The island's liveliest and best beaches — Nungwi and Kendwa at the northern tip, with stunning white sand, warm turquoise water good for swimming at all tides (unlike the east coast), a buzzing scene of resorts, beach bars, watersports and sunset parties, plus dhow-building and a turtle sanctuary. Beautiful, lively and swimmable, the classic beach base; for travellers who want gorgeous sand, nightlife and reliable swimming. Zanzibar's beach-holiday hub. Vibrant and idyllic.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
$60–140
typical per night in Tanzania
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Zanzibar — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Nungwi & Kendwa and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll42 min taxi14.0 km
- A spice farm tour126 min taxi41.9 km
- Forodhani Night Market150 min taxi49.9 km
- Explore Stone Town150 min taxi49.9 km
- The slavery history & Anglican Cathedral150 min taxi50.0 km
- The Rock Restaurant193 min taxi64.2 km
- The white-sand beaches196 min taxi65.4 km
- Kitesurfing at Paje196 min taxi65.4 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 6.A sunset dhow cruise — The most romantic thing to do on the island — a sunset cruise aboard a traditional wooden dhow, the graceful lateen-sailed boats that have plied these waters for centuries, gliding over the calm turquoise sea as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean in a blaze of colour, often with drinks and music aboard. Whether off Stone Town or the northern beaches, it's a magical, serene and quintessentially Zanzibar experience. Sail into the sunset with a cocktail in hand; it's pure island magic. An unmissable, romantic highlight. Simply beautiful, especially for couples.
- 8.Nungwi & the northern tip — The island's most beautiful and lively beach hub — Nungwi, at the northern tip, where dazzling white sand meets warm turquoise water that stays swimmable even at low tide (unlike the tidal east coast), backed by resorts, beach bars, dhow-builders at work, a turtle sanctuary and legendary sunsets. Swim, snorkel, watch the dhow-building, party at a beach bar, and catch the famous sunset; it's the classic Zanzibar beach experience at its liveliest and most swimmable. A gorgeous, buzzing highlight and the best all-round beach base. Beautiful and fun; the sunsets are unmissable.
- 11.Snorkelling & diving — Zanzibar's warm, clear waters and coral reefs make it a superb spot for snorkelling and diving — beyond the star Mnemba Atoll, there are reefs, sandbanks and marine parks all around the coast, teeming with tropical fish, turtles, rays and vibrant coral, plus sandbank picnic trips and the chance to swim with dolphins in the south. Take a boat snorkelling trip to a reef or sandbank, or dive the atoll; the underwater world and the turquoise-water boat trips are a highlight. A wonderful, essential ocean experience. Beautiful beneath and above the water; a joy for water-lovers.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Nungwi & Kendwa; flights via Google Flights.