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Tanzania’s long and lovely coastline stretches for 1,424km/885mi along East Africa’s Indian Ocean shore. From the country’s border with Kenya in the north to its frontier with Mozambique in the south, Tanzania’s ocean frontage consists of a string of islands, a coastal national park, its largest and most dynamic city, glorious beaches with beach resorts to match, coral reefs, small fishing villages far from the tourist world and even medieval ruins that tell an intriguing historical story.
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That story reaches its fascinating high point in Zanzibar, the city-state archipelago that seems to have it all. But even Zanzibar is just a starting point for a coast that you could very easily spend a lifetime exploring. Below are our favorite 10 focal points for exploring the enchanting Tanzania coast.
1. Zanzibar
Aerial view over Stone Town on Zanzibar Island
There is nowhere like Zanzibar anywhere along the Tanzania coast, and certainly nowhere that matches its combination of natural beauty and exotic history. This most celebrated of island archipelagoes offers one of East Africa’s best beach destinations. You can expect the usual postcard views of abundant palm trees, white-sand beaches, crystal waters and delightful beach resorts.
But Zanzibar is also about Stone Town, a labyrinth of lanes and byways that dates back to Zanzibar’s history as a major spice-trading port. You’ll love exploring the gilded architectural treasures, or wandering its atmospheric alleyways and markets filled with warm sea breezes and the haunting Islamic call to prayer.
- Where to stay: Zanzibar has fabulous accommodations across all its islands, from beach resorts to converted Stone Town palaces
- Things to do: City tours, diving, snorkeling, water sports, beach visits
- Best time to visit: June to February
- How to get there: Flights from Dar es Salaam and elsewhere in East Africa, as well as catamarans from Dar es Salaam that take 2 hours one-way and ferries that take 6 hours one-way
2. Dar es Salaam
Waterfront area in Dar es Salaam at night
Tanzania’s largest city and the country’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam (commonly referred to as ‘Dar’) has a real buzz about it. Look forward to markets, museums and some excellent beaches within striking distance of the city. It also has terrific places to eat and some lively nightlife. But one of the best things about any visit here is the relaxed feel of the city: it’s one of the more pleasant and hassle-free large cities in Africa. And when you tire of city life, Dar is the gateway to the country’s south and the rest of the Tanzania coastline.
- Where to stay: Dar has excellent hotels across all budgets, with some of the best located close to the beach
- Things to do: City tours, beach visits, boat trips
- Best time to visit: June to September
- How to get there: Flights from Arusha, and from elsewhere in Tanzania and across East Africa, with a few transcontinental flights
3. Mafia Island
Mafia Island’s Utende beach
When considering where to go along the Tanzania coast, the island of Mafia should be close to the top of every list. It has few peers when it comes to natural beauty, including turquoise waters, beaches surrounded by mangroves and sandbanks, and some of the best coral reef ecosystems in East Africa. But this soulful place also has nesting sea turtles, and a long human history that lives on in ruins and the strong echoes of coastal Swahili culture.
- Where to stay: Mafia has good accommodations across most budgets in Kilindoni, Utende and Chole Bay, as well as on offshore Chole Island
- Things to do: Diving, snorkeling, fishing, beach visits
- Best time to visit: October is best for diving and snorkeling, with whale sharks present from November to February
- How to get there: Flights to Mafia’s small main airport from Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and elsewhere in Tanzania, and slow ferries to Mafia from Nyamisati on the mainland
5. Pemba Island
Baobab trees on the rocky shore of Pemba Island
Pemba has long sat in the shadow of Zanzibar, and that’s just how we like it. More mountainous and tree-covered than Zanzibar, Pemba arguably has more natural beauty than its better-known neighbor. Some of its coves and beaches feel like lost-world discoveries, and Pemba’s coral reefs are the richest you’ll find anywhere along the Tanzania coast. But it’s the recurring sense of peace and tropical island tranquility that you’ll love the most.
- Where to stay: Pemba has plenty of accommodations across the island, but largely lacks the sprawling mass-tourism resorts you find elsewhere along the Tanzania coastline
- Things to do: Diving, snorkeling, beach visits
- Best time to visit: June to February, with the best diving and snorkeling from September to February
- How to get there: Flights from Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Tanga, and twice-weekly ferries that take 5 hours between Pemba and Zanzibar
5. Bagamoyo
Old Bagamoyo Customs House on the waterfront in Bagamoyo
Charming Bagamoyo boasts an enchanting old town with 19th-century houses and the 13th-century Kaole ruins (including one of East Africa’s oldest mosques). The coast here, too, is rather special with a pretty mangrove-lined lagoon, the Ruvu River delta and the stunning Mwambakuni Sandbar.
- Where to stay: Bagamoyo has a sprinkling of hotels and guesthouses, but no luxury choices
- Things to do: City tours, boat trips, beach visits
- Best time to visit: June to February
- How to get there: About 1 hour north of Dar es Salaam by road
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