Discover The Wonderful Waters of Zanzibar

The Wonderful Waters of Zanzibar

There is no doubt that the island of Zanzibar is almost a different world, full of famous beaches, marine life, and jungles. Located off the eastern coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is warm year-round due to its position near the equator. The heat of summer is often met by strong sea breezes, which offers an ideal climate for holiday-goers.

The Zanzibar archipelago is a series of islands found in the Indian Ocean about 15 miles from the mainland of Tanzania. Known for its clear turquoise-colored water, shallow sandbars, and deserted islands virtually untouched by tourists, this is the perfect destination if you are a water lover. Check out these available water sports to plan your next trip to Zanzibar:

Diving in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is comprised of several islands. The two larger islands of Unguja and Pemba offer great snorkelling and diving opportunities. For the best beaches, head over to the east coast of Unguja. Expect to see a large variety of marine life on your dive. Creatures like leaf fish, frog fish, crocodile fish, nudibranch, octopus, mantis shrimp, and seahorses are common. If you’re lucky, you may encounter bottlenose dolphins, green turtles and hawksbill turtles, and you may even run into humpback whales, white tip reef sharks, and moray eels!

For the best ocean diving, it’s all about location, location, location. Diving in Zanzibar offers diving equipment rentals and includes a free underwater camera to help you capture the whole adventure. Because ocean conditions can change so rapidly, it’s a good idea to be prepared before a dive. Consider investing in a wetsuit before going diving. There are some significant differences between a wetsuit and a swimsuit, like thickness and padding, that can affect the way your dive goes. For an optimal experience on your dive, make sure you choose appropriately.

Surfing in Zanzibar

If diving is not adventurous enough for you, consider surfing while in Zanzibar. Even though the archipelago isn’t known as a surfing destination, there are spots around the island with amazing surfing conditions if the timing of your surf ideal. There are a few surf schools in Zanzibar, such as Aquaholics, and Surf Zanzibar, that you can link up with to take you to the best places at the right time. If you want to stay in an area to hone in on your surfing skills, consider staying in Paje, Bwejuu, Jambiani, or Dongwe, as these have the best beaches to surf off of.

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

Stand-up paddle (SUP) boarding can be difficult but so much fun, especially on a tropical island! SUP is not as physically demanding as surfing is, but it’s a great workout for core strength and allows you to explore in confort. Surf Zanzibar offers a few different SUP tours guiding visitors through mangroves in Chwaka Bay. This company also rents out boards and paddles if you want to take on this adventure alone.

Parasailing in Zanzibar

If you are looking for something even more adventurous, you can experience some of the best views of Zanzibar from the sky by parasailing. From almost 1,000 ft in the air, you will see the colors of the mile-and-a-half-long coral reef that surrounds the northern tip of Zanzibar. You will have a parasailing captain who will provide you with safety and flying instructions to make sure you have a safe fantastic time.

Sailing in Zanzibar

If getting in the water and swimming is just not in your cards, consider sailing. Safari Blue offers an experience that takes you down to Menai Bay where you can see (and swim if you’re feeling brave) with dolphins. Lunch on these chartered boats includes a seafood buffet of fresh lobster, calamari, fish, chicken and veggies. Drinks are also included, so you can get close to the water without actually having to get wet!

Relax by the Beach in Zanzibar

If you’re a vacationer that just wants to decompress, you’re in luck. Zanzibar is home to world-famous beaches. The north and east coast of the island Unguja have white powder sand beaches that are framed with coconut trees. This is the ideal location to relax and let the stresses of life melt away.

Nungwi is a village on Zanzibar’s northwest tip. It is a popular and secluded place that is not overrun by tourists. It is one of Zanzibar’s top beaches because the tide doesn’t go out too far. This is a great beach if you are looking for a relaxing afternoon to soak up some sun and dip your toes in the ocean without the need for luxury hotels.

Kendwa has beautiful sunsets and calm waters, as well as a chilly daytime temperature. Matemwe is a chilly, but untouched beach. It is located near a village, so you will run into people, but not tourists! It is not possible to swim all day on this beach, but watching the workers at the seaweed farms is interesting, and wading towards the reef at load tide is fascinating.

No matter what water sport experience you chose to engage in during your time in Zanzibar, you are sure to soak up some sun, adventure, and fun.

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About The Author: Brooke Faulkner is a writer and mom in the Pacific Northwest. She’s teaching her sons to appreciate all cultures and never fear doing something new. You can see more of her writing by following her on twitter, @faulknercreek
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Image Source:  Pixabay