Why Jambiani is the place to be in Zanzibar
Jambiani is an authentic and beautiful village on the southeast coast of Zanzibar, and our favourite place on the island. Curious about the best places to eat, stay, and explore while there? Read on to find out.
13 December 2017
Zanzibar’s cultural diversity, beautiful nature, and friendly people make this tropical island the perfect getaway, and it’s all best experienced in Jambiani. If you enjoy beautiful beaches, thrilling activities, delicious meals at local restaurants, and genuine experiences, this might be the place for you, too.
Fishing village
Jambiani is an old fishing village that is still really authentic, with lovely lodges and boutique hotels, a laid-back vibe, and friendly locals who happily mingle with visitors. The main source of income is fishing and seaweed farming.
Pick one of the several good restaurants at the beach, enjoy seafood or other local delicacies, and take a little stroll in the sand afterwards. Yes, Jambiani truly is that beautiful! Another good thing is that neighbouring Paje is easily reachable, offering more beach vibes, a relaxed atmosphere, kite-surf spots and shops. It’s a busier and more touristy place than Jambiani, though, which is why that still is our fav place to be.
Jambiani beach
Let’s stay at the beach! The 7-kilometre-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 kilometres out, with a beautiful, crystal turquoise lagoon in between. This is the perfect place for wading, snorkelling, and diving, and offers excellent opportunities to spot marine life. Thanks to its steady side shore winds, Jambiani is also an ideal spot for kitesurfing. At high tide, it’s nice to swim in the Indian Ocean, and at low tide, you can enjoy a nice beach walk.
Restaurants in Jambiani
Exploring Jambiani’s restaurants is part of the fun. Many are right on the beach. At Bamboo Zanzibar, you enjoy a refined dining experience with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients – from lobster dinners to traditional curries with a modern twist. If you’re looking for variety, head to Fun Beach Hotel, where the menu ranges from international favourites like pasta and burgers to Swahili-inspired dishes. For a more relaxed yet authentic experience, try the restaurant at Blue Oyster Hotel, well-known for its fresh seafood and vegetarian dishes. For something a little different, Be Zanzibar offers a menu with a strong focus on plant-based dishes at their Meze restaurant alongside other locally inspired meals featuring fresh seafood and seasonal specialties.
With so many great restaurants in Jambiani, it’s best to make a bed-and-breakfast booking at your hotel, allowing you to try different spots for lunch and dinner.
Live music, food, and drinks in Jambiani and Paje
Most hotels have restaurants where non-sleeping guests are welcome for a drink or a delicious meal. To keep guests entertained, hotels often host live music, happy hours, barbecues, parties, and more.
Daily: BBQ lunch specials Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30–15:00 at Blue Oyster Hotel (Jambiani)
Daily: Exclusive BBQ with ocean views in private lounges at Bamboo Zanzibar (Jambiani)
Tuesday: Wicked Tunes Tuesdays (live music & tapas) at Mr. Kahawa (Paje)
Thursday: BBQ buffet, live music, and Afrobeat party at Demani Lodge (Jambiani)
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: Party at Nanga Nightclub (Paje)
Saturday: BBQ and later electronic music and DJ sessions at B4 (Paje)
Lodges in Jambiani
Discover some of the most beautiful Jambiani lodges to unwind in.
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 that can easily weight 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 local village
Discover local life by visiting a school, tailor or boat builder. You can also see how locals make soap or cream out of seaweed or all the products they create out of coconuts.
Snorkelling at Blue Lagoon
Start the day by driving to Dongwe (15 minutes), where the Blue Lagoon is located. This is one of the best snorkelling spots in Zanzibar due to its beautiful coral and tropical fish. The visibility is good and the depth range, between 1 and 4 metres, is perfect for snorkelling. Treat yourself afterwards to nice food and drinks at The Rock. This restaurant is 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 3 activities on Zanzibar
Wrapping up
Jambiani is about 55 kilometres from Stone Town which means, 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!
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