&Beyond Mnemba Island
Ultra-luxury private-island lodge off Matemwe — 12 barefoot bandas, all-inclusive, world-class diving.
Mnemba · Ultra-luxury private island
Where to stay · Tanzania
Best Zanzibar Beach Resorts: Where to Stay by Coast
Zanzibar is really 20 different beaches strung along one island, and the coast you pick decides your trip. The northern tip is picture-perfect year-round; the east has wider sand and boutique villa energy; the south is windier and cheaper. This guide breaks the island down by coast, tells you when tides matter, and hands you the best resort in each zone.
Which coast: Nungwi, Kendwa, Matemwe, Paje or Michamvi
Nungwi & Kendwa (north): no significant tidal drop — you can swim at any hour. Nungwi is livelier (beach bars, dhow-building village, sunset boat parties); Kendwa is quieter with the widest sand strip. Best for first-timers and honeymooners.
Matemwe (north-east): boutique villa-y feel, quieter than Nungwi, reef offshore protects the swim area. Best for divers (Mnemba Atoll launches from here).
Michamvi Pingwe (east): the peninsula with The Rock restaurant. Wide beaches but big low-tide walks. Best for wedding-photo scenery and higher-end resorts.
Paje & Jambiani (south-east): kitesurf central — trade winds blow June-September and December-February. Cheaper, backpacker-boutique feel.
Kizimkazi (south): dolphin-swimming base. Very quiet, only 3-4 resorts.
Understanding Zanzibar's tides
Zanzibar has a semi-diurnal tide with a big range — roughly 3-4 metres between high and low. On the east and south-east coasts (Matemwe, Michamvi, Paje) the ocean can retreat 300-800 metres at low tide, exposing seagrass beds — walkable and beautiful but not swimmable from the beach.
On the north coast (Nungwi, Kendwa) the geography and reef mean tides drop far less. Water is swim-depth from the beach essentially all day.
Every resort provides a printed tide calendar at check-in. Plan snorkelling, boat trips and swims around high tide.
When to visit Zanzibar
June-October: dry, cool (25-28 C), reliable trade winds — best all-round season and kitesurf peak.
December-February: hot dry season (28-32 C), best water clarity for diving, second kitesurf peak. Christmas/New Year books out 4-6 months ahead.
March-May: the long rains — avoid. Many resorts close in April-May for maintenance.
November: short rains — cheaper rates, brief afternoon showers.
Combining Zanzibar with a Serengeti safari
The classic Tanzania trip is 4-6 days safari (Serengeti + Ngorongoro) followed by 4-6 days on Zanzibar. Fly ZNZ from Arusha (JRO) or direct from Serengeti airstrips on Coastal Aviation or Auric Air — 1.5-2 hours.
See our dedicated Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari Guide for the safari half of the itinerary.
Book Zanzibar last — you want to unwind, not front-load the fatigue.
Getting there and around
Fly into ZNZ Abeid Amani Karume International — Zanzibar City. Direct flights from Dubai (Emirates, flydubai), Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkish), Nairobi (Kenya Airways) and seasonal European charters.
Alternative: fly JRO Kilimanjaro and connect via Precision Air, Coastal Aviation or ferry from Dar es Salaam (2 hours, Azam Marine).
Pre-book a Kiwitaxi or resort transfer — ZNZ taxi drivers do not use meters and quote 3-5x the local rate. From ZNZ: Stone Town 20 min, Nungwi 90 min, Paje 60 min, Michamvi 90 min.
14 handpicked Zanzibar beach resorts
Zuri Zanzibar
Kendwa Design Hotels member — 55 rooms, villas and bungalows on the widest white-sand beach.
Kendwa · Ultra-luxury
Kilindi Zanzibar (Elewana Collection)
15 domed white pavilions each with a private plunge pool — Kendwa clifftop, adults-focused.
Kendwa · Ultra-luxury adults-friendly
The Residence Zanzibar
66-villa colonial-style estate on the south-west coast — private pools, spa, best five-star all-round.
Kizimkazi · Luxury
Baraza Resort & Spa
30 all-inclusive villas on Bwejuu beach (east coast) — Zanzibari architecture, adult-friendly luxury.
Bwejuu · Luxury all-inclusive
Melia Zanzibar
150-room reef-front resort in Kiwengwa (north-east) — best five-star family option with kids club and multiple pools.
Kiwengwa · Luxury family
Konokono Beach Resort
Michamvi Kae boutique — 26 pool villas on the peninsula, adults-only.
Michamvi · Adults-only luxury
Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Nungwi cliffside 40-suite resort — best luxury Nungwi option with cinematic infinity pool.
Nungwi · Luxury
Diamonds Star of the East
70-room adults-only all-inclusive on Kiwengwa beach — best-value premium AI on the island.
Kiwengwa · Adults-only all-inclusive
Riu Palace Zanzibar
162-room adults-only all-inclusive on Nungwi's east tip — best big-brand AI value.
Nungwi · Adults-only all-inclusive
Zawadi Hotel Zanzibar
9-villa Michamvi ultra-boutique — private beach cove, personal butler, all-inclusive.
Michamvi · Ultra-luxury boutique
Upendo Zanzibar
10-villa Michamvi boutique on a private stretch — adults-friendly, best-value boutique on the east coast.
Michamvi · Boutique
Neptune Pwani Beach Resort & Spa
156-room family-friendly all-inclusive in Pwani Mchangani — three pools, kids club, honest value.
Pwani Mchangani · Family all-inclusive
Emerson Spice (Stone Town)
8-room UNESCO-Stone-Town boutique — hand-restored merchant house, rooftop dining. Best 1-2 night city bookend.
Stone Town · Boutique heritage
Plan deze reis met Marhaba
Plan met Marhaba · Zanzibar
Van lezen naar boeken — elke stap gebruikt de bestaande partners van Marhaba.
Waar te overnachten in Zanzibar
Vergelijk echte beschikbaarheid en live prijzen van onze erkende hotelpartner.
Tours & ervaringen in Zanzibar
Bekijk rondleidingen en activiteiten via onze activiteitenpartner.
Prijzen en beschikbaarheid worden door onze partner getoond.
Plan mijn reis naar Zanzibar
Marhaba AI maakt op basis van deze gids een plan voor vlucht, verblijf en activiteiten.
Blijf verbonden in Tanzania
Direct data na de landing met een reis-eSIM — zonder roamingkosten.
Frequently asked questions
Which coast of Zanzibar has the best beach?
Kendwa (north-west) has the widest, most swimmable beach with no tide issues. Nungwi (north) is more social. Matemwe and Michamvi (east) are wider and quieter but suffer big low tides. Paje (south-east) is the kitesurf beach.
How many days in Zanzibar?
5-7 days on the beach is ideal, plus 1-2 nights in Stone Town for the cultural half. Combine with 4-6 days on safari in the Serengeti/Ngorongoro for the classic 10-14 day Tanzania trip.
Is Zanzibar safe?
Generally very safe — petty theft in Stone Town after dark is the main issue. Dress modestly off the beach (Zanzibar is 95%+ Muslim), especially in Stone Town and villages. Beach resorts are enclosed and secure.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
Yes — Tanzania visa applies. Most nationalities buy a USD 50 single-entry visa on arrival at ZNZ or eVisa online. US citizens pay USD 100 (multi-entry).
When should I avoid Zanzibar?
March-May long rains — many resorts close for maintenance in April-May. November has short rains but is generally fine and cheaper.
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