Zanzibar beaches aren't all the same. Here's how to choose.
Which coast you pick matters more on Zanzibar than on most islands, and it all comes down to the tide.
The north: Nungwi and Kendwa
The practical choice if you want to swim whenever you feel like it. The tide doesn't go out nearly as far here, so the sea stays swimmable all day. It's also the busiest and liveliest end of the island.
The east: Paje, Jambiani, Michamvi
Wider, whiter, emptier sand, and the kitesurfing. At low tide the water goes out a very long way, and people walk out across the flats instead of swimming. Is that a drawback or the best part of the day? It really depends on who you ask.
The south east: Michamvi and around
Even quieter, and it's the side of the island where you get a sunset over the water instead of a sunrise.
So, how do you choose?
On honeymoon and want to swim at four in the afternoon without checking a tide table? Go north. Want space, wind and the better photos? Go east. Tell us which of those sounds more like you, and we'll find you the right spot.