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Immediately south of Paje, Jambiani is a sleepy fishing village that sprawls for several kilometers along one of Zanzibar’s longest, loveliest and most popular beaches. Despite being one of the first parts of the island to
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be developed for tourism, it remains more low-key than the likes of Paje or Nungwi, and is less influenced by current trends. This makes Jambiani a great destination for budget-conscious travelers who want to enjoy a beach holiday with a genuine Zanzibari village atmosphere.-
Size
- ± 6.5km / 4mi long
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Best Time To Go
- January, February and June to October
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Crowds
- Quite busy with local activity
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Sleeping
- Mostly small budget, mid-range or boutique hotels
Pros & Cons
- Great choice of affordable hotels and restaurants
- Swimming is good at high tide
- Long beach walks possible at low tide
- Kitesurfing, kayaking and other marine activities
- Informative community tours available
- Parts of the narrow beach are entirely submerged at high tide
- Swimming isn’t possible at low tide
- Not very resort-like in a conventional sense
The Beach
The beach at Jambiani is long, sandy, soft and very attractive. For most of its length, it is lined with rustic low-rise hotel gardens that are shaded by coconut palms and go right up to the
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high-tide line. The beach is protected by an offshore barrier reef, which means the water is very calm and safe for swimming.Jambiani Beach is at its best between tidal extremes. When the water is very high, some stretches become entirely submerged, which limits beach access and restricts walking possibilities. At low tide, the ebbing water exposes the seaweed-draped coral flats that separate the sandy beach from the barrier reef, and swimming is difficult.Sleeping
There is a huge choice of accommodations in Jambiani, most of it set alongside the beach. Unlike some other parts of Zanzibar, there are no large upmarket beach resorts in the area. Almost all properties have
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fewer than 20 rooms, and most fall into the budget or mid-range categories, although there are a couple of classy boutique hotels. Many places in Jambiani are owner-managed and represent good value compared to other parts of Zanzibar.Eating & Drinking
Jambiani has a relatively limited choice of upmarket restaurants, and those that do exist are generally affiliated with its smarter hotels. A pleasant feature of the village is that it boasts a large number of small
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thatch-shaded restaurants owned by local chefs and entrepreneurs. The main specialties tend to be grilled seafood, curries and other authentic Zanzibari cuisine. There’s also an Italian restaurant specializing in pizzas, but international cuisine is otherwise quite poorly represented in comparison to Paje.Most hotels and larger restaurants serve a good range of alcoholic beverages, including wine and cocktails. At local eateries, the choice will probably be limited to fruit juice and possibly beer, in which case it should normally be acceptable to bring your own bottle.Things To Do at Jambiani
There isn’t much to do in the way of organized activities at Jambiani, and that’s a large part of its charm. This is a great place to spend hours lazing in a hammock or on a
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sun lounger, and enjoying the sea breeze between refreshing dips in the ocean or swimming pool. There’s plenty of scope for relaxed beach or village walks, especially at low tide, when you can stroll along the sand all the way to Paje. Other possibilities include kitesurfing, kayaking and snorkeling at high tide.Guided community tours can be arranged through any hotel and offer insight into local culture. More informally, you can just hang out and observe fishers mending their nets on the beach, women collecting seaweed at low tide, youngsters defying the heat to play an energetic game of football, and other everyday activities.Nearby Things To Do
Immediately inland of Jambiani, Kuza Cave is a popular destination for a short excursion. Carved into the coral rock that underlies most of Zanzibar, the cave is quite impressive and the transparent pool at its base
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is a wonderful spot for swimming.Farther afield but even more rewarding is a half-day trip inland to Jozani Forest. Here, you can do a guided forest walk to see , a striking monkey that is to the island, and follow a wooden boardwalk through a swamp.Several other guided activities are offered by hotels and operators in Jambiani. These include walking tours through the historic alleys of Zanzibar City’s Stone Town and boat trips to Mnemba Atoll, a snorkeling and diving hot spot.How To Get to Jambiani
Jambiani lies around 55km/35mi southeast of Zanzibar City, which is the island’s largest settlement and incorporates the legendary Stone Town. The drive, via Jozani Forest and Paje, shouldn’t take longer than 1½ hours (depending on how