Zanzibar, locally known as Unguja, is the largest and main island of the Zanzibar archipelago. Unguja has a larger coastline covering a total area of 1,666 sq.km with a wide range of beaches and accommodation throughout the west, south, north, and east coasts. Those intending to plan a holiday to Zanzibar need to know which part of Unguja to go to. There are also several islands which are highlighted below.
Zanzibar’s lasting mystique has attracted travelers from around the world for centuries. From its early days as a Swahili port, Zanzibar has done a thriving business in the cargo of the day. In generations long past, ivory, spices and slaves were transported on large wooden sailing dhows across the Indian Ocean to the Arabian peninsular and beyond. Although spices remain a main export, these days Zanzibar’s main attraction is the beauty of the island it self.
Zanzibar’s history stretches back to when the first dhows from Arabia and India discovered its natural harbor. Using the island as a stopover for the caravans that journeyed deep into the African interior, permanent settlement soon created the beginnings of what became Stone town. Merchants from Oman, Gujarat and around the Indian Ocean moved their families from across the ocean to start a life.
In Zanzibar, some amassing great fortunes and building the high stone houses so indicative of stone town today. Although Swahili civilization in the area of kilwa Kisiwani further south peaked in the 14th century, Zanzibar’s prosperity came in later, with the arrival of Omani sultans in the 18th century. Living and ruling the stone town, the sultans presided over the slave and ivory trade, planting vast spice plantations that survive to this day.
Remnants of the hey day of Swahili civilization in Zanzibar still remain, vestiges of a vanished past that people still look to with a sense of heritage and pride. In stone town the house of wonders greets visitors arriving by the sea, a grand building once used by the sultan for his administrative duties. His town palace stands adjacent to it, the walk ways that connected the two buildings still in dilapidated existence.
Nearby, the Portuguese port recalls the brief occupation of the island by foreign rule, while the nearby Anglican cathedral built over the site old slave market soothes the wounds of a sobering past. Today, stone town is as much of an attraction for visitors as Zanzibar’s beaches, world renowned for their idyllic seascapes and island charm. Guests have their peak of beaches farmed for their tropical climate and soothing crystal clear waters. Swahili fishing villages, snorkeling, diving, or just beach combing offer perfect choices of relaxing itinerary.
For cultural connoisseurs, it’s best to time a visit around one of Zanzibar’s many festivals. Vibrant occasions occur throughout the year, days of celebration when the island and its people truly become alive. The annual ZIFF festivals of the dhow countries film festival and the sauti za Busara Swahili music festival are the main attractions, with the Swahili festival of Mwaka Kongwe not to be missed.
Yet there’s more to Zanzibar than the main island of Unguja. To the north, pemba island offers world class diving in pristine surroundings, accommodation ranges from the most basic to the outmost in bare foot luxury and visitors agree that a visit to Pemba is well worth the effort. To the south is the little –known Mafia island, its reefs affording perfect diving in tranquil surroundings. Covered in coconut palms and abandoned fruit gloves left by Arab merchant centuries before, Mafia’s charms is unique to the Swahili coast, its shores untouched by development or change. Other smaller islands surround Unguja, the main island in the archipelago, and make pleasant day trips for visitors in stone town
Come to Zanzibar and you will experience the hospitality of the Swahili people, the beauty of the island, and the lasting mystique of its regal history. Visit Zanzibar, and you will understand why century after century, travelers have come to its shores in search of magic and romance.
Zanzibar coasts
West coast
Zanzibar west coast is famous for harboring Stone Town capital city, a UNESCO world heritage site. Visiting Stone Town offers an opportunity to explore the rich history and heritage of those who occupied the island from ancient to modern times. The African swahili, Arabs from Oman and Persia, Portuguese, Indians, and the British have left their mark as it is reflected in museums, architecture, dhow boat cruises, and medicinal spices that are strongly used in food.
Stone Town city tour is a fascinating experience. Highlights include the old Fort, Freddie Mercury museum, Ijuma mosque, spice plantations, Darajani market, local festival at Forodhani gardens. There are beaches in Stone Town including Stone town beach, Shangani public beach, Pete’s beach. These are ideal mainly for a sunset walk given that the sand isn’t white. Those intending to have a real white sand beach experience near Stone Town need to take to take day trips to the offshore Bawe and Nakupenda beaches or go to Chumbe and Changuu islands.
