Zanzibar South

Zanzibar South covers the southeast coast of Unguja (Zanzibar) island, home to the famous white-sand beaches of Paje, Jambiani, and Kizimkazi. This is Zanzibar's kite-surfing coast, with steady trade winds from June to September and a string of laid-back beach villages stretching along the shore.

June–October (dry, windy — best for kite-surfing). January–February (dry, calm). March–May (long rains, many lodges close).

Dala-dalas from Stone Town run south along the east coast. Taxis cost TZS 50,000–80,000.

• Koani — the regional capital, a small inland town on the main road south.
• Paje — the kite-surfing capital of Zanzibar, with a spectacular white-sand beach and steady wind.
• Jambiani — a quieter beach village south of Paje, with coral rag landscape and traditional seaweed farming.
• Makunduchi — a traditional fishing village at the southern tip, with one of Zanzibar's best weekly markets.
• Kizimkazi — famous for dolphin-watching boat trips and the 12th-century Kizimkazi Mosque.
• Chwaka — a fishing village on the east coast with a large bay and mangroves.

Seafood dominates: grilled octopus, coconut fish curry, Zanzibari biryani, urojo soup. Seaweed from the coastal farms is dried for export.

The Mwaka Kogwa (July/August) — the Zanzibari Nowruz festival — is celebrated with particular enthusiasm in Makunduchi, with mock fights and feasting.

• Kite-surfing at Paje — one of the world's best kite-surfing beaches.
• Dolphin tour at Kizimkazi — swim with spinner and bottlenose dolphins (morning trips).
• Jambiani village walk — meet seaweed farmers, explore the rock-pool coast at low tide.
• Visit Kizimkazi Mosque — one of the oldest Islamic buildings in East Africa (12th century).