A thatched jetty restaurant over the turquoise water at Kendwa Beach

Where to Stay in Kendwa

One long beach, three distinct stretches, and a party to be near to or far from.

Every hotel in Kendwa shares the same advantages — water you can swim in at any tide and the sunset straight ahead. What differs is the atmosphere, and it changes as you move along the sand.

The middle of the beach, around Kendwa Rocks, is the sociable part: beach bars, boat operators, music in the evening and the Full Moon Party once a month. The southern end is resort territory — large, polished properties with their own quiet stretches of sand. The northern end, towards Nungwi, mixes big all-inclusive hotels with a few smaller places. Kendwa village, with its handful of guesthouses and local cafés, lies just inland.

The prices shown are indicative starting rates per night for a double room in US dollars, as seen on Trip.com. They swing widely with season and demand, so follow the link on each card for today’s rate.

Where to stay

Hotels on Kendwa Beach

Five places we would look at first, from the island’s original beach-party hotel to two of its most luxurious resorts.

Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel

★★★★

9.1 67 reviews

The hotel that put Kendwa on the map and still hosts the Full Moon Party: bungalows, suites and villas spread over the middle of the beach, with the busiest bar and restaurant on the sand.

Centre of the beach, sunset from the bar
Home of the monthly Full Moon Party
Rooms from simple bungalows to villas

from US$150 / night See rates & availability

Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa

★★★★★

9.4 74 reviews

A large five-star beach resort at the quieter southern end of Kendwa, with villas, a spa and a broad stretch of sand — one of the highest guest scores in the north.

Five-star resort with spa
Wide, calm section of beach
Half-board and all-inclusive options

from US$860 / night See rates & availability

Canary Kendwa Beach Resort

★★★★

9.1 52 reviews

A recent four-star arrival with a pool and bright modern rooms a short walk from the sand — strong reviews at a price well below the big resorts.

Opened in 2025
Pool and contemporary rooms
Good value for Kendwa

from US$114 / night See rates & availability

Zuri Zanzibar

★★★★★

9.3 73 reviews

A design-led luxury hideaway of bungalows, suites and villas in tropical gardens above its own stretch of beach just south of Kendwa village.

Design hotel in spice gardens
Private-feeling beach
Popular for honeymoons

from US$940 / night See rates & availability

Sunseabar Beach Hotel Kendwa

A small, simple beach hotel close to the sand — a sensible pick if you will spend your days on boats and your evenings at the beach bars.

Steps from the beach
Breakfast included on most rates
One of the lower prices in Kendwa

from US$85 / night See rates & availability

See all hotels around Kendwa

Or stay next door in Nungwi

Ten minutes up the road: more restaurants, more nightlife and a wider spread of prices. A sensible alternative when Kendwa is full or over budget — you can still come to Kendwa to swim.

Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort

9.0 56 reviews

A long-established resort on the low cliff between Kendwa and Nungwi, with several pools, ocean-view rooms and its own beach below.

Clifftop pools and sea views
Between Kendwa and Nungwi
Popular with families

See rates & availability

Turaco Nungwi Resort, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

★★★★

8.8 124 reviews

A Marriott Tribute Portfolio beach resort in Nungwi: the predictable international-brand option ten minutes’ drive from Kendwa.

International-brand service
Beachfront with pool
Walk to Nungwi’s restaurants

from US$142 / night See rates & availability

Nungwi Dreams by Mantis

★★★★★

9.0 117 reviews

A calm five-star resort managed by Mantis, set away from the busiest part of Nungwi and well liked by couples.

Five-star, low-rise and quiet
Attentive service
Pool and beach access

from US$158 / night See rates & availability

Flame Tree Cottages

★★★

8.5 51 reviews

Family-owned garden cottages near Nungwi beach, known for breakfast on your own veranda and a loyal repeat clientele.

Garden setting, personal service
A minute from the sand
Mid-range prices

from US$114 / night See rates & availability

Babalao Bungalows

8.9 43 reviews

Friendly, good-value bungalows in Nungwi village for travellers who would rather spend on excursions than on the room.

Budget-friendly
Breakfast included on most rates
Short walk to Nungwi beach

from US$91 / night See rates & availability

See all Nungwi hotels

Which part of the coast suits you?

Area	Best for	Think twice if	From
Central Kendwa	Atmosphere, beach bars, meeting people, the Full Moon Party	You want silence at night, especially on party weekends	US$85
South Kendwa	Luxury resorts, honeymoons, space and privacy	You are watching the budget or want to wander between bars	US$800
North Kendwa	Large all-inclusive hotels, quick access to Nungwi	You prefer small, independent places	varies
Nungwi	Restaurants, nightlife, diving, lower prices	All-tide swimming matters most to you	US$90

Matching the hotel to the trip

First visit, want some life: central Kendwa. Everything is a barefoot walk away.
Honeymoon or big anniversary: one of the five-star resorts at the southern end.
Family with young children: anywhere on the beach with a pool, away from the party zone — the sea does the rest.
Here for the Full Moon Party: Kendwa Rocks itself, or anywhere within walking distance. Book early; that weekend sells out.
Travelling cheaply: a simple hotel a few steps back from the sand, or a guesthouse in Nungwi with taxi rides to Kendwa.

Before you book

Check the moon. Rates and noise both peak on the full-moon weekend — see our Full Moon Party guide.
Look at the board basis. Kendwa has few independent restaurants, so half board or all-inclusive often makes sense here in a way it does not in Nungwi.
Ask whether taxes and any per-night levies are included in the quoted rate.
For July, August and the Christmas–New Year period, reserve two to three months ahead at least.
Some hotels close for part of April and May. If you are travelling then, confirm that the restaurant and pool will be open.

With the room settled, turn to the days: our ranking of the best Kendwa tours shows which boat trips and excursions are worth your time.

Hotel links lead to Trip.com. Guest scores, review counts and starting prices were read from Trip.com and are indicative only — the live page shows current rates and availability. No hotel has paid to be listed here.

Make the most of Zanzibar’s calmest beach

Kendwa is the base. The island is the adventure.

Snorkel the reefs of Mnemba and Tumbatu, sail into the sunset on a dhow, meet the giant tortoises of Prison Island and get lost in the lanes of Stone Town. Compare top-rated experiences and book in a couple of taps.

Browse Kendwa tours Compare all tours

Good to know

Where to stay: FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What is the best area to stay in Kendwa?

For most people, the central stretch: close to the bars and boats, with the best of the beach in front. For peace, go to either end; for luxury, the south.

Is Kendwa Rocks noisy?

On ordinary nights there is music from the beach bar in the evening, as at most beach hotels. On Full Moon Party night it is loud until the small hours — that is the point of staying there.

Are there budget hotels in Kendwa?

A few simple places, from roughly US$85 a night, but the choice is narrower than in Nungwi, where guesthouses start considerably lower.

Do Kendwa resorts offer all-inclusive?

Yes. Several of the larger resorts sell all-inclusive or half-board packages, which suit Kendwa because there are relatively few places to eat outside the hotels.

Kendwa or Nungwi — where should I stay?

Kendwa if swimming and a calmer beach come first; Nungwi if you want more places to eat, drink and dive. They are ten minutes apart by taxi.

Is it worth adding a night in Stone Town?

Yes. One night at the start or end of your trip breaks the journey to Kendwa and lets you see the old town after the day visitors have left.