Nakupenda beach nature reserve
Nakupenda beach is literally a sandbank of white sand beach in middle of the Zanzibar channel. The surrounding waters are characterized by 30-40 meter deep carbonate basin with high visibility that is ideal for snorkeling. There are no accommodations facilities. Those intending to spend a day there need to carry personal supplies such as food and drinks, snorkeling equipment, sunscreen, umbrella, towels, and swimsuit. Nakupenda beach day trips from Stone town are available for booking through a tour operator.
Bawe beach
Covering 30 hectares, Bawe Island is 15 minute boat ride from Stone Town and offers one of the best tranquil white sand beaches and a luxury resort. The 5-star resort will open in June 2024 with 70 villages, 4 restaurants of which some are raised above the water, each with a swimming pool.
Chumbe Island
The Chumbe island reef sanctuary is an IUCN category II protected area covering 30 hectares of which 20 hectares is dense coral rag forest. The forest reserve alone has rich biodiversity including 178 plant species such as black mangroves and African baobab trees; 20 butterfly species such as the including the African monarch (Danaus chrysippus); 5 bat species including the the white-bellied free-tailed bat (Tadarida limbate), the giant leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros commersoni), and Wahlberg’s fruit bats (Epomophorus wahlbergi); and lizards, non-poisonous snakes, over 77 bird species including roseate terns (sterna dougallii), African fish eagles, mangrove kingfisher (Halcyon senegaloides); endangered arthropod species such as crustaceans and the coconut crabs (Birgus lato), and the antelope Aders’ duiker (cephalophus adersi).
The surrounding coral reef sanctuary is home to 59 hard coral species, seagrass beds providing habitat to over 500 reef fish species, green sea turtles (chelania mydas), and larger marine species such as the blacktip sharks. The island’s shorelines are characterized by intertidal zones, where the ocean meets the land. The seashore is covered by water during high tides and in low tides exposes unique marine features such as seagrass meadows, sand bars, rocky cliffs, pristine beaches, and starfish lagoons. In addition to wildlife, there are historical ruins and monuments such as the LightHouse. Built by the Sultans in 1904, the house still stands and functions for sea navigation. Visitors can climb 132 stairs to the top where the view is spectacular.
Chumbe is an ecotourism destination with a visitor center rangers and site guides that take care of tourism and conservation. Chumbe Island offers a wide range of activities including snorkeling, forest walks, coconut crab walks, and intertidal walks. These activities are available for booking through a tour operator or the island coral park authority. Day trips to Chumbe island should be booked at least a week in advance depending on availability. The island prefers those intending to stay overnight at Chumbe Eco-lodge and private beach which offers accommodation in 7 bungalows of which some are on the seafront and in the forest.
Changuu Island (Prison island)
Changuu Island is 6 km (30 minute boat ride) northwest of Stone Town. The island is relatively smaller, covering 800 meters, almost the size of 8 football pitches covered by dense black mangroves. The Sultans established a prison for rebellious slaves in the 1860s. It was later taken over by the British East Africa Company in the 19th century which turned it into a quarantine station to prevent and treat infectious diseases such as yellow fever, bubonic and cholera plagues that became prevalent at the time. The British also pioneered conservation of the island’s rich flora and fauna including the creation of a sanctuary for Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) and peacocks. The Aldabra giant tortoise weighs up to 250 kg and is the second world’s largest. There are over 100 tortoises including the oldest living Aldabra of 198 years old.
Conserving the island has also come along with development of tourist facilities and activities including Changuu island lodge and snorkeling. Changuu lodge offers 27 cottages of which 12 are located in the southwest and 15 cottages in the northwest of the island. The lodge features a swimming pool, restaurant, and bar in addition to the larger restaurant.
North Coast
Zanzibar north coast has a long shallow seabed that spreads out evenly with calm and smooth flow of tides, clean water, and pristine white sand beaches. These conditions have favored tourism development mainly in Nungwi and Kendwa and the off-shore private islands of Mnemba Atoll and Tumbatu. North coast offers some of the best beach holiday destinations on Zanzibar island with a wide range of accommodations including beachfront hotels, bars, and restaurants.
Nungwi beach
Zanzibar island’s northernmost beach, Nungwi is 60 km (1hr 30 min drive) north of Stone Town. Originally a traditional fishing village, the place has grown to become one of the busiest beach destinations with a population of over 10,000 people. Tourist accommodation among water sport businesses has grown rapidly along with quality service standards in recent years. Nungwi is famous for the traditional dhow boat building industry and offers a variety of water and beach sports including snorkeling, boat rides, canoeing, diving, volleyball and soccer. The beachfront offers clean water and white sand for swimming, sunbathing and a wide range of dining options including romantic feet-in-the-sand eateries and bars.
