Zanzibar Beaches

Zanzibar's beaches are the main reason most visitors come to the island: white sand, warm shallow water and coral reefs offshore. They are also the most common way to finish a Kenya or Tanzania safari.

Which coast you choose makes a big difference. In the north, around Nungwi and Kendwa, the tide range is smaller, so you can swim for more of the day, and there are more restaurants and a livelier evening scene. The east coast - places such as Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Paje and Michamvi - is quieter and more spread out, but the tide goes out a long way, leaving wide sand flats and seaweed farms at low tide.

Our guide to combining safari with Zanzibar covers flights, timing and how many nights to allow.

The north has sandy beaches backed by low coral cliffs and palms. The east coast is long and straight, protected by an offshore reef with a wide lagoon inside it. Seaweed farming by local women is a common sight on the east coast at low tide.

A Zanzibar beach stay is about pace: slow breakfasts, swimming, a book, maybe one excursion. After a safari full of 5am starts, that contrast is the point.

The driest months, roughly June to October and December to February, have the calmest seas and best visibility for snorkelling. The long rains, roughly March to May, bring showers and choppier water but quieter beaches and lower prices.

Fly to Zanzibar from Nairobi, Arusha, Kilimanjaro or Dar es Salaam, then transfer by road. Resorts are roughly 45 minutes to just over an hour from the airport, depending on the coast.

Beach resorts of every level, from simple guesthouses to boutique and luxury properties, many with their own pools. North-coast resorts suit swimmers; east-coast resorts suit those who want space and quiet.