The hotels to compare
| Hotel | Where | Why pick it | Its limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pongwe Beach Hotel | Pongwe | 20 to 23 cottages depending on the source, infinity pool for low-tide hours | Sea swimming mostly at high tide |
| Zanzibar Bay Resort & Spa | Uroa | Resort with pool and spa seen in October 2026 | Rates not collected: check |
| Maharaja Boutique Hotel | Uroa | Small boutique hotel listed on booking sites | Room details not collected |
| Antonio Beach Tree House Hotel & Spa | Chwaka | A short walk from Chwaka beach | Bay beach, swimming tied to the tide |
| Coconut Tree Village | Marumbi, between Chwaka and Uroa | Fishing village, private beach area | Isolated: plan meals at the hotel |
Hotel pick: Pongwe Beach Hotel (Booking score 9.4, read 30 October 2026): in Pongwe; with a private beach area, with a pool, guests rate the comfort 9.8. Limit: its lowest Booking sub-scores are free Wi-Fi (8.5) and value for money (8.6).
Hotel pick: Maharaja Boutique Hotel Zanzibar (Booking score 9.1, read 30 October 2026): in Uroa; with a private beach area, with a pool, guests rate the staff 9.6. Limit: its lowest Booking sub-score is location (8.6).
Tide and calm
Uroa has a long white-sand beach, seaweed fields at low tide and few people; Pongwe is sheltered by a reef, so calmer at high tide. At low tide you sometimes have to walk a long way to swim: choose a hotel with a pool. Read tides and swimming in Zanzibar. To swim at any hour, the north is better: Nungwi and Kendwa.
Access and choice
Allow about 45 minutes to 1 hour from Stone Town (estimate): see from the airport to your hotel. Restaurants are rare outside the hotels. Compare hotels in Uroa on Booking.com checking distance to the beach and meal plan. Other areas: where to stay in Kiwengwa and where to stay in Zanzibar.
FAQ
Uroa or Kiwengwa?
Uroa is quieter and less built up; Kiwengwa has more all-inclusive resorts.
Can you swim in Uroa?
Mostly at high tide; otherwise in the hotel pool.
La rédaction Zanzibar Authority, 30/10/2026.