As such, Nungwi beach can attract crowds of visitors during peak season, making for a vibrant nightlife. There’s no strict dress code. The town behind the beach has lots of curio shops which makes it convenient for those intending to shop anything. Some retailers will try hard to get your attention. Besides the rapid growth of tourism, Nungwi still conveys a rural village lifestyle especially in Fukuchani, Mvuleni, and Mkotoni villages. Visitors can take a community tour to the sea turtle sanctuary and Portuguese ruins dating back to the 16 century. Mkotoni fishing village offers an opportunity to visit one of the busiest local markets and a dhow builders center to learn about the ancient technique of building dhow boats.
Kendwa beach
Situated 4 km south of Nungwi and 55 km (1-hour drive) north of Stone Town, Kendwa beach offers a tranquil environment to chill out. Unlike Nungwi, tourism growth in Kendwa is kinda orderly and environmentally friendly. Some of the beachfront resorts have done a fantastic job of growing floral gardens, tropical palms, and keeping their surroundings clean. There’s a wide range of luxury accommodations that provide bonfires, barbecues, and parties on the beach. Things to do in Kendwa include sunbathing, beach volleyball, snorkeling, diving, and sunset dhow boat cruises. Kendwa is renowned for unique sunsets.
Accommodation in Kendwa
Kendwa beach offers a wide range of accommodations including 5-star hotels and
Diamonds La Gemma dell’ Est
A 5-star resort offers regular and all-inclusive packages. Some of its unique services and facilities include outdoor and indoor air conditioned gym and restaurant, tennis court, pool bar, beach grill, dive pads, and kid’s club.
Natural Kendwa Villa
The 4-star boutique hotel 300 meters away from Kendwa beach. Natural Kendwa Villa offers air conditioned rooms each with a patio, private en-suit bathroom and fridge and access to W-FI. There’s an outdoor swimming pool, bar and restaurant with terrace garden, ATM machine and currency exchange.
Zuri Zanzibar resort
Zuri Zanzibar is one of the best small luxury hotels in Kendwa situated 500 meters from the coral reef snorkeling point. The resort offers 52 luxury rooms, private beach area, outdoor swimming pool, bar, and restaurant that serves traditional middle eastern food. Spa services and yoga for exercise sessions are available. There are rooms with views of the garden, pool, and ocean so guests are free to reserve their preferred room.
La Fortuna Restaurant and Bungalows
One of the best family-friendly guesthouses in Kendwa, La Fortuna is 300 meters from Kendwa beach and offers 13 rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas. The restaurant offers a buffet and a la carte menu featuring things like omelets, steak, pasta, Zanzibar chocolate, Mandazi and samosa which are prepared to order.
Given that Nungwi can get many visitors during the peak season, the best way to avoid crowds is to visit during the off season or take your beach holiday to the remote islands of Tumbatu and Mnemba.
&Beyond Mnemba island
The barefoot island is 3 km off the northeast coast of Unguja and can be reached by a 1-hour boat ride from both Kendwa and Nungwi. Mnemba covers 500 meters wide and 1.5 km long and contains natural tropical vegetation and pristine white sand beaches.
The island is surrounded by a shallow unique coral reef ecosystem ranging from 6 – 16 feet deep with excellent water visibility and rich marine biodiversity including Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops), green sea turtles and a plethora of fish species such as powder blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon), Bengal snapper (Lutjanus bengalensis), moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus), flagfin angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus), Allard’s clownfish (Amphiprion allardi), stripe-tailed damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus), and pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion). Harmless Black tip reef and whale sharks occasionally visit Mnemba island reef and may be spotted by divers and snorkelers.
Given the smaller size, the island is a private protected area with a maximum carrying capacity of eight boats and nine tourists including guides per day. Those intending to snorkel or dive are only allowed to access the reef.
Snorkeling tours usually last for 2 hours. After the activity, you will relax on the designated beach and enjoy snacks without going to the island. Only pre-booked guests of & Beyond are allowed to set foot on the island. The luxury lodge is under refurbishment until October 2024 when it opens again. Private day trip tours to Mnemba island include pick up and drop off from either Kendwa or Nungwi, snacks, and conservation fee. Visitors should carry their own supplies such as swimsuits and towels.