Kendwa lies on the north-west coast of Unguja, Zanzibar’s main island, about three kilometres south of the northern tip at Nungwi. Until the 1990s it was a small fishing settlement with a handful of backpacker bungalows; today a line of hotels runs along the sand, from the easy-going Kendwa Rocks in the middle to some of the island’s most expensive resorts at either end. The village itself still sits a little inland, behind the beach.
What sets Kendwa apart is the shape of the seabed. On most of Zanzibar — the whole east coast in particular — the lagoon is so shallow that the sea retreats for hundreds of metres at low tide and swimming is only possible for a few hours either side of high water. At Kendwa the sand shelves away more steeply, so there is swimmable water at every state of the tide. Add a beach that faces due west, towards Tumbatu Island and the setting sun, and you have the most reliably enjoyable stretch of sand on the island.
Top things to do at Kendwa Beach
Swim when the rest of the island cannot
It sounds too simple to be a highlight, but after a few days on the east coast you will understand. The water is usually flat and clear in the morning, with a light chop in the afternoon during the windier months. There are no lifeguards, so keep an eye on children and stay clear of the boat channels.
Watch the sun go down — from the sand or from a dhow
Sunset is the daily event. Bars put out beanbags, the dhows hoist their sails and half the beach stops to watch. Do it once from the water on a sunset dhow cruise, which leaves from the beach in the late afternoon.
Walk the beach to Nungwi
At low tide you can walk north along the shore to Nungwi in around 45 minutes, past rock overhangs and resort beaches. It only works at low water — at high tide the sea reaches the rocks and cuts the route — so check a tide table and come back by taxi if the water has risen.
Dance under the full moon
Once a month, on the Saturday closest to the full moon, Kendwa Rocks hosts the island’s biggest beach party. Our Full Moon Party guide explains how it works — and how to avoid it if you came for peace and quiet.
How to get to Kendwa Beach
- From the airport: around 55–60 km, usually 1 to 1.5 hours by car. A pre-booked private transfer is the least stressful way to arrive — see airport to Kendwa.
- From Stone Town: a little over an hour by taxi. The Nungwi dala-dala (route 116 from Darajani) passes the Kendwa turn-off on the main road, from where it is a walk or a motorbike-taxi ride of a couple of kilometres down to the beach.
- From Nungwi: about 10 minutes by taxi or tuk-tuk, or the beach walk at low tide.
Insider tips
- The beach is public, but sunbeds belong to the hotels and bars. Buying a drink or lunch usually earns you a lounger for the day.
- There is far less choice of independent restaurants than in Nungwi. If you like eating somewhere different every night, plan a few taxi rides north or book half board.
- Full Moon Party weekends push up prices and noise in the centre of the beach. Light sleepers should ask for a room well away from Kendwa Rocks, or pick different dates.
- ATMs are scarce and not always working. Bring cash from Stone Town or the airport.
Best tours & tickets for Kendwa Beach
These well-reviewed experiences are the simplest way to see Kendwa Beach from a Kendwa base:
Sunset cruise from $14 Zanzibar: Sunset Dhow Cruise in Nungwi & Kendwa
Kendwa looks due west, so every clear evening ends with the sun dropping into the sea. Seeing it from the deck of a dhow, with the beach bars lighting up behind you, is the classic north-coast evening — and at this price it is hard to find a reason not to.
- A traditional wooden dhow under a lateen sail
- The sun going down behind Tumbatu Island
- Departures from Kendwa or Nungwi
Water activity from $46 Zanzibar: Transparent Kayak and Drone (Pickup Included)
Part gentle paddle, part photo shoot: you take a clear-hulled kayak out over the pale sand and turquoise water between Nungwi and Kendwa while a drone films from above. Nearly 570 reviews at 4.8 suggest people come away happy with the pictures.
- Paddle a see-through kayak over the shallows
- Professional drone photos and video of you from above
- Only an hour — easy to fit into a beach day
Adventure from $81 per group Zanzibar: Quad Biking Adventure from Kendwa or Nungwi
The highest-rated activity on the north coast, with well over 1,700 reviews. A guided quad ride through farmland and villages inland of Kendwa shows you the everyday Zanzibar that lies a few hundred metres behind the resorts. Priced per quad, which two people can share.
- Ride dirt tracks behind the north-coast beaches
- Stops at two beaches and a local village
- Free transfer from Kendwa and Nungwi hotels
