With over 1,424 kilometres of dazzling coastline and dozens of idyllic islands, Tanzania offers the perfect counterpart to an epic safari – or simply a dreamy setting for a few days of R&R. We’ve rounded up some of the best Tanzania beaches for you to peruse whilst planning your next trip. Happy daydreaming…
Tanzania’s beaches
You might have assumed mainland Tanzania is all about those safaris of a lifetime, but it’s also blessed with a staggeringly beautiful coast with clear, bathtub-warm waters and plenty of sunshine to go around.
Pangani
Centred around Pangani Town, this corner of the coastline boasts a bevy of lovely beaches with golden sands and a collection of fabulous properties to call home. Ushongo Bay is a wide expanse with calm, indigo waters that make it eternally swimmable. You can also take a boat ride out of the bay to enjoy a spot of deep-sea fishing. Whilst you’re in the area, there is also a fascinating and well-preserved history to discover when exploring the architecture of the Old Town.
Kunduchi Beach
Golden sands to laze upon and an unhurried, gentle atmosphere – what more could you ask for? Well, Kunduchi Beach delivers just that along with sublime conditions for snorkelling and diving, as well as windsurfing. The beach is only a short stroll away from the Kunduchi Ruins, where you’ll marvel at the remnants of a 15th-century mosque and stunning pillar tombs adorned with Chinese porcelain.
Sange Beach
Dubbed Tanzania’s ‘best kept secret’, Sange Beach is a postcard-perfect spot where the palm trees waltz beside powder-fine sands. There’ll be nary a soul around for miles as you take in the ocean vistas (eyes peeled for pods of dolphins) or snorkel in the crystal-clear shallows. And what better way to end a day like this than a chilled cocktail at sunset…
Saadani National Park Beach
Well and truly off the beaten track, Saadani is the only national park in Tanzania that leads directly onto the beach. Just picture it; spotting elephant and lion on a game drive before running into the sea just an hour or two later. The nearby Saadani Village also offers excellent boat trips to take in the views or do a little fishing.
Ras Kutani
Hidden away on Tanzania’s southern coast, Ras Kutani is a land of golden beaches, kept like a secret by wild forest. Just getting there is half the fun, where you’ll marvel at ancient Swahili architecture and vibrant markets, and replenish your energy with flavoursome local cuisine. Completely devoid of glitzy hotels or villas, Ras Kutani is a true-blue escape from the real world where days pass in a blur of sunkissed moments on the sand or, for the water babies, hours of exploring the coastline by the vessel of your choice.
Zanzibar
The largest and most famous of Tanzania’s islands, the main island of Zanzibar, Unguja, is a beach-lover’s dream. Ringed by sparkling white sands and balmy turquoise waters, Zanzibar is home to some of the best beaches in Tanzania.
Nungwi Beach
Once a haven for backpackers, northern Zanzibar has upped its game in recent years with a selection of swishy hotels, but it has always had some of the most beautiful beaches in Tanzania. An hour’s drive north of Zanzibar City, Nungwi Beach has the charm of an authentic fishing village and you can even witness dhow-makers in action. A stretch of blinding white sand that melts into pool-blue waters, Nungwi is the very picture of a seaside getaway. Your days can be spent snoozing on a lounger, or a tad more active with snorkelling, diving and an array of watersports to choose from. Then cruise off into the sunset on a dhow…
Paje Beach
On the east coast of Zanzibar, Paje Beach is a neverending stretch of blinding white sand just begging for a stroll. A consistent breeze, which just happens to make the palm trees dance, also makes Paje a go-to for kitesurfing and windsurfing. The crystalline shallows drop off to reveal amazing coral reefs, which are definitely worth exploring on a dive. If you tire of the view (should such a thing be possible), pay a visit to the Changa Bazaar to pick up hand-woven bags, baskets and mats.
Matemwe Beach
A definite contender for the most pristine and striking beach in Tanzania, Matemwe is a mix of golden sands beset with rugged coral rocks, white coral rag houses and upended canoes amongst the swaying palms. Sounding just perfect for sipping on a coconut and soaking up the view? It is!
Pongwe Beach
On the eastern side of Unguja Island, Pongwe Beach has remained blissfully under the radar with just a smattering of boutique hotels. You can expect to enjoy chilled cocktails in the shade of a palm, soak up the sunshine on the untouched sand and even go snorkelling straight from the beach. If you can bear to drag yourself away from your comfortable perch, there are sailing trips, deep-sea fishing and kayaking along the shoreline.
Surrounding Islands
Scattered off the coast of Tanzania, there is a bounty of tiny, stunning islands with their own sun-spangled beaches.
Mafia Island
Sitting within a marine park, Mafia Island and its surrounding archipelago is surrounded by incredible coral reefs, making it a dream destination for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts. As remote as they come, Ras Mbisi Beach has that Robinson Crusoe feel and awe-inspiring views to match. You could easily spend all day lazing on the sand without a care in the world or enjoy a little more activity as you explore nearby mangrove forests where a whole host of birdlife dwells.
