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ZANZIBAR BEACH HOLIDAYS & SAFARIS
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Nungwi Beach
Located on the north coast around 55 km from Stone Town, this
is a good swimming beach and a base for excellent diving.
There is a range of cheap backpacker style accommodation found
around the pleasant fishing village. Two, more up market
hotels, are idyllically located on some of the most beautiful
beach stretches. There is good diving and snorkeling from the
beach. Offshore from Nungwi lies Mnemba Island which is a
privately owned luxury resort with water sports available.
Nungwi is an important traditional dhow building center.
The island of Zanzibar has some of the most picturesque
beaches imaginable. Long stretches of palm fringed, white
sands with the warm aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean make
this, the perfect place to relax after a safari. There are
some superb beaches around Zanzibar. All are protected by
coral reefs offshore and have fine, white coral sand.
Depending on the season, they may also have a lot of seaweed
which the locals harvest for export. Except for Nungwi in the
north, swimming at all of the beaches is tide dependent. The
east coast in particular has a very low tide. Tide tables are
published in the free listings booklet "Recommended in
Zanzibar" which is available at all hotels. The most popular
beaches are found on the north coast and the east coast. Dhow
builders are dotted along the beach. The builders, being used
to tourists watching them at work, offer an insight into this
ancient craft. The Mnarani Aquarium, a beautiful sink pool
among the jagged coral rocks, is about 1km south along the
beach and has a conservation project for hawksbill turtles.
Kendwa Rocks Beach
About 3km southwest of Nungwi along the beach is Kendwa
village, which is quieter than Nungwi and has several places
to stay for budget travelers. The beach is beautiful and it
possible to walk there from Nungwi at low tide in about 30
minutes. Amaan Bungalows runs a boat taxi about four times
daily depending on demand to Kendwa.
Matemwe Beach
Matemwe is a beautiful and quiet beach with some of the finest
sand on the whole island. It’s about 25km southeast of Nungwi,
and reached via an unpaved road branching east off the main
road by Mkwajuni.
Matemwe Bungalows is located on a beautiful setting and in
addition to the comfortable accommodation
they have set up a variety of small scale conservation
projects aimed at building community support. Diving and
snorkeling excursions can be arranged at Matemwe Bungalows.
Pwani mcangani
Pwani mcangani is a beautiful fisherman village further south
from matemwe, it has a white, long beach, famous for the
Dramatic tide effect on its azure lagoon. The Traditional
village is famous for it's sea weed cultivation, perhaps the
best place on the island to see it. Good accommodation can be
found in Mapenzi Beach Resort, near by.
Kiwengwa
Kiwengwa is set on a beautiful, white, long beach. Much of
which is occupied by lively upmarket resorts. These resorts
cater mostly for the European market. There is public
transport to Kiwengwa village center. access to Kiwengwa is
through a good tarmac road. Good accommodation on the beach
includes, Mapenzi Beach Resort, Blue Bay Resort, Bravo Club,
Kiwengwa Sea Club and further north is The Shooting Star
Restaurant with great views and a relaxed atmosphere.
Uroa
Uroa, on the east coast of Zanzibar, is set on an attractive
beach north of Chwaka. The best access is from the south, via
Chwaka on a tarmac road. In uroa there are both a resort and
smaller accommodation. Continuing north is the relaxed and
relatively difficult to reach Pongwe village
Chwaka
Located 32 kms from Stone Town, Chwaka is a small fishing
village with a few guest houses and a beautiful long beach.
Although one of the more popular East Coast beaches it does
not feel crowded. Much of the bay is very shallow, and
suitable only for small boats.
Bwejuu
On the south east coast of Zanzibar, and south of Chwaka, is
the more relaxed beach at Bwejuu. The snorkeling at low tide
is excellent and this is widely considered to be one of the
best beaches on the island. There is a good selection of
accommodation although the road passes some untarred
stretches,
both simple guesthouses and upmarket places. To reach the
recommended Karafuu Hotel, which is located further north,
there is a tarmac road running from Paje up north. There is no
public transport on this stretch north of Bwejuu.
Paje
Located south of Bwejuu, Paje is a small fishing village with
a good beach and selection of simple accommodation. Paje is
the tiny village at the junction where the coastal road north
to Bwejuu and south to Jambiani joins with the road from
Zanzibar Town.
The Beaches Jambiani
Further south is the long stretch of beach at Jambiani which
is another popular site. Jambiani is a long beach stretching
for several kilometers down the coast. It’s popular with
budget travelers.
Makunduchi
This is the furthest south of the beaches and receives a few
visitors. There are a few hotels and snorkeling and fishing
can be arranged.
Fumba
Fumba is a sleepy fishing hamlet on the western coast, south
of Zanzibar town. The Menai Bay conservation area lies in
front of Fumba's shell studded shores. In the bay between
small desert Islands, beautiful sand banks float, caressed by
unimaginable clear turquoise waters. These are some of the
most beautiful beaches In Zanzibar or anywhere else for that
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