Kizimkazi holidays

White sand beaches, close-ups with wild dolphins and top snorkelling spots are all part of the mix on Kizimkazi holidays

A quiet corner of Zanzibar

This tranquil fishing village on Zanzibar’s south coast has stayed largely off the tourist trail until now. In recent years its popularity has grown, mainly thanks to its dove-white beach and daily dolphin-spotting tours, but it remains relatively untouched, with just a handful of shops and restaurants, and a laidback lifestyle.

Sealife and snorkelling

Kizimkazi’s well known in these parts for its colourful underwater creatures. Snorkel by the shore, and you’ll see crabs, reefs, fish and sea urchins, and if you head a little further out on a water safari, you can swim with the wild bottlenose dolphins that gather in Menai Bay’s marine protected area.

Powder-soft sands

While most of the beaches nearby are rocky, Kizimkazi’s home to a scenic swathe of cracker-coloured sand. There’s plenty of elbow room for a sunbathe, or you can hop on one of the boat tours that sail off from here and see some of the surrounding islands.

Sightseeing day trips

Zanzibar City’s just over an hour’s drive away, so it’s very doable in a day. Stone Town’s the big attraction here – it’s the old quarter of the city, which dates back to the 1st century and has a UNESCO World Heritage tick to its name. A little closer to Kizimkazi is the Jozani Forest – keep your eyes peeled here, it’s home to the nearly extinct red colobus monkey.