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Where To Stay on Zanzibar – Our Expert’s Choice

Zanzibar Tours Tanzania
Most visitors to Zanzibar book their accommodations in advance, so it is worth giving consideration to what kind of experience you’re looking for. Some people, for instance, would regard a couple of nights absorbing Stone Town’s
Read more unique cultural atmosphere as a must, but many others prefer to skip the old town and head straight to the beach. Even when choosing a beach destination, some will prefer a busy hot spot with a lively bar and restaurant scene, while others will seek peace and quiet. Here we give an overview of the options to help first-time visitors make that choice.
Safari & Zanzibar Packages

  1. Stone Town

    Zanzibar Serena Hotel on the waterfront
    Zanzibar Serena Hotel on the waterfront Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Emerson Spice Hotel
    Emerson Spice Hotel Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Waiter serving breakfast at a rooftop restaurant
    Waiter serving breakfast in Emerson Spice Hotel Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by Dr. Kacie Crisp. © All rights reserved
    Zanzibar Serena Hotel
    Zanzibar Serena Hotel Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by posztos. © All rights reserved
    Stone Town waterfront
    Tembo Hotel on the waterfront Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Tembo Hotel
    Tembo Hotel entrance Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Park Hyatt Zanzibar
    Park Hyatt Zanzibar and Zanzibar Serena Hotel Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania. Photo by posztos. © All rights reserved
    Google Maps
    If you enjoy exploring characterful old cities, it’s definitely worth spending a night or three in Stone Town. This allows you to find your way around the alleys and visit the main historic sites at your
    Read more own pace, and to enjoy an appealing selection of waterfront restaurants and bars. Stone Town is also a useful base for spice tours and day trips to the likes of Changuu (Prison) Island, Jozani Forest and Mnemba Atoll.There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to Stone Town accommodations. The larger upmarket hotels are mostly housed in a row of historic buildings that lines Shangani Beach. Away from the waterfront, the old town’s alleys are scattered with small upmarket and mid-range boutique hotels, many converted from old mansions and decorated in traditional Zanzibari style. At the other end of the scale, a few backpacker hostels offer simple rooms and dormitory beds to budget travelers.
    About Stone Town

  2. Nungwi & Kendwa

    Kendwa Rocks Resort
    Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel Kendwa, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Nungwi beach resort
    Nungwi beach resort Nungwi, Tanzania. Photo by Davor Lovincic. © All rights reserved
    Azure waters in front of Nungwi town and beach
    Beach resorts in Nungwi Nungwi, Tanzania. Photo by Davor Lovincic. © All rights reserved
    Nungwi at night
    Boutique hotel in Nungwi Nungwi, Tanzania. Photo by Davor Lovincic. © All rights reserved
    Turquoise waters lapping on the beach
    Beach resort on Nungwi Beach Nungwi, Tanzania. Photo by Kjersti Joergensen. © All rights reserved
    Beach Resort
    Beach resort in Nungwi Nungwi, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Nungwi Beach
    Resorts on Nungwi Beach Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Photo by Gideon Ikigai. © All rights reserved
    Situated near Zanzibar’s northern headland, the resort towns of Nungwi and Kendwa are among the busiest and most popular on the island. Nungwi is a fun-loving seaside town with an inclusive party atmosphere and a great
    Read more choice of restaurants, bars, dive schools and other amenities. Kendwa, though smaller, is almost as well equipped, and it has the more scenic beach. At low tide you can walk between the two in 45 minutes or so. Both are west-facing for fantastic sunsets.When it comes to hotels, Kendwa is dominated by large and rather impersonal upmarket resorts that specialize in all-inclusive package holidays. By contrast, the main beach at Nungwi offers a great choice of small owner-managed hotels – some smart and boutique-like, others humbler and more budget-oriented – that feel integrated into day-to-day Zanzibari life. A quieter east-facing beach at Nungwi is home to a handful of luxurious hotels set in tropical gardens.
    About Nungwi Beach

