Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, there are worst places to find yourself stranded than on the coral-ringed Chumbe Island, located off the coast of Zanzibar. Chumbe combines sustainable ecological living with luxury; an affordable, private haven with a conscience. As a guest on this island paradise (and there are never more than 14 people at any one time), you have your very own beach, steps away from the front door of your beautiful palm thatched eco-bungalow. The beaches surround a marine protected coral park with world-class snorkelling, as well as being home to a historic lighthouse and the protected (and nocturnal) coconut crabs. The beaches are perfect for relaxation, nature spotting and romance, far removed from those of a typical holiday resort. On our first night, we were the only guests on the island. On our final night, the staff (always attentive without being intrusive) arranged a private, secluded candlelit dinner for two on the beach as a surprise. Bliss.

www.chumbeisland.com/
+255 (0) 242 231 040
Google map: bit.ly/yGhRM5

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At Jambiani you will find miles of unspoiled beach and complete peace broken only by the sounds of the sea and the wind in the trees. You can stay right on the beach in guest houses built in the local thatched style. We stayed off-season in Jambiani guesthouse and had the whole house to ourselves. Lounging in the shady garden we watched the beach landscape change throughout the day. We swam early when the tide was up and then watched the sea recede until it was almost out of sight, observing the colours change from the grey of early morning to the shimmering turquoise of midday. The beach was largely inhabited by locals fishing from dhows and later as the beach grew in size women farming seaweed which patterned the sand. At lunchtime we ate freshly caught fish and drank local beers in small friendly beach cafes.

Jambiani village, South-east, Zanzibar
www.zanzibar-guesthouse.com
Google map: bit.ly/t13f93

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I recommend the beach on the Indian Ocean side of the coral-ringed Chumbe Island, located off the coast of Zanzibar. Chumbe combines sustainable ecological living with luxury; an affordable, private haven with a conscience. As a guest on this island paradise (and there are never more than 14 people at any one time), you have your very own beach, steps away from the front door of your beautiful palm thatched eco-bungalow. The beaches surround a marine protected coral park with world-class snorkelling, as well as being home to a historic lighthouse and the protected (and nocturnal) coconut crabs. The beaches are perfect for relaxation, nature spotting and romance, far removed from those of a typical holiday resort. On our first night, we were the only guests on the island. On our final night, the staff (always attentive without being intrusive) arranged a private, secluded candlelit dinner for two on the beach as a surprise. Bliss.

www.chumbeisland.com
+255 (0) 242 231 040
Chumbe Island Coral Park is a short boat ride away from Stone Town, Zanzibar
Google map: bit.ly/tEMflQ

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An idyllic stretch of white sand beach spilling into the crystal clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean accessible either along the beach from Nungwi at low tide or a long haul clamber down from the main access road that drives through the island. By day you stretch out on the deserted sands and watch the fishermen casually push off in their dhows. You can cool off and swim in the beautiful blue shallows before relaxing with a cold beer as the amazing sun sets over the Indian Ocean - creating silhouettes of the fleets of fishing dhows on the horizon - you can even clamber onto an old one laid to rest on the beach. By night you can eat fresh king fish with coconut rice on the cooled swathes of sands before swinging in a hammock, looking up and almost touching the stars as they spread across and light the remote blackness around you. Idyllic, isolated and immense.

Kendwa, near Nungwhi - north west coast of Zanzibar.
Google map: bit.ly/rQcysW

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A superb small beach lodge on the northern tip of the island.
Great service, superb food and diving and the best beach we saw on the island. We arranged our trip with Africa Odyssey who had videos of all the locations which really helped

www.rasnungwi.com/
PO Box 1784, Zanzibar, Tanzania
+ 255 24 2233767
Google map: bit.ly/kXbwnY

