Picturesque islet known for its diving and snorkeling
Mnemba Island is a prestigious ‘barefoot luxury’ beach retreat that occupies the whole of a tiny island, 2.5km/1.5mi off the northeast coast of Zanzibar. Access to the island, whose 12 split-level beach bungalows are constructed entirelyRead more with organic local materials, is restricted to overnight guests. The white sandy beach that encircles the island is perfect for swimming and offshore snorkeling, and it’s not unusual to see or swim past.You don’t need to stay at Mnemba to explore the surrounding coral reefs and gardens. On the contrary, Mnemba Atoll is probably Zanzibar’s most popular snorkeling and diving destination, and several operators run daily outings there from Stone Town and elsewhere. In addition to swirling schools of colorful reef fish, day-trippers to Mnemba might see dolphins and . Most day outings end with a seafood barbecue at beautiful Muyuni Beach on the facing Zanzibari mainland.
Fanjove is close to perfection. Barely 1km/0.6mi long, this beautiful palm-covered island in southern Tanzania’s Songo Songo Archipelago is home to one of Africa’s most exclusive and ecofriendly ‘barefoot luxury’ beach lodges. Guests are accommodated inRead more open-fronted sea-facing cottages that are built with organic local materials and function entirely on solar power. Common areas include a 19th-century lighthouse that has been converted into a dining area.It might be tempting to spend all your time at Fanjove lazing on the beach and swimming in the turquoise shallows. But this is also a great destination for marine wildlife. and often swim past and might also be spotted on excursions, while an 11km-/7mi-long reef offers superb diving and snorkeling.
It’s difficult to know what to make of Tanga. Viewed as a beach destination, Tanzania’s second-largest oceanic port isn’t somewhere to get very excited about. But in other respects, it is an intriguing and characterful city.Read more The central waterfront is lined with architectural relics dating from the early 1890s, when Tanga served briefly as capital of German East Africa. This includes the fortified German Boma that now houses an informative local history museum. Other local attractions include Amboni Caves, the medieval Tongoni Ruins, and boat trips to Totem Island.When it comes to beaches, suburban Raskazone isn’t exactly pristine, but it’s fine for swimming and you’ll find plenty of locals splashing around with you. Farther afield, Fish Eagle Point, 50km/31mi north of Tanga, is a chilled owner-managed budget resort set on a small but beautiful -lined swimming beach. Tanga is also a possible base for visiting the beaches at Pangani and Ushongo.
Beaches
Two small swimming beaches on the Raskazone Peninsula
Boasting a memorable setting on a sandy bay at the mouth of the Lukuledi River, Lindi ranked among Tanzania’s most important ports from the 18th century into the late colonial era. Today, by contrast, it feelsRead more like a town that time forgot and almost certainly receives fewer visitors than any other comparably sized Indian Ocean port in East Africa.This makes Lindi an attractive destination for adventurous, proactive travelers looking to get right off the beaten track. The historic town center is flanked by a long palm-lined beach that runs upriver from Lindi Bay. Farther afield, there’s a wide and sandy beach at Mitema, 5km/3mi north of the town center, and near-deserted beaches at Kuchele and Shuka on the opposite side of the Lukuledi. Activities include boat trips up the river or to Popo Island to snorkel and see an impressive colony.
Tucked away in the far south of Tanzania close to the Mozambican border, Mtwara is a modern city established in the 1940s on a deep natural harbor. As with other ports in southern Tanzania, it isRead more somewhat off the beaten track and not at all touristy, but it has plenty to offer curious travelers and is connected to Dar es Salaam by regular flights.Shangani, the most central swimming beach, is an attractive stretch of white sand flanked by coral flats and rock pools. A short ferry ride across the bay takes you to Msanga Mkuu Beach, which is even prettier and offers good offshore snorkeling. A little farther afield, Mtwara lies very close to the historic port of Mikindani and makes a good base for day trips to the pristine beaches and reefs of Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park. Mtwara is also the gateway to the Makonde Plateau, renowned for its unique wood-carving tradition.
Beaches
A choice of urban and rural options
Crowds
Some beaches are busy with locals but visitors are a rarity
Tanzania offers access to Africa’s largest three lakes
Tanzania is the only country that provides access to all three of Africa’s great lakes. These are Lake Victoria (the world’s second-largest freshwater body), Tanganyika (the longest and second deepest) and Nyasa-Malawi (fourth longest and ninthRead more deepest). These vast inland seas offer a very different experience to oceanic beaches, and are generally not busy with visitors, but they offer some intriguing options for adventurous travelers.A highlight on Lake Victoria is jungle-swathed Rubondo Island National Park, which offers some unusual wildlife viewing and birding, but is not safe for swimming. Lake Tanganyika’s Mahale Mountains and Gombe National Parks are renowned as destinations. The best-known resort on Lake Nyasa (the official name for the Tanzanian part of Lake Malawi) is Matema Beach, which has a staggeringly beautiful location below the towering . You should ask local advice before swimming in lakes.
Beaches
Variable
Crowds
Never busy
Eating
Restaurants in towns but not rural areas
Sleeping
A scattering of beach resorts; hotels in larger towns
Activities
Swimming in some areas; ; boat trips
Access
Flights to Lakes Victoria and Tanganyika; all lakes accessible by road