  3. Paje & Jambiani

    Beach Resort
    Beach resort in Paje Paje, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Small resort in Paje
    Small resort in Paje Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Photo by Lenush. © All rights reserved
    Paje Beach
    Paje Beach Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Photo by Ralf Liebhold. © All rights reserved
    Palm-lined beach
    Resort umbrellas in Paje Paje, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Paje Beach
    Paje Beach resort Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Photo by Magdalena Paluchowska. © All rights reserved
    Palm-lined beach in Paje
    Palm-lined beach in Paje Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Photo by Matej Kastelic. © All rights reserved
    Relaxation spot on Jambiani Beach
    Resort on Jambiani Beach Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Photo by Spirit of a Jewel. © All rights reserved
    Situated on the southeast coast of Zanzibar, Paje is known as the island’s top kitesurfing hot spot. It has perhaps the trendiest feel of any Zanzibari resort village, thanks to a superb selection of chilled beachfront
    Read more bars and restaurants suited to most tastes and budgets. Like its northern counterpart Nungwi, Paje is a largish town where beach resorts tend to be small and individualistic, irrespective of whether they cater to an upmarket clientele or more budget-conscious visitors.Extending southward from Paje, sprawling Jambiani has a long attractive beach that’s good for swimming and kitesurfing, but it feels far less slick and urbanized. Beach lodges at Jambiani mostly fall into the budget or mid-range category, and many are owned and managed by entrepreneurial locals. Because tourist facilities at Jambiani are so integrated into the village, it is a popular choice with visitors who want to interact with Zanzibaris in an unforced way.

  4. Matemwe, Kiwengwa & the Northeast Coast

    Beach resort
    Beach resort in Kiwengwa Kiwengwa, Tanzania. Photo by SebastianGorzow. © All rights reserved
    Beach resort
    Beach resort in Kiwengwa Kiwengwa, Tanzania. Photo by SebastianGorzow. © All rights reserved
    Aerial view over the beach
    Beach resort in Matemwe Matemwe Beach, Tanzania. Photo by MariusLtu. © All rights reserved
    Aerial view of Matemwe Beach
    Beach resort in Matemwe Matemwe Beach, Tanzania. Photo by MariusLtu. © All rights reserved
    Relaxing in a hammock
    Relaxing in a hammock on Pongwe Beach Pongwe, Tanzania. Photo by Anton Zelenov. © All rights reserved
    Jetty leading to an overwater bar at Pwani Mchangani
    Sea bar in Pwani Mchangani Pwani Mchangani, Tanzania. Photo by Milos Djokic. © All rights reserved
    Palm-lined beach
    Resort beach in Uroa Uroa, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Beach resort
    Resort beach in Uroa Uroa, Tanzania. Photo by Attila JANDI. © All rights reserved
    Palm-lined beach
    Resort umbrellas in Matemwe Matemwe Beach, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    The Island Pongwe Lodge
    The Island Pongwe Lodge Pongwe, Tanzania. Photo by Kibacik. © All rights reserved
    The resort villages that line the northeast coast of Zanzibar have a relatively unfocused and untouristy feel. The best known is Matemwe, from where a long and beautiful stretch of palm-lined sand runs south to merge
    Read more almost unnoticeably with the beaches at Pwani Mchangani, Kiwengwa, Pongwe and Uroa. These villages are popular bases for snorkeling and diving excursions thanks to their proximity to the Mnemba Atoll.Lodges in this part of Zanzibar tend to have large grounds but few rooms, and most offer all-inclusive packages to an exclusive upmarket clientele. The main outlier is Kiwengwa, a lively little village that is rapidly emerging as a northeastern counterpart to Nungwi and Paje. In addition to offering great swimming and kitesurfing, Kiwengwa has a bustling beach scene, some great (mostly Italian) restaurants, and a good choice of individualistic budget and mid-range beach lodges.