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My favourite beach I discovered while backpacking around Africa last year was Kendwa, on the north-western tip of Zanzibar’s principal island Unguja. Zanzibar is steeped in history, its capital Stone Town being a UNESCO world heritage site, with vivid reminders of the island’s past as the centre of the slave trade. You can (and I did) spend days wandering around the labyrinth of narrow streets and market stalls, senses inundated by exotic smells, colourful sights and deafening sounds. But if you can drag yourself away from the hustle and bustle and head north, you will come to Kendwa - a true paradise of white sand, clear skies and turquoise sea. But there’s much more to it than that: I stayed at Kendwa Rocks, a very chilled out backpacker place with accommodation of varying degrees of luxury – from basic dorms to luxury beach bandas. There is a bar/restaurant right on the beach (which is run by a very cool rasta who was always very friendly) which hosts a full moon party every month. I was lucky enough to be there for one of these legendary shindigs and the slight apprehension I felt as a lone traveller soon disappeared as I found myself drinking konyagi (a spirit which can be likened to a cross between gin and vodka) with other revelers and dancing until the sun came up. A truly once in a lifetime experience! I met such an interesting mix of people at Kendwa, from fellow European backpackers to Zanzibar locals and Maasai from northern Tanzania. An excellent place to relax, if you like your beach hangouts a little rough around the edges and with a real local flavour. It's also possible to take a boat trip to the neighbouring private Mafia island to snorkel or dive - highly recommended, and best booked by talking to the local guys who run the trips (as well as providing snorkelling gear and a modest lunch of barbequed fish and rice). The Maasai sell traditional art, jewellery and carvings in shacks along the beach and it's also possible to get a really good massage for around $5.

www.kendwarocks.com
Best reached by dalla dalla or taxi from Stone Town, approx. 1hr. Booking not usually necessry but can be done through the website.
Google map: tinyurl.com/2vvmof9

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An old beautifully restored house in Stone Town, Zanzibar, recommended for its delicious coffee and cakes but also for the friendly local staff. Upstairs there are a small selection of rooms and suites all named after a type of coffee,eg, cappuccino. By night the hotel is a quiet romantic retreat, after the coffee house closes in the early evening it is only open to guests. Rooms have traditional canopied Zanzibar beds draped with extravagant mosquito nets. The hotel is decorated throughout with antique furniture, and scented with local spices and of course coffee. The locality is bustling with life being close to the large local market and bus station but inside all is tranquil. In the evening you return to find the vast beds covered with flower petals, in the morning you can take a leisurely breakfast on the exotic roof terrace, that looks like it has come from "The Arabian Nights" and admire the amazing views of the town.
From US $75-125 per room/suite per night

Stone Town, Zanzibar,close to bus station,follow the signs or ask a taxi driver to direct you they will be happy to do so though access is via narrow alley ways,on foot only.
details on www.riftvalley-zanzibar.com

The Utengule Country Hotel Ltd
PO Box 139, Mbeya, Tanzania

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It is a pristine beach near the north end of the island. I went a while back, and I've heard it is more developed than before, but it was beautiful. We hired Vespas and took the dirt roads far north.

This guy also seems to have hired Vespas to do it, and hit some other sites throughout Africa. Jealous of: www.ruba.com/guide/Santiago_Ripley/Best_Places_to_See_in_Eastern_Africa

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A nice small hotel situated on the east coast of Zanzibar, right at the beginning of Jambiani village. 10 palm-thatched roof beach bungalows, set in the peaceful tropical gardens.
The hotel has a quiet, peaceful, friendly and very relaxing atmosphere for an affordable sunny holiday.

Right at the beginning of Jambiani Village, Jambiani (on the east coast of Zanzibar).
Tel:00 255 777843622
Email:mbuyunibeachvillage@yahoo.co.uk
www.mbuyuni.com

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LangiLangi Beach Bungalows is located in Nungwi and is one of the best hotels in the area. The restaurant serves the best food in Nungwi and the staff are just excellent. The pool and beach are the best part of the hotel.

Nungwi, Zanzibar
www.langilangizanzibar.com

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Small ecological island reserve 40 minutes off Zanzibar. Only 14 tourists at any time, staying in romantic beach bandas stylishly constructed from natural materials.

One of the finest beaches on Zanzibar, the best food I sampled and superlative nature trails in the mangrove forest and over best coral in east Africa. Relatively expensive but a must for any holiday, particularly a honeymoon.

www.chumbeisland.com/

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Shehe bungalows offers very comfortable beach bungalows. They are very close to the white sandy beach.

