Pongwe Beach (Zanzibar): quiet, tides, hotels and what to do
Pongwe is a quiet beach on the east coast, in a sheltered bay: an offshore reef (about 1 km away according to one source) keeps the water calm. That is its strength, but also its constraint: as everywhere on the east coast, the sea goes out. At high tide the water is clear and calm, ideal for swimming, paddleboarding or taking a boat; at low tide you may have to walk up to 500 m to find swimmable water, according to one traveller, and you explore pools, the reef and seaweed farms instead. Accommodation is a handful of small hotels, including Pongwe Beach Hotel (20 to 23 cottages depending on the source), which has an infinity pool for low-tide hours.
Highlights
The beach at low tide
An illustration of the east coast at low tide (photo of Bwejuu): bare sand, water far out. At Pongwe the tide follows the same rhythm.
The seaweed
At low tide you can walk towards the east coast's seaweed farms (photo taken at Paje): a sight, with ridged sand and small creatures left by the sea.
Kayaks
Free for Pongwe Beach Hotel guests; snorkelling and diving can be arranged, but the best spots are over an hour away.
The pool
The answer when the sea is far: the Pongwe Beach Hotel pool is an infinity pool surrounded by decking.
Practical info
Tips
- Who it suits: couples and travellers who want peace away from the crowd, who check tide times and can settle for the pool. Not for those who want to swim at any hour: choose Kendwa instead; to understand the tide, read tides and swimming in Zanzibar. More lively on the east coast: Paje; a little further south, Bwejuu. To choose an area: where to stay in Zanzibar. Hotel rates quoted by resellers: 163 to 178 GBP or 172 to 207 USD per person sharing depending on the source, to check for your date. The information comes from resellers and guides, not an official beach site.
How to get there
Pongwe is on the east coast; ask the hotel for the travel time from the airport and book a transfer: from the airport to your hotel.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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