Kendwa

Kendwa is what a lot of people are really looking for when they head to Nungwi. It lies just down the coast on the northwest tip, a short hop by road or a walk along the sand at low tide, and it shares the single best feature of its famous neighbour, deep water that stays swimmable at every state of the tide. What it adds is a little more room and a slightly slower pulse, with a wide soft beach that faces straight into the sunset.

For years Kendwa was the quieter alternative, and a good deal of that still holds. The sand is broader, the frontage is less densely packed than central Nungwi, and a long afternoon here can feel genuinely relaxed. The west facing aspect makes it one of the finest places on the island to watch the sun drop into the sea, drink in hand, and the swimming is easy and clear right through the day rather than vanishing at low tide as it does on the east coast.

The honest caveat is that Kendwa is no secret any more. Resorts have multiplied along the back of the beach, and the famous full moon parties at the long running beach venues here pull large, lively crowds roughly once a month, turning the quiet strip into a dance floor until the early hours. That is brilliant if it is what you came for and frustrating if it is not, so check the lunar calendar against your dates. Vendors are present too, though generally a little less relentless than at the centre of Nungwi.

Treat Kendwa as the balanced choice on the north coast, swimmable water and sunsets without quite the intensity of Nungwi, and plan around the parties depending on which experience you want. Base yourself toward the ends of the strip for more calm, walk over to Nungwi for the dhow yards and a change of scene, and book diving or a sunset cruise through a trusted operator. For verified daybed options and current spend bands, use our Zanzibar beach clubs directory.