Zanzibar’s cultural diversity, beautiful nature, and friendly people make this tropical island the perfect getaway. Our favorite place to stay in Zanzibar is Jambiani. And if you love beautiful beaches, exciting activities, nice restaurants with delicious food, and authenticity, it will be yours, too.

Fishing Village

Jambiani is an old fishing village on the southeast coast of Zanzibar. It’s still really authentic, with only a few small lodges and guesthouses, a laid-back vibe, and friendly locals who mix with tourists. Their main source of income is fishing and seaweed farming. Here, you can get a good insight into the local way of life, and the best thing: everything is within walking distance. Pick one of the several good restaurants at the beach, enjoy seafood or other local delicacies, and take a little stroll in the sand afterward. Yes, Jambiani is just that beautiful! 👉 Plan your trip | Learn more about Zanzibar

Jambiani Beach

Let’s stay at the beach! The 7-kilometer-long beach with powdery white sand and swaying palms has hardly any rocks or sea urchins—contrary to some beaches in the north. The barrier reef lies a few kilometers out, with a beautiful crystal turquoise lagoon in between. This is the perfect place for wading, snorkeling, and diving, and it offers an excellent view of the marine life. Thanks to its steady side shore winds, Jambiani is also an ideal spot for wind or kitesurfing. At high tide, it’s nice to swim in the Indian Ocean, and at low tide, you can enjoy a relaxing beach walk.

Restaurants in Jambiani

Discovering the many charming restaurants in Jambiani is an activity in itself. You’ll find most of them as part of lodges located at the beach. Enjoy freshly caught seafood, pizza, meat, or vegetable dishes and many more delicious meals. 🍽️ If you love seafood, go to Casa Del Mar to order lobster and Cigal (Zanzibari lobster)—trust us, you’ll be in culinary heaven! Other great restaurants we recommend:
  • Nur Beach
  • Blue Reef (Best wood-fired pizza in Zanzibar!)
  • The Loop (Amazing cocktails!)
💡 Tip: Since there are so many good restaurants in Jambiani, we advise you to book only bed and breakfast at your lodge and not full board.

Live Music, Food, and Drinks in Jambiani

All lodges have their own restaurant, where everyone is welcome for a drink or a nice meal. To entertain travelers, they organize live music, happy hours, or barbecues at a different lodge every day. 🎶 Weekly Events:
  • Daily: Happy Hour at Blue Reef (5 – 7 PM) 🍹 Music, sunset & cocktails!
  • Wednesday: BBQ & Disco at New Teddy’s on the Beach (Paje)
  • Thursday: BBQ & Live Music at Demani Lodge (Paje)
  • Friday: Live Music at Jambo Jambiani Beach Villa
  • Saturday: Live Music at Before
  • Sunday: Live Music at Vuvuzela & Red Monkey Lodge

Lodges in Jambiani

Discover some of the most beautiful lodges in Jambiani to unwind in. 🏡 Recommended Lodges:
  • Fun Beach Resort
  • Bamboo Zanzibar
  • Natural Garden Hotel
  • Joya Beach Suites & Villa
👉 See all Jambiani lodges | See all Zanzibar accommodations

Activities in Jambiani

Deep Sea Fishing

🎣 We can arrange a half- or full-day deep-sea fishing tour. With a huge variety of fish, such as tuna, marlin, sailfish, barracuda, and dorado, the Indian Ocean is famous for excellent game fishing. Sail out to the deep waters to catch some spectacular big fish weighing up to 60 kg.

Scuba Diving

🤿 The beautiful coral reefs host some of Africa’s finest corals. There are several diving spots, and the variety of marine life is impressive. We work together with the diving school Nakupenda, located at The Loop, so that you can meet seahorses, octopuses, stingrays, frogfish, Napoleon fish, and turtles in their home.

Kitesurfing

🏄 Due to its steady side shore winds, Jambiani is an ideal spot for wind or kitesurfing. The beaches are quiet, and the waters are shallow with little sea urchins. Of course, you can also ditch the kite and ride the waves with just a board.

Activity Just Outside Jambiani

Visit a Local Village

🏡 Discover local life by visiting a school, tailor, or boat builder. You can also see how locals make soap or cream from seaweed or all the products they create out of coconuts.

Snorkeling at Blue Lagoon

🌊 Start the day by driving to Dongwe (15 minutes), where the Blue Lagoon is located. This is one of the best snorkeling spots in Zanzibar due to its beautiful coral and tropical fish. The visibility is great, and the depth range (1 – 4 meters) is perfect for snorkeling. 🍽️ Treat yourself afterward to nice food and drinks at The Rock, a restaurant built on a rock in the ocean—an awesome place to enjoy the views. 🌅 End the day at Kae Funk in Michamvi, where you can experience the most beautiful sunset in Zanzibar.

Our Top 4 Activities on Zanzibar

✅ Zanzibar Cooking Lesson ✅ Horseback Riding in Zanzibar ✅ Sunset Cruise on a Yacht at Nungwi Bay ✅ Take a Bike Tour in Zanzibar! 👉 See all activities

Wrapping Up

Jambiani is about 55 kilometers from Stone Town, meaning it will take you just about 1.5 hours to get there (absolutely worth it!). 🌴 You want to see this hidden gem for yourself? Or maybe you’d like to combine relaxation deluxe with a once-in-a-lifetime safari? Whatever you want your Tanzania holiday to look like, get in touch, and we’ll make your dream come true!