idyllic sandbanks and a wealth of marine life.
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