Pemba Island
The little sister of Mafia Island, Pemba (and its tiny neighbouring isles) has a truly wild and untouched feel, abutted by the deep Pemba Channel, which attracts divers and deep-sea fishing enthusiasts. On the east coast, you can even spot hammerhead sharks and humpback whales. This tiny island is awash with stunning beaches where you’ll feel like the only people in the world. One of the most beautiful is Vumawimbi Beach, where you can swim and snorkel the day away. Off the west coast of Pemba, Misali Island Beach boasts one of the most vibrant coral reefs off the Tanzanian coast, and its toasty sands are the perfect spot to flop down with a good book.
Mnemba Island
Just off the north-east coast of Unguja (Zanzibar’s main island), Mnemba Island offers the feel of an exclusive island hideaway where you can while away the days taking long strolls along the powdery sand or take advantage of the sensational snorkelling and diving conditions. The surrounding coral reefs are teeming with marine life of every size and shape, whilst the best diving is on the south side of the island where strong currents create excellent drift dives. You may want to plan your visit between September and December when migrating whale sharks arrive or opt for the inverse to spy nesting green sea turtles.
Fanjove Island
One of the most coveted locations off Tanzania’s coast, Fanjove Island is entirely private – your journey there takes the form of a short plane ride from Songo Songo Island followed by a dhow cruise. Step out of its forested centre to discover a flour-soft beach where colourful coconut crabs scuttle past, watching the gentle lap of its lapis waters. The snorkelling and diving off Fanjove Island are sensational with the chance to see dolphins and humpback whales (between July and October). Back on shore, nesting green sea turtles can be spotted on the beach between January and April, while a walkabout will reveal beautiful coral cliffs and the ruins of a 19th-century German lighthouse.
Chole Bay Beach
Known for its undiscovered atmosphere, Chole Bay is your gateway to amazing coral reefs, home to a colourful variety of marine life, making snorkelling or diving a must! The water is balmy and inviting, just right for a dip followed by watching the waves roll across the flaxen sand. You also have the chance to take in fascinating local sights like Chole Mjini’s ancient baobabs.
Our favourite Tanzania beach hotels
We couldn’t possibly share the best beaches in Tanzania with you without giving you a few heavenly properties to take your pick from.
&Beyond Mnemba Island
This private island paradise has just 12 beach bandas set along the paper-white beach, which you can wander directly onto at any moment. You could easily spend every minute of every day gazing at that ocean vista beyond your private veranda. And it doesn’t stop there – even dinners are served on the beach under a starry night sky. The resort also promises an array of activities from epic dives to sea kayaking.
Diamonds Star of the East
They take luxury very seriously at the Star of the East including your own personal butler who’ll see to every detail including cocktails delivered to your tented lounger. And we haven’t even started on the palatial villas, which come with a huge four-poster bed, private pool and indoor hot tub.
Matemwe Retreat
Exclusive is the word when it comes to Matemwe Retreat, so named for the gorgeous, cloistered beach it sits alongside, which you’ll have a sensational view of even from bed. There are just four luxury villas, each with its own plunge pool, and every day takes shape according to your wishes. Your personal butler and chef will see to that. A massage on your private veranda should definitely be included in the day’s activities…
Thanda Island
Taking island escapes to the next level, at Thanda you’ll truly have the place all to yourself. Luxury comes in the form of a glass-rimmed swimming pool, bespoke interiors and champagne served in one of the copper ‘beach baths’ right on the shoreline. The island has exclusive access to the stunning reef beyond and there’s plenty to keep you occupied in the water including kayaking and jet-skiing.
Laba Fanjove Island
A part of the Songo Songo Archipelago, Fanjove Island is just a mile long with six A-frame bandas dotted along the beachfront – there’s so much space between them, it’ll feel like you have the entire island to yourself. Every space is decorated with minimalist beach chic, framing idyllic views of the ocean lapping nearby.
Chole Mjini
On an island in the Mafia Island Marine Park, Chole Mjini is wonderfully off the tourist trail and proudly rustic. Most of the rooms are set on platforms high in baobab trees, providing the ultimate view of the vast blue expanse. By day you can relax on sandbar beaches, dive amongst the reefs or bask in the sunshine back on the island.
Fundu Lagoon Camp
Sitting pretty on the west coast of Pemba Island, Fundu Lagoon Camp is the very picture of a tropical, Robinson Crusoe getaway. You’ll either be right on the beach or the hillside with ravishing ocean views. You can be as active or relaxed as you like with epic snorkelling and diving adventures, kayaking excursions, or massages waiting to lull you to sleep.
The Manta Resort
Set on the hilltop overlooking the ethereal Pemba Channel and one of the most beautiful beaches in Tanzania, the Manta Resort places your comfort and convenience first. Your personal ‘Service Fundi’ will see to everything including something chilled always being at hand. Naturally, the scuba diving is beyond your wildest dreams and, even if you’ve never done it before, a training session in the pool will have you ready to go. When you’re finished exploring Pemba’s underwater world, a heavenly massage awaits the spa.
Combining beach & bush
Thankfully, Tanzania makes it easy to add a bit of beach time to your safari with plentiful flight routes connecting countries across Africa and an endless list of destinations to choose from. You can keep things in-country with this classic Tanzania trip, where you’ll revel in the wildlife scenes of Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, before Zanzibar calls with the allure of sunshine and sea. On the other hand, you could add in another spectacular wildlife experience with gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park before heading for the shores of Tanzania.
Now that your head is swimming with images of blazing white beaches, sensational marine life and something chilled and coconutty in your hand, it’s time to start planning your trip to the coast of Tanzania.
