Zanzibar is a wonderful island to visit (particularily in December), with warm days just perfect for lazy days on the white tropical beaches, or an afternoon stroll through Stone Town. I have always likened Stone Town to the Venice of Africa with its narrow little mazes in an old city that you can just walk through and immerse yourself in the culture and history. It can get busy over December as so many travellers flock to the island to get some sun and have a tropical escape.
The big question you have to ask yourself about Zanzibar is what sort of beach holiday / experience you are after for Zanzibar?
The NE coast of Zanzibar is where the majority of the resorts and hotels are located with the beaches with the best swimming. This area doesn't get affected by the tides dropping. Below is some information on different areas. The last one listed might be the best actually.
Stone Town, the main town in Zanzibar
The heart of Zanzibar, Stone Town, was constructed during the 19th century: a labyrinth of narrow alleys complete with palaces, mosques, and tiny shops. It's noisy, busy and not very clean - but it has a vibrant, exotic atmosphere that can be enticing! Stay here for a night or two - it's often convenient for international flights - at one of the beautiful converted merchant's houses, and look forward to eating out.
The Tembo Hotel and Palace Hotel are awesome value for money places to stay with an comfortable quality and a local flavour.
Northern Region of Zanzibar
Nungwi is a really popular area for travellers looking for relaxation, diving, beaches and location to a great village. There is so much going on in this area. All it takes is a 2 to 3 hours drive north from Stone Town. This is the northern most part of Zanzibar with the bright blue ocean surrounds it on 3 sides.
Over the last decade the coastline here has turned it into one of Zanzibar's busiest beach areas. What was a ramshackle fishing village has become an increasingly busy place as various guesthouses, bars, shops and restaurants appear. The setting is beautiful, but the number of people in Nungwi town, the noise and the constant stream of apparently uncontrolled development do take the exclusive air off its charm.
That said, there is so much to do there and a must on every travellers plan. A visit to the turtle sanctuary is great and the night life a must. There are a number of great places to stay, one being Flame Tree Cottages with is a small guest house only a short stroll from the centre of the village. Perfect for a good nights sleep and not hearing the evenings noises from the bars.
East Coast of a Zanzibar
The northern part of east coast Zanzibar is lined with long, powder-white beaches which look out towards a long barrier reef, about a kilometre offshore. Inland there's a coastal strip of coconut palms within which there are small fishing villages and a variety of places to stay. Lodges here generally have more space than those in the Nungwi area, but like the north, the beaches here slope very little. This means that when the tide is out, the water retreats a long way and swimming from the beach is difficult - although paddling to the top of the exposed reef with the right local guide is fascinating!
The area is perfect for diving and snorkeling. Matemwe Hotel and Shooting Star Hotel have some nice dive centres for booking your diving.
To the north of this long coast, Matemwe Lodge occupies an isolated spot above a long sandy beach. It's a reliable choice; with stylish upgraded rooms, plenty of space and it has a very well-established atmosphere.
A nice place to stay is the Pongwe Beach hotel, if not a bit rustic and very chilled.
South-east Zanzibar and Michamvi Peninsula
South along the east coast of Zanzibar and the beach remains stunning: powder white sand with a barrier reef, lots of palm trees and a significant tidal range. The villages become a little sleepier and more relaxed as you head south, and Jambiani, in particular, is very relaxed indeed. For an authentic visit to a friendly village, you can't beat it.
In fact, that area south of the peninsular, around Paje, Bwejuu and Jambiani, used to be the busiest part of Zanzibar's beach scene - especially for backpackers. But in recent years low budget travellers have moved more to northern Zanzibar, around Nungwi and Kendwa, leaving this south-east stretch relatively quiet. This leaves the south-east as more of a low-key, low-impact beach retreat.
The Echo Beach lodge is a mid budget lodge located on a lovely part of the beach. Perfect if you are looking for stylish rooms, a relaxed place and a dive centre.
South-West Zanzibar
Fumba Peninsula is south of Stone Town. Like the south-east of Zanzibar, this is a very relaxed and friendly corner of the island which has seen few visitors. It's probably the most relaxed and friendly corner of the island, but until recently it has really only been used as venue for short few day-trips, to see dolphins from Kizimkazi or the red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest.
Fumba Beach Lodge opened in 2005 with its 40 acres of land and 3 beach coves. It is only 30 minutes from the airport and 1 of the few places to stay in the Menai Bay Protected Area.
