Beach Holidays
The other half of the journey.
Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia and the Kenyan coast — the Indian Ocean finish that turns a safari into a holiday, with reef, dhows and nothing to do before lunch.
- Available in
- Tanzania · Kenya
- Best time
- Best beach weather: June – October, December – February · Wettest: mid-March – May · Whale sharks: October – March
- Type
- beach
Why almost every safari should end at the ocean.
After a week of pre-dawn starts and long drives, the Indian Ocean is not an indulgence — it is the part of the trip that lets everything else settle. Guests who fly straight home from the Serengeti almost always tell us they wish they had added the beach.
The choice matters more than people expect. Zanzibar has the range: Stone Town's history, the reef at Mnemba, the sandbanks off Nungwi and the quiet south-east coast where the tide goes out for a kilometre. Pemba is greener, steeper and far less visited, with the best diving of the three. Mafia is where whale sharks gather between October and March, and where nothing much happens by design.
On the Kenyan side, Diani is the easy classic — a long, wide, white beach with reliable flights. Watamu is smaller and better for families and marine life, sitting inside a national marine park. Lamu is an old Swahili island town with no cars, dhows instead of taxis, and a rhythm that suits people who want to read.
Tides, monsoon winds and seaweed harvesting all affect what a stretch of coast is like in a given month, and they vary within a single island. We choose the side of the coast to match your dates rather than selling a fixed resort.
Why Beach Holidays?
Mnemba atoll snorkelling
Zanzibar's finest reef, reached by dhow from the north-east coast.
Whale sharks off Mafia
Seasonal aggregations between roughly October and March, swum with under strict guidelines.
Stone Town
A UNESCO-listed Swahili port city of carved doors, spice markets and layered history.
Pemba's drop-offs
Steep walls and healthy coral, with a fraction of Zanzibar's visitor numbers.
Sunset dhow sailing
Traditional lateen-rigged dhows, at their best in the hour before dark.
Lamu's car-free streets
Donkeys, dhows and a pace of life essentially unchanged for centuries.
Where to experience Beach Holidays.
Tanzania
Explore Tanzania →Zanzibar
Indian Ocean island, Swahili soul.
The Spice Island — powder-white beaches and warm turquoise water on one side, the UNESCO-listed labyrinth of Stone Town on the other, and coral reefs, spice farms and dolphin-filled channels in between.
Pemba Island
The green island.
Zanzibar's hilly northern neighbour: clove and spice plantations, mangrove channels, high-quality wall diving and a fraction of Unguja's visitors.
Mafia Island
Whale sharks and no crowds.
A low-key island south of Zanzibar with Tanzania's first marine park, seasonal whale sharks, excellent diving and very limited development.
Kenya
Explore Kenya →
Diani Beach
The easy end of a safari.
Kenya's best-known beach: a long stretch of white sand and coral reef south of Mombasa, with reliable flights, good hotels and warm water year-round.
Watamu
Marine park, mangroves and quiet sand.
A quieter north-coast village beside Watamu Marine National Park, with coral gardens, turtle nesting beaches, Mida Creek mangroves and the Gede ruins inland.
Lamu
A Swahili town where nothing has wheels.
A UNESCO World Heritage Swahili town on the northern Kenyan coast — carved doors, coral-stone houses, dhow sailing and the long empty sands of Shela.
When to experience it.
June to October and December to February are the driest, brightest months. Mid-March to May brings the long rains, when many properties drop rates or close. Whale sharks off Mafia run roughly October to March.
Hot, calm and bright — peak swimming and diving conditions.
The hottest, stillest month; superb visibility underwater.
Hot and increasingly humid; rain builds late in the month.
Long rains at their heaviest. Several properties close.
Wet early, clearing late; excellent value as properties reopen.
Dry, fresh and breezy as the south-east monsoon sets in.
Cooler and windier — ideal for kitesurfing on the east coast.
Dry, busy and reliable; book well ahead.
Warm, dry and settling — one of the best months overall.
Hot and clear; whale shark season opens off Mafia.
Short rains bring brief afternoon showers between bright days.
Hot and mostly clear; festive premium rates from mid-month.
What to expect.
Choosing your coast
North Zanzibar for swimmable water at all tides, south-east for wide quiet beaches and kitesurfing, Pemba for diving, Mafia for whale sharks, Watamu for families.
Tides
On much of the east African coast the tide retreats a long way. It is part of the character, not a fault — we tell you what to expect for your dates.
Getting there
Short scheduled flights connect Serengeti and Arusha to Zanzibar directly, and Nairobi to Diani, Watamu and Lamu.
How long
Four nights is the minimum worth doing; five to seven if you want to dive, sail and see Stone Town properly.
Respectful dress
Zanzibar, Pemba and Lamu are predominantly Muslim. Beachwear on the beach, covered shoulders and knees in villages and town.
Journeys featuring Beach Holidays.
Beach Holidays in pictures.
Planning this experience.
- Length
- Three nights minimum, five to seven for diving and Stone Town.
- Flights
- Direct scheduled services from the Serengeti, Arusha and Nairobi.
- Health
- Malaria risk on the whole coast — take prophylaxis and use repellent.
- Dress
- Beachwear on the beach only; cover shoulders and knees in town.
- Best paired with
- Any Northern Circuit safari, or Ruaha and Nyerere in the south.
Explore more experiences.
Wildlife Safaris
The reason you came.
Private, guided game viewing across the great ecosystems of East Africa — the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, the Maasai Mara and beyond — with your own vehicle and guide on tailor-made journeys, and shared departures only where specifically stated.
Cultural Experiences
Meet the people, not a performance.
Time with Maasai, Hadzabe, Datoga, Chagga and Swahili communities arranged directly and paid fairly — conversation and craft rather than staged dancing at the gate.
Hiking & Trekking
On foot, at last.
Day hikes and multi-day walks away from the vehicle — crater rims, forest waterfalls, Rift Valley escarpments, the Usambara Mountains and guided walking safaris with an armed ranger.
Frequently asked.
Zanzibar, Pemba or Mafia?＋
Zanzibar for variety, history and easy flights; Pemba for diving and near-total quiet; Mafia for whale sharks and doing very little. Zanzibar suits first-time visitors best.
Will the tide be out?＋
On the east and south-east coasts, often — sometimes several hundred metres. The north coast stays swimmable at all tides, which is why we place most short stays there.
How many nights should I add?＋
Three at an absolute minimum. Five is the number most guests wish they had booked.
Is it safe to swim with whale sharks?＋
Yes, with a licensed operator following the Mafia guidelines — no touching, no flash, limited swimmers in the water. Sightings are seasonal and can never be promised.
What about seaweed on the beach?＋
Seaweed farming and natural seagrass are part of the south-east coast, and one of the most important local incomes. If a spotless beach matters to you, we will place you on the north coast.
Is the coast suitable for families?＋
Very. Watamu and northern Zanzibar have shallow reefs, family rooms and short flight times from the safari areas.
Build this experience into your journey.
Tell us what draws you to beach holidays and we'll design a private journey around your dates, pace and interests.