Tanzania Beaches – Where to Go

Sprawling, bustling Dar es Salaam is perhaps not an obvious choice for a beach holiday but its international airport and central location mean that this city is the logistics hub for the Tanzania coast. There are however great beach hotels and resorts within a 2-hour drive of the city while the unique Saadani National Park tucked away in a wild coastal forest some 150km north of Dar es Salaam, makes for a great safari and beach combination.

The crown jewel in Tanzania’s coastal treasure chest and most famous for its idyllic holiday resorts and boutique beach hotels (not to mention outstanding scuba diving), Zanzibar is more diverse than you might think. Stone Town, the historical quarter of the island’s capital Zanzibar Town, offers the inquisitive traveler the chance to explore twisting alleys, mosques, and markets while scattered around Zanzibar are tiny, off-the-beaten-track islands, ideal for honeymooners and get-away-from-it-all vacations.

A tiny island paradise lying a kilometer northeast of Zanzibar Island, Mnemba is the epitome of exclusivity and privacy. Its legendary reef makes for some of the best diving and snorkeling in the Zanzibar Archipelago.

Set 50km from Zanzibar and long in its shadow, those who do travel to Pemba are seldom disappointed. Covered in forest and spice plantations and ringed by great beaches, it’s still early days for tourism to Pemba which makes it perfect for people looking for a Tanzania beach holiday without the crowds.

Set 50km from Zanzibar and long in its shadow, those who do travel to Pemba are seldom disappointed. Covered in forest and spice plantations and ringed by great beaches, it’s still early days for tourism to Pemba which makes it perfect for people looking for a Tanzania beach holiday without the crowds.

An uninhabited island 12km south of Zanzibar Town and home to a pristine coral reef and private marine reserve, Chumbe makes an ideal day trip for keen divers and snorkellers.

A tiny scrap of land barely a kilometre long and accessible only via a 15-minute boat ride from Mafia Island. Chole lies at the heart of the Mafia Island Marine Park; its shallow-water reefs teem with life and you’re assured of an exceptionally exclusive and private experience