Everyone knows about Nungwi and Kendwa. They are beautiful, and they deserve the attention they get. But they are also where every tour bus, every transfer van, and every hotel shuttle ends up. If you have come all the way to Zanzibar and only visit the beaches everyone else visits, you are missing the best part of the island.
The beaches on this list are different. Some require driving down unpaved village roads. Others involve a short walk through coconut groves. A few are so quiet that you will only share them with fishermen and the occasional crab. What they all have in common is that you need your own wheels to get there a rental car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and reach places that taxis rarely go.
We drive these roads every week. Here are our 10 favourite beaches, complete with driving directions from Stone Town, parking tips, and the best time of day to visit. For a full driving safety overview, read our complete guide to driving in Zanzibar first.
1. Mtende Beach — The Quiet South
Drive from Stone Town: 75 minutes south via Jozani Forest
Road condition: Paved to the village, then 5 minutes on a sandy track
Mtende sits at the very bottom of the island, well past the point where most tourists stop. The beach is wide, white, and backed by dense vegetation.
At low tide, the water recedes to reveal tidal pools and sandbars that stretch toward the horizon. At high tide, you get a proper swimming beach with almost nobody on it.
The drive down from Jozani is beautiful, you pass through small villages where children wave from the roadside, and women lay out seaweed to dry in the sun. There are no restaurants or beach bars at Mtende. Bring water, snacks, and a towel. That is the whole point.
Parking: Pull off onto the sandy area near the village. A local will likely offer to watch your car for 2,000-3,000 TZS.
2. Bwejuu Beach — Paje's Quieter Neighbour
Drive from Stone Town: 65 minutes east
Road condition: Paved the entire way
Bwejuu is only 3 kilometres north of Paje, but it feels like a completely different world. Where Paje buzzes with kite surfers and backpacker energy, Bwejuu is calm, traditional, and genuinely peaceful.
The beach is lined with coconut palms that lean toward the ocean at impossible angles. The sand is powder-fine, and the seaweed farming at low tide creates these striking geometric patterns in the shallow water.
There are a handful of small guesthouses and beachfront restaurants here, but nothing approaching the crowds of the north coast. If you are following our 7-day road trip itinerary, Bwejuu makes an excellent stop on Day 6 between Paje and Jambiani.
Best time to visit: High tide for swimming, low tide for walking and photography.
3. Michamvi Peninsula — Sunset From the East Coast
Drive from Stone Town: 55 minutes east
Road condition: Paved main road, then a short coastal track
The east coast of Zanzibar faces sunrise, not sunset. Except at Michamvi. This narrow peninsula juts out into the ocean and curves westward, giving you unobstructed sunset views from what is technically the east side of the island. It is one of Zanzibar's best-kept geographical secrets.
The beach at Michamvi Pingwe is home to The Rock, the famous restaurant perched on a tiny rocky outcrop in the ocean.
Even if you do not eat there (book well in advance if you want to), driving out to see it is worth the trip. The surrounding beach is quiet, the water is clear, and the whole peninsula has a relaxed, end-of-the-road feeling.
Parking: Several small car parks near The Rock and along the peninsula road. Free at most guesthouses if you stop for a drink.
4. Fumba Beach — The Southwest Secret
Drive from Stone Town: 30 minutes south
Road condition: Paved all the way
Fumba is remarkably close to Stone Town yet barely appears on any tourist radar. The beach faces west across Menai Bay, which means spectacular sunsets without the crowds of Nungwi.
The peninsula is less developed than anywhere else on the island, with a few small resorts and the local fishing village, nothing more.
Fumba is also the departure point for Safari Blue, a popular full-day boat excursion that visits sandbanks, snorkelling spots, and a deserted island for a seafood lunch.
Even if you skip the tour, the beach itself is worth the short drive. The water is calm, warm, and empty.
Local tip: Visit in the late afternoon. Watch the fishermen bring their catch in, buy some fresh octopus, and stay for the sunset.
5. Pwani Mchangani — The Longest Beach You Have Never Heard Of
Drive from Stone Town: 55 minutes northeast
Road condition: Paved to the village, short sandy track to the beach
Pwani Mchangani is on the northeast coast between Matemwe and Kiwengwa, and it is one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of white sand in all of Zanzibar. At low tide, the beach seems to expand infinitely, kilometres of shimmering white sand and shallow turquoise water as far as you can see.
Despite this, it remains almost unknown to tourists. The village is small and traditional. The few accommodation options are low-key Italian-run guesthouses that attract a quiet, in-the-know crowd. If you want a beach that makes you feel like you discovered something, this is it.
Swimming: Best at high tide. At low tide, you will need to walk a fair distance to reach swimmable depth but that walk across the exposed reef flat is an experience in itself.
6. Kizimkazi Dimbani — Where Dolphins and History Meet
Drive from Stone Town: 60 minutes south
Road condition: Paved all the way
Most people know Kizimkazi as the departure point for dolphin boat tours. Far fewer stick around to explore the beach itself. South of the main boat launch area, the coastline opens up into quiet coves backed by low cliffs and coconut palms. The swimming is excellent, and you might be the only person in the water.
While you are here, visit the Kizimkazi Mosque one of the oldest Islamic buildings in East Africa, dating to the 12th century. The coral stone inscription inside is one of the earliest examples of Swahili writing found anywhere.