  5. Other Beach Destinations

    Lodge built on coral rocks
    Lodge built on coral rocks above Mtende Beach Mtende Beach, Tanzania. Photo by SebastianGorzow. © All rights reserved
    Sun loungers on the beach
    Sun loungers on the beach in Chwaka Bay Chwaka, Tanzania. Photo by Nowaczyk. © All rights reserved
    Dinner table set on Fumba Beach
    Dinner table set on Fumba Beach Fumba, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Swimming pool at Fumba Beach Lodge
    Swimming pool at Fumba Beach Lodge Fumba, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Blue monkey on the beach
    Blue monkey at Fumba Beach Lodge Fumba, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Palm trees on the beach
    Resort beach in Michamvi Michamvi Beach, Tanzania. Photo by AlexandraPlanquais. © All rights reserved
    Beach bar at sunset
    Beach bar in Michamvi Michamvi Beach, Tanzania. Photo by Dietmar Rauscher. © All rights reserved
    View over the sea
    Resort at Mtende Beach Mtende Beach, Tanzania. Photo by SebastianGorzow. © All rights reserved
    Beach at low tide
    Resort at Mtende Beach Mtende Beach, Tanzania. Photo by SebastianGorzow. © All rights reserved
    Lodge built on coral rocks
    Resort at Mtende Beach Mtende Beach, Tanzania. Photo by SebastianGorzow. © All rights reserved
    Despite the ongoing tourism boom, many Zanzibari beaches remain relatively undeveloped, at least for the time being. Of these, Michamvi Kae, on the eastern shore of Chwaka Bay, stands out for its combination of affordable lodgings,
    Read more a relaxed village feel, and a quiet but beautiful beach with a western orientation to catch the sunset.Farther south, overlooking Menai Bay, Fumba is a wild and scenic beach of rocky outcrops and sandy coves lined with gnarled . Wilder still, and arguably even more spectacular, is secluded Mtende Beach, set below coral cliffs close to Zanzibar’s most southerly headland. Both Fumba and Mtende are serviced by one or two chilled ecofriendly resorts where and roam free alongside a variety of colorful birds. are often seen offshore and there’s good snorkeling too.

  6. Offshore Islands

    Eco Lodge
    Ecolodge on Chumbe Island Chumbe Island, Tanzania. Photo by Steffen Boerner. © All rights reserved
    Boat approaching Chumbe Island
    Boat approaching Chumbe Island Chumbe Island, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Boat in the water
    Boat in the water at Chumbe Island Chumbe Island, Tanzania. Photo by Adwo. © All rights reserved
    Dining on the beach at Mnemba Island Lodge on Mnemba Island
    Dining on the beach at &Beyond Mnemba Island Mnemba Island, Tanzania. Photo by Ariadne van Zandbergen. © All rights reserved
    Boat approaching Mnemba Island
    Boat approaching Mnemba Island Mnemba Atoll, Tanzania. Photo by Denis Belitsky. © All rights reserved
    Aerial view of  Mnemba Island
    Aerial view of Mnemba Island Mnemba Atoll, Tanzania. Photo by Denis Belitsky. © All rights reserved
    Snorkeling around Mnemba Island
    Snorkeling around Mnemba Island Mnemba Island, Tanzania. Photo by Borut Trdina. © All rights reserved
    An excellent option for those seeking absolute peace and quiet is one of a trio of small exclusive lodges situated on different small islands off Zanzibar. Most luxurious is &Beyond Mnemba Island, which offers an unmatched
    Read more ‘barefoot luxury’ experience on a tiny sandy island that protrudes above an atoll famed for its first-rate snorkeling and diving.For wildlife enthusiasts, an even better option is the ecolodge on Chumbe Island Coral Park. This stands on a privately protected island where you can look for the cute and monstrous , and dive or snorkel on pristine coral reefs. A more affordable alternative is Chapwani Private Island Resort, which lies only 3km/2mi north of Stone Town, offers great swimming, and is also home to Aders’s duiker and coconut crab.

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