Find out why it's worth going to Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar in 2021. Reviews of tourists: what hotels and restaurants they recommend, the pros and cons of the resort. Beach infrastructure and entertainment prices.
Exchange rate: 1000 Tanzanian shillings (TZS) ≈ 31 RUB.
Take a look: How to go to Tanzania now - there you will find fresh reviews of tourists, conditions of entry in case of a pandemic and prices for tours. See also the list of open countries.
Reviews for Nungwi Beach
The famous party beach is located on the northwest coast, next to the luxurious Kendwa Beach. According to tourist reviews for 2020, Nungwi is more crowded and noisy than any other part of the coast. Young people, fans of water sports and parents with children enjoy their holidays here.
Pros of Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar:
- The wide shore is covered with soft white sand.
- A gentle entrance to the water, a sandy seabed without ruts and stones.
- The ebb and flow are almost not pronounced.
- You can enjoy beautiful sunsets.
- Clean sea water.
- A wide range of entertainment for active recreation.
- Excellent conditions for snorkeling and diving.
- There are hotels for every taste and budget.
- Lots of restaurants, cafes, bars and shops.
Traveler794007: "A gorgeous beach and a gorgeous ocean. The best I've seen in different parts of our planet. The tide on this beach is very small. There were no waves even once."
Cons of Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar:
- There are few sun loungers on the beach.
- At the bottom, sea urchins come across.
- During high tides, it throws algae on the shore.
- Sometimes mosquitoes annoy.
Edward: "The mosquitoes did not bite us, but they did bite our friends (they lived above us)."
Hotels on Nungwi Beach
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Almost all accommodation for tourists is located on the first line from the sea. The beaches are only 50-60 meters away. Hotels on the Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar offer a holiday according to European standards, but with a Tanzanian flavor. According to tourists' reviews, the guests are friendly, the staff is quick, and the cleaning of the rooms is not satisfactory.
All-inclusive meals are available in luxury 5 * hotels. If you are used to a comfortable stay and a high level of service, rent a room or a house in Essque Zalu Zanzibar 5 *, La Gemma Dell Est 5 * and Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort 5 *, Riu Palace Zanzibar 5 * or in Mnarani Beach Cottages 4 *.
Cheaper hotels offer breakfasts - to order or on a buffet basis. In the morning, guests are served an omelet, several types of side dishes, fried sausages, muesli, toast, peanut butter, coffee, tea, juice, nuts and fruits.
Alcohol is sold in two shops on the beach and in all hotel bars. Pools are available in all 4-5 * hotels and in several 3 * hotels. The hotels have small shops selling drinks, snacks, coconuts and fruits. Mangoes cost 1k TZS and pineapples 3-5k TZS apiece.
Lemur-like lives on palm trees near hotels bushbaby... Enterprising animals love to accept treats from guests, and vacationers leave fruit for them. Behind the lighthouse there is a local zoo where you can see crocodiles, roe deer and lemurs.
The best Nungwi hotels in Zanzibar in 2021, according to tourist reviews:
- Amaan Nungwi Beach 3 *
- Smiles Beach Hotel 3 *
- Langi Langi Beach Bungalows 3 *
- Mnarani Beach Cottage 4 *.
Julia: "The Langi Langi Beach Bungalows is cozy. The room overlooking the sea is amazing. The sound of the ocean made you fall in love with yourself every time. We ate at the hotel restaurant. The guys cook deliciously, serve beautifully."
Infrastructure of Nungwi Beach
The island resort appeared on the site of a fishing village. Local residents are still engaged in the original craft. Up to a hundred sailing fishing boats can be seen on the shore. There is a shipyard for their repair, a working lighthouse and a fish market, where they sell fresh catch.
All beaches in Tanzania are free. You can walk along the shore and sunbathe on your towels and mats everywhere. The sandy strip stretches for more than 2 km. According to tourists, it is convenient to relax on the Nungwi beach until 12: 00-13: 00 in the shade of the coastal cliffs. Renting two sun loungers and a sun umbrella costs 10k TZS.
Low tides are noticeable only in the north of the beach, near the fishing shipyard and the lighthouse. The southern part of Nungwi is quieter and therefore suitable for families with children.
Recreation areas with sun loungers and parasols belong to the hotels. These areas have toilets and fresh water showers. There are several restaurants along the beach serving delicious seafood dishes. According to tourists, good service and delicious cuisine in Baraka restaurant and Jerry bar.
According to tourist reviews for 2020-2021, prices on Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar are lower than the average for the island. Lunch and dinner are cheaper in beachfront restaurants than in hotels. A hot meal costs 10-17k TZS, a plate of seafood with a side dish starts from 20k TZS, and a 0.5L beer costs 4-5k TZS. They sell cheap fast food for local residents 500 meters from the beach. Try the fried meat with egg and onion in a dough for 3k TZS - it tastes like white meat.
Nungwi Beach in Zanzibar is full of activities. There is a jet ski rental, paddle board rental and a diving center. On boats, tourists are taken on a fishing trip for tuna, barracuda, sea bass and dorado. Catamaran rides on the ocean are popular. Renting a boat for 1.5 hours with a captain will cost 69k TZS ($ 30). In the evening, it's time for discos and parties with cocktails and loud music.
It is easy to walk to the nearby Kendwa Beach or take local minibuses dala-dala... Other parts of the island are easily accessible by water taxi - boats of local fishermen.
See also an overview of all the main beaches in Zanzibar and find out about the low tide on the island: