Kiwengwa Beach

The basics

Aside from its fine white sands and clear waters, Kiwengwa Beach is fringed by plenty of restaurants and tourist-friendly facilities. It's a great place to stop during a longer tour of Zanzibar, and many people combine a visit to the beach with other popular activities. Tour options include spice farm tours, dolphin-watching boat trips, and visits to the Kuza Cave, to name a few.

Things to know before you go

• Bring all your typical beach essentials: sunscreen, towels, and swimwear.

• While bikinis and swim shorts are fine on the beach, make sure to cover up before going into town out of respect for local customs.

• Although the waters here may be calm, always take safety measures and never go swimming without telling someone first. Lifeguard service is not always available.

How to get there

Kiwengwa Beach is located on the eastern shores of Zanzibar, roughly an hour's drive from Stone Town. Public transportation options to the beach are inconvenient and time-consuming, so the easiest way to travel is to hire a taxi to take you from your hotel to the beach and back again. Otherwise, consider joining a tour that includes round-trip transportation to the beach.

When to get there

Kiwengwa Beach is at its finest during the dry season, which runs from the middle of June through September. However, there’s another dry season in January and February, when you may encounter less crowds, but the climate is typically hotter and more humid. Afternoons and weekends tend to be busier than weekday mornings.

Zanzibar’s Best Beaches

Kiwengwa Beach is one of the finest beach destinations on the island of Zanzibar, but there are plenty more great places to swim and sunbathe across the island. Other popular spots include Pongwe Beach, one of the most famous beaches on the island, and Jambiani Beach, which sits next to Jambiani Village, a hub for cultural tourism.