Best time: Arrive early morning if you want to join a dolphin tour. For the beach alone, any time of day works.
7. Pongwe Beach — The Hidden East Coast Cove
Drive from Stone Town: 50 minutes east
Road condition: Paved, then a short unpaved access road
Pongwe is a small, sheltered bay on the east coast that somehow escaped mass tourism entirely. The beach is framed by coral rock on both sides, creating a natural cove feeling. The water is calm and clear, and the coral reef just offshore makes for excellent snorkelling directly from the beach.
There are only two or three lodges here, which keeps the beach genuinely peaceful. At low tide, you can walk out onto the reef flat and explore tidal pools filled with starfish, sea cucumbers, and small tropical fish. It feels like a private aquarium.
Getting there: Turn off the main east coast road at the Pongwe signpost. The unpaved road is about 2 kilometres and manageable in any SUV.
8. Chwaka Beach — The Mangrove Coast
Drive from Stone Town: 40 minutes east
Road condition: Paved
Chwaka is a fishing town on the edge of Chwaka Bay, and the beach here has a completely different character from anywhere else on the island. Instead of palm trees and white sand, you get mangrove-fringed shoreline, traditional dhow boats, and a working fishing harbour that has barely changed in decades.
This is not a swimming beach. This is a cultural experience. Walk through the fish market in the morning when the catch comes in. Watch the dhow builders at work on the beach — they construct boats by hand using techniques passed down through generations. If you want to understand the real Zanzibar beyond the beach resorts, Chwaka delivers.
Combine with: Jozani Forest is only 15 minutes south. Visit the monkeys in the morning, then drive to Chwaka for the fish market.
9. Mangapwani Beach — Caves and Coral Cliffs
Drive from Stone Town: 25 minutes north
Road condition: Paved, then 5 minutes on a rough track
Mangapwani is one of the closest hidden beaches to Stone Town and one of the most atmospheric. The coastline here is dramatic — coral rock cliffs drop into the ocean, with small sandy coves tucked between them. The beach itself is wild and unmanicured, with scattered coral and the constant sound of waves crashing against rock.
The main attraction alongside the beach is the Mangapwani Slave Caves a sobering historical site where enslaved people were hidden after the slave trade was officially abolished in 1873. The caves are a short walk from the beach, and visiting them adds important context to Zanzibar's complex history.
Note: The track down to the beach is rough. Drive slowly and park at the top if you prefer. The walk down takes 5 minutes.
10. Nungwi North Point — The Secret Side of a Famous Beach
Drive from Stone Town: 80 minutes north
Road condition: Paved to Nungwi, then walk or drive a sandy track
Everyone goes to Nungwi's main beach. Very few walk or drive past the lighthouse to the northern tip of the island. Here, the beach curves around the headland, and the tourist infrastructure disappears. You are left with a raw, unbuilt coastline where the water is deep and clean, and the only sounds are waves and wind.
During the low season, you can have this stretch entirely to yourself. The coral formations just offshore are excellent for snorkelling, some of the best on the island, and there is not a single sun lounger or beach vendor in sight.
How to reach: Park at your Nungwi hotel or near the lighthouse. Walk north past the last buildings. The hidden beach starts about 10 minutes beyond the tourist zone.
What Car Do You Need for These Beaches?
Most of the beaches on this list are reachable in any SUV. The Toyota RAV4 at $25-30/day handles every road and track mentioned here with ease. For beaches with rougher access roads — Mtende, Mangapwani, and some sections of Michamvi — you will appreciate the higher ground clearance. The Toyota Prado 4x4 at $150/day is overkill for most of these beaches, but it guarantees zero stress on any surface.
All our rentals include full insurance, unlimited mileage, and free airport delivery. Browse the full fleet here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. All ten beaches are safe during daylight hours. As with anywhere, avoid leaving valuables visible in your car and do not swim alone at isolated beaches if the current is strong.
No. All beaches in Zanzibar are public. The only costs are fuel, parking (usually 1,000-3,000 TZS where applicable), and any food or activities.
Water, sunscreen, a towel, cash, snorkelling gear if you have it, and reef shoes for rocky beaches. Most of these beaches have no facilities, which is exactly what makes them special.
Absolutely. Beaches 8, 7, and 2 (Chwaka, Pongwe, Bwejuu) are all within 30 minutes of each other on the east coast. Beaches 9, 4, and 1 (Mangapwani, Fumba, Mtende) work as a south coast loop. Plan your route using our 7-day road trip itinerary for the most efficient sequencing.
June to October offers the driest weather and calmest seas. December to February is also excellent. Check tide times before heading to east coast beaches high tide is best for swimming, low tide is best for photography and reef walking.
Ready to Find Your Own Hidden Beach?
These ten beaches are the Zanzibar we love, the one beyond the tourist trail, where the sand is unmarked, and the ocean is yours.
All you need is a car, a sense of adventure, and the willingness to take a turn nobody else takes.
Rent from us for $25/day with full insurance and unlimited mileage. We deliver to the airport, arrange your driving permit, and give you honest recommendations on where to go. Message us on WhatsApp at +255 775 900 001 or view our fleet online.
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