Beaches of Zanzibar

Mark’s just returned from Zanzibar, but struggled to decide which was his favourite beach!

“We’re often asked about where the best beaches are in various destinations, and I find it very hard to know what the ‘best’ is – it’s a really subjective thing, and my idea of a long, sandy beach with shallow water for paddling and plenty of space for long walks may well be the opposite of someone else’s idea, if they like deep water for snorkelling or plenty of activities. On a recent trip to Zanzibar, I visited different hotels across the island, each on stunning beaches but each with different characteristics.

The main stretch of Zanzibar’s Northeast coast, where hotels such as the Ocean Paradise, Neptune Pwani and Bluebay Beach Resort are found, has an almost uninterrupted beach of fine white sand, stretching for miles in both directions – my idea of just about perfect! The tide goes out for miles, so it’s great for paddling and exploring the shallows (watch out for the sea urchins, though!) – snorkellers, however, will have to head a little further north to Mnemba Island, where the waters are deeper. If like me, your idea of a perfect beach involves talcum-powder sand that you can walk along for miles, then this may well be your ideal location.

If, however, you’re more of a picture-postcard person, head to Pongwe, where the Pongwe Beach Hotel sits on a perfect sweeping bay of sand, that’s just perfect for lazing around. Swaying palms back the bay, and while long walks are out of the question, it’s hard to imagine a location more perfect for doing absolutely nothing in.

Want more activities on your beach? Head north to Ras Nungwi, on the northern tip of Zanzibar, where hotels such as the boutique Z Hotel and the soon-to-be-opened Doubletree by Hilton Zanzibar Resort are located. The village of Nungwi is one of the few locations on the island where visitors can walk out of their hotel and experience a slice of local life, and the beach at Nungwi is where fishing boats dock, diving trips depart from and day to day life goes on. There are one or two pleasant bars and the odd restaurant here (the village itself, set just behind the beach, has a few more options), and it’s a great spot to feel a little more local – without too much hubbub, though.

For divers and snorkellers, head south to the Fumba Peninsula. At the Fumba Beach Lodge there are two beaches, and while the sands here don’t quite match the talcum-powder while or picture postcard sweeps of elsewhere, the underwater life in the waters around the beaches are superb. The Fumba area is renowned for dolphins and turtles, and the hotel can arrange trips to the best spots for these. For land-lovers, the beaches themselves offer a stunning setting for a relaxed holiday, with the lights of the mainland twinkling away in the distance once the sun has gone down.

All in all, Zanzibar’s beaches are amongst the best in the world – it’s just too hard to say which is the best, though!”

Links:

For holidays to Zanzibar visit http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk/saf/destin/znz.shtml

View our Zanzibar photo gallery: http://www.farawayescapes.co.uk/gallery/Escape%20Worldwide%20Zanzibar%20Photo%20Gallery/