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The traditional Zanzibari fishing village of Pwani Mchangani has a name that translates as ‘Sandy Beach’. Whoever came up with that name gets zero points for imagination, but they certainly score full marks when it
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comes to accuracy. Pwani Mchangani lies at the center of a long palm-lined beach whose wide expanse of soft white sand can be quite dazzling. An unusually steep incline makes the beach here perfect for swimming, while a relatively low level of tourist development means that it feels like an extension of the namesake village.-
Size
- ± 4km / 2.5mi long
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Best Time To Go
- January, February and June to October
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Crowds
- Moderately busy to uncrowded
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Sleeping
- A mix of package resorts, smaller hotels and budget lodges
Pros & Cons
- Steep incline makes it good for swimming, especially at high tide
- Close to the Mnemba Atoll’s snorkel and dive sites
- Relatively untouristy and integrated into village life
- Long beach walks north or south to the fishing villages of Matemwe or Kiwengwa
- Excursions include diving and snorkeling
- Not as many touts and vendors as some other beaches
- More of a working beach and less pristine than some on Zanzibar
- Swimming often not an option at low tide
The Beach
Pwani Mchangani – literally ‘Sandy Beach’ – sure lives up to its name. One of the widest and prettiest stretches of white sand you’ll find anywhere on Zanzibar, it’s also an enjoyable beach for swimming, sunbathing
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and long barefoot walks. Tourist facilities are for the most part appealingly low-key, consisting of a row of stilted wood-and-thatch lodges and restaurants tucked unobtrusively between the beachfront coconut palms and .The beach at Pwani Mchangani feels very much like an extension of the fishing village with which it shares a name. Local children play enthusiastically in the waves, local women gather seaweed from exposed reefs at low tide, and traditional wooden dawdle past, sails billowing in the breeze. A prominent feature on the northeast horizon is Mnemba Island, which protrudes from a long coral reef famed for its exceptional snorkeling and diving.Sleeping
Pwani Mchangani offers a diverse selection of accommodations. Lodges in the immediate vicinity of the village tend to be small, rustic and owner-managed, and generally cater to budget travelers. Head north or east of the main
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village, and developments tend to be bigger and more upmarket. There is also a row of large all-inclusive package resorts (mostly with 100-plus rooms) running along the beach south of the village. Despite this, most hotels at Pwani Mchangani have been designed not to intrude upon the rustic feel of the beach.Eating & Drinking
The larger resorts at Pwani Mchangani tend to operate on an all-inclusive, full-board or half-board basis, which means that guests eat most of their meals at the hotel buffet. This helps to explain why there are
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few stand-alone restaurants, though many hotels will accept walk-in diners. For self-caterers, a couple of supermarkets are dotted around, but they sell a limited range of goods. Fresh seafood can usually be bought from local fishers. Local beers such as Kilimanjaro and Safari are served chilled at all resorts and hotels, and most also offer a range of cocktails and South African wines.Things To Do at Pwani Mchangani
For most people, beach time is synonymous with swimming, and Pwani Mchangani is a great place for this. It’s one of the best swimming beaches on Zanzibar, because the steep incline means you don’t need to
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wade far to be waist deep in the sea. However, as with many beaches on Zanzibar, the area between the beach and reef is often too shallow for swimming at low tide. This is a good time to retreat to your hotel swimming pool and enjoy lazing on a sun lounger.The walking possibilities from Pwani Mchangani are practically endless. This is because it forms part of one continuous stretch of beach that runs from Kiwengwa in the south to Matemwe in the north. Walking barefoot is fine if you’re not straying too far, but it’s advisable to take shoes if you’re heading on a longer walk. Kitesurfing, kayaking and other water sports are also possible.Nearby Things To Do
A varied range of day excursions is offered by resorts and dive schools at Pwani Mchangani. If you have an interest in history and/or culture, don’t miss out on a guided day tour to explore
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the alleys and timeworn buildings of Zanzibar’s atmospheric Stone Town. Another ‘must do’ is a snorkeling or diving excursion to the coral gardens and reefs of the Mnemba Atoll, which sprawls around the small forested island you’ll see on Pwani Mchangani’s northeast horizon.Other popular activities include guided walks in Jozani Forest to look for monkeys, spice tours to the plantations of the island’s interior, and trips to the pretty Changuu (Prison) Island and Nakupenda Beach. A fascinating but lesser-known option for a day trip is Kiwengwa Caves, just 10km/6mi from Pwani Mchangani by road.How To Get to Pwani Mchangani
Pwani Mchangani is on Zanzibar’s northeast coast, some 40km/25mi by road from the city of Zanzibar (the usual point of entry to the island). Road transfers or taxis from the city usually take around 1 hour