North Zanzibar
Nungwi Beach
Zanzibar's most famous beach — swimmable at every tide
About Nungwi Beach
Nungwi sits on the northern tip of Zanzibar where the tidal range is small, which means you can swim all day without waiting for the water to return. It grew out of a dhow-building village and you can still watch boats being shaped by hand on the sand. Behind the beach is the island's densest cluster of hotels, beach bars, dive centres and restaurants — busy by Zanzibar standards, but the sand is powder white and the water is deep turquoise from morning to night.
Best time to visit
Tide information
Things to do
- Sunset dhow cruise
- Mnemba Atoll snorkelling and dolphin trips
- Scuba diving at Leven Bank and Hunga Reef
- Visit the Mnarani Marine Turtle Aquarium
- Deep-sea fishing charters
- Stone Town day trip
Nearby hotels
- · Zuri Zanzibar
- · Riu Palace Zanzibar
- · Essque Zalu
- · Z Hotel
- · Langi Langi Beach Bungalows
- · Amaan Bungalows
Nearby restaurants
- · The Rock Sunset Lounge
- · Mama Mia (wood-fired pizza)
- · Langi Langi rooftop
- · Cholo's Beach Bar
- · Fisherman's Nungwi
Where it is
Getting around from Nungwi Beach
Zanzibar Airport (ZNZ)
Excursion stops on the way: Mkokotoni fish market · Kidichi Persian Baths
Stone Town
Excursion stops on the way: Stone Town old quarter · Mangapwani Slave Caves
Kiwengwa (Northeast)
Excursion stops on the way: Spice farms (Kizimbani) · Kiwengwa Caves
Paje (East Coast)
Excursion stops on the way: Jozani Forest (red colobus) · Zanzibar Butterfly Centre
Kizimkazi (South)
Excursion stops on the way: Jozani Forest · Kizimkazi Dolphin Point
Distances and drive times are planning estimates for a private transfer; traffic in Stone Town can add 15–20 minutes.
Travel tips
- Book Mnemba trips the day before — boats fill fast in high season.
- Nungwi faces west, so this is one of the few east-African beaches where you watch the sun set over the sea.
- Cover shoulders and knees when walking into the village; it is a conservative Muslim community.
Tours & excursions from Nungwi Beach
Every tour includes hotel pickup from this beach. Tell us where you are staying and we handle the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at low tide in Nungwi?
Yes. Nungwi has the mildest tide on the island and the water stays deep enough to swim throughout the day.
How far is Nungwi from the airport?
About 60 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by road. We run fixed-price private transfers from Zanzibar Airport and Stone Town.
Is Nungwi good for families?
Very. Calm, swimmable water, plenty of resorts with pools, and short boat trips suitable for children.