Beach

Relax on exotic white sandy beaches after your safari

Tanzania is ideally located to combine a safari with a few days of relaxation on the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. After getting up early for game drives and safari walks, you might want to reward yourself with kicking back and relaxing on a tropical beach. And not just any beach at that: the various magical Zanzibar islands that are just a short flight from the mainland are world renowned spots for scuba-diving, sheer coral cliffs, warm turquoise water, water sports, fishing and much more.

Types of accommodations:

Beach lodges and bungalows

Staying in beach lodges and bungalows can make you feel like you’re living right on the beach, falling asleep to the sound of the waves and smelling the marine air from your room. We tend to recommend this type of accommodation because it allows you to escape the crowds, interact with local staff, receive personalized service and get that authentic and exotic feeling of being in Africa rather than just another Caribbean resort.

Chumbe Island: A unique and charming eco resort. 7 bungalows with en-suite bathrooms, large living room, handmade furniture, African art and hammocks. All bungalows overlook the ocean.

Hotels and resorts

Hotels and resorts can provide the comforts most of us are used to when vacationing: AC, closed private rooms and plush beds. If the goal of your Tanzanian beach getaway is to taste some of the comforts of home, then hotels or resorts are the way to go. However, the hundreds of guests at such hotels make the interaction with local staff and opportunities to explore local culture rare. What’s more, big hotels can have huge impacts on the sensitive eco-systems of the coastal areas where the beaches are located, which is why we don’t always recommend this type of accommodation.

Suggested accommodations: Chumbe Island Resort

Where to go:

Chumbe Island is the first and one of the only marine protected areas on the east coast of Africa. As such, it has one of the world’s most beautiful coral gardens and the best preserved shallow reef on the East African Coast, with hundreds of coral fish and other treasures such as untouched mangroves and endangered coconut crabs.

The Zanzibar islands of Pemba and Mafia as well as Mnemba Private Island are world renowned diving destinations, with sheer coral cliffs and exciting marine life. Northern Chole Bay on Mafia Island is also great for snorkeling, fishing and water sports. If dolphin spotting is what you’re after, Kizimkazi island on Zanzibar is where you could see hundreds of both bottlenose and humpback dolphins putting on one of their famous acrobatic shows.

What to do:

• Sunbathing
• Diving courses
• Snorkeling
• Water sports
• Fishing
• Take a dhow cruise (traditional wooden sailing boat)
• Visit Stonetown

Featured highlights:

Snorkeling

The warm, clear tropical waters and exotic marine life of the Indian Ocean make Zanzibar a dream come true for divers. If you’re new to diving, you can complete diving courses at one of the many diving schools on Zanzibar Island. The best time to go is during the hot summer season of December-March.

Dolphins

The village of Kizimkazi, in the far south of Zanzibar Island, is a favorite spot for dolphins to hang out. Between October and February is the best time to catch hundreds of dolphins putting on one of their famous acrobatic shows.