Try the Unguja Lodge if you are looking to snorkel and stay in a relaxing lodge with the best sunsets.
The big question you have to ask yourself about Zanzibar is what sort of beach holiday / experience you are after for Zanzibar?
The NE coast of Zanzibar is where the majority of the resorts and hotels are located with the beaches with the best swimming. This area doesn't get affected by the tides dropping. Below is some information on different areas. The last one listed might be the best actually.
Stone Town, the main town in Zanzibar
The heart of Zanzibar, Stone Town, was constructed during the 19th century: a labyrinth of narrow alleys complete with palaces, mosques, and tiny shops. It's noisy, busy and not very clean - but it has a vibrant, exotic atmosphere that can be enticing! Stay here for a night or two - it's often convenient for international flights - at one of the beautiful converted merchant's houses, and look forward to eating out.
The Tembo Hotel and Palace Hotel are awesome value for money places to stay with an comfortable quality and a local flavour.
Northern Region of Zanzibar
Nungwi is a really popular area for travellers looking for relaxation, diving, beaches and location to a great village. There is so much going on in this area. All it takes is a 2 to 3 hours drive north from Stone Town. This is the northern most part of Zanzibar with the bright blue ocean surrounds it on 3 sides.
Over the last decade the coastline here has turned it into one of Zanzibar's busiest beach areas. What was a ramshackle fishing village has become an increasingly busy place as various guesthouses, bars, shops and restaurants appear. The setting is beautiful, but the number of people in Nungwi town, the noise and the constant stream of apparently uncontrolled development do take the exclusive air off its charm.
That said, there is so much to do there and a must on every travellers plan. A visit to the turtle sanctuary is great and the night life a must. There are a number of great places to stay, one being Flame Tree Cottages with is a small guest house only a short stroll from the centre of the village. Perfect for a good nights sleep and not hearing the evenings noises from the bars.
East Coast of a Zanzibar
The northern part of east coast Zanzibar is lined with long, powder-white beaches which look out towards a long barrier reef, about a kilometre offshore. Inland there's a coastal strip of coconut palms within which there are small fishing villages and a variety of places to stay. Lodges here generally have more space than those in the Nungwi area, but like the north, the beaches here slope very little. This means that when the tide is out, the water retreats a long way and swimming from the beach is difficult - although paddling to the top of the exposed reef with the right local guide is fascinating!
The area is perfect for diving and snorkeling. Matemwe Hotel and Shooting Star Hotel have some nice dive centres for booking your diving.
To the north of this long coast, Matemwe Lodge occupies an isolated spot above a long sandy beach. It's a reliable choice; with stylish upgraded rooms, plenty of space and it has a very well-established atmosphere.
A nice place to stay is the Pongwe Beach hotel, if not a bit rustic and very chilled.
South-east Zanzibar and Michamvi Peninsula
South along the east coast of Zanzibar and the beach remains stunning: powder white sand with a barrier reef, lots of palm trees and a significant tidal range. The villages become a little sleepier and more relaxed as you head south, and Jambiani, in particular, is very relaxed indeed. For an authentic visit to a friendly village, you can't beat it.
In fact, that area south of the peninsular, around Paje, Bwejuu and Jambiani, used to be the busiest part of Zanzibar's beach scene - especially for backpackers. But in recent years low budget travellers have moved more to northern Zanzibar, around Nungwi and Kendwa, leaving this south-east stretch relatively quiet. This leaves the south-east as more of a low-key, low-impact beach retreat.
The Echo Beach lodge is a mid budget lodge located on a lovely part of the beach. Perfect if you are looking for stylish rooms, a relaxed place and a dive centre.
South-West Zanzibar
Fumba Peninsula is south of Stone Town. Like the south-east of Zanzibar, this is a very relaxed and friendly corner of the island which has seen few visitors. It's probably the most relaxed and friendly corner of the island, but until recently it has really only been used as venue for short few day-trips, to see dolphins from Kizimkazi or the red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest.
Fumba Beach Lodge opened in 2005 with its 40 acres of land and 3 beach coves. It is only 30 minutes from the airport and 1 of the few places to stay in the Menai Bay Protected Area.
Try the Unguja Lodge if you are looking to snorkel and stay in a relaxing lodge with the best sunsets.
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