Me and my wife stayed in one of their sea-facing bungalows for four weeks. We liked it a lot. The bungalows are simple but very clean. It also has very friendly and helpful staff.

They also have a lovely beach-front bar and restaurant.

It is located at the southern side of Jambiani village, on the east coast of Zanzibar.
Tel: +255 777 843 622 or +255 713 675 118
www.shehebungalows.co.uk

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I stayed here for a week with my girlfriend and I have to say it was the most beautiful beach I have even seen and was the nearest thing to paradise - 16 rooms tucked into a small cove, with an infinity swimming pool to use when the tide is out.

The food was excellent and staff very welcoming. Highly recommended!

www.pongwe.com +255784336181

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The dolphins, lovely and wild as they are, won't hang about when 4 motorboats are roaring excitedly towards them. If you want some quality time with them, head to Kizimkazi for 2pm on a dalla-dalla bus, offer the local boys $10 - $15 for snorkel, mask and fins and time with the dolphins, just you and 1 or 2 others. The dolphins will feel more relaxed (the males seem rather non-plussed anyway) and will respond up-close and personal.

Oh, and don't buy any coral or shell souvenirs.

Across from the market in Stone town you will find all the dalla-dallas - the ubiquitous toyota minibuses - just find one with Kizimkazi on the front. Don't forget to ask what time the last dalla-dalla leaves to return to Stone town (usually between 5 - 6pm)

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If you're visiting Paje on the East Coast of Zanzibar you have to visit Mr
Chaamu's restaurant.

An enterprising one-man band, he has set up 3 tables under cover on the beach and offers fantastic seafood dishes with traditional breads.
Bring your own beverages and be sure to book in advance as he sources everything on the day.

Also, ask about his early morning fishing trips. He will take up to 4 people out on his boat to catch the restaurant's fish for the day. He then cooks your catch for you and all of this is done at a fraction of the cost of similar trips at nearby
hotels. An absolute highlight of our holiday!

North of the Paje dive site, 10 min walk along the beach

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A relaxed beach resort on the stunning Matemwe Beach, which is affordable if you don't want to go all out for the top of the range Matemwe Beach Bungalows. Rooms are on the small side but at $200 a night including dinner, the four beautiful suites are good value. There is fabulous diving and snorkelling to be had on the nearby Mnemba Atoll and the on-site dive centre organises daily trips.

Staff are lovely and friendly, and the food is excellent. The local village is extremely poor, however, and the lodge could do a little more in terms of development work.

For accommodation:
www.matemwebeach.com/

For diving:
www.zanzibaroneocean.com/diving/divesite/mnemba/mnemba.htm

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Accommodation tips from our travels throughout Tanzania in 2006.

www.ourafricansafari.com.au

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We arrived on New Year's Eve and found all the accommodation full! Contemplating sleeping on the beach we came across Chris who worked at the diving school. A quick phone call to Poland and five minutes later we had a room with a four-poster bed in an amazing house right on the beach. Amazing sunsets watched from Cholo's, fresh fish from the makeshift market and a sublime atmosphere. Enjoy!

Take a private taxi from Stone Town.

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Casa Del mar Hotel...is intimate and comfortable, rich with palm and other different exotic trees. It lies directly on the white sand beach in Jambiani on the east coast of Zanzibar, about 50 Km from Stone-Town. Casa Del Mar Hotel contains 12 rooms and a resturent which are very artisticly designed and furnished

Salim & Madiha Khatib Owner and Manager Casa Del Mar Hotel Jambiani P.O. Box 4146 Zanzibar Tel: 00255 24 2240401 00255 24 2240400 Cell: 00255 747 455446 Infocasa_delmar@hotmail.com Photos: community.webshots.com/user/casajambiani www.casa-delmar-zanzibar.com

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A very laidback, friendly, well-run, clean and welcoming place - unbeatable sea views from the restaurant/bar and lovely rooms each in their own separate building. Off the beaten track and a genuine haven. Good food and excellent music.

South of Paje village on the east coast of Zanzibar. Follow the road down the coast from Paje village for about 2km;
tel: 00255 024 2240001 or 00255 0777 423331; www.pakachi.com

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