Mangapwani holidays

Holidays to Mangapwani are set on the north-west coast of Zanzibar, where the sand’s paper-white and as soft as flour.

Sugary sands and glassy waters

Say hello to Mangapwani -a bay-lined town on the north-west edge of Zanzibar. The beach here combines velvet-soft sands with clear waters that’re a win for snorkelling enthusiasts. The bay’s not overly touristy and it’s in quite a secluded spot, so it shouldn’t be difficult to find a spot on the sand to set up camp for the day. A scattering of palm trees make the perfect backdrop to your photos, too. If you fancy cooling down, you can take a dip in the ocean – the waters tend to be gentle, and if you want to see some marine life, you can grab your goggles and go snorkelling or scuba diving here.

Seafood meets Swahili flair

Foodies will be right at home in Mangapwani, especially if you have an appetite for seafood. Everything’s freshly caught from the Indian Ocean, and often served with a Swahili twist. A must-try dish is lobster dished up with coconut rice and kachumbari – a type of zesty salad made up of onions, tomatoes, chilli, lime and coriander. The coconut rice gives you a taste of east Africa – it's a staple in countries like Kenya and Tanzania – and you’ll sometimes see the lobster cooked in front of your eyes on the beach. What better setting to feast on some local cuisine?

A lap of Jozani Forest

Nature-lovers, listen up – Jozani Forest National Park is about an hour’s drive from Mangapwani, and it’s filled with flora and fauna. It's Zanzibar’s only national park and home to the rare Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey. In fact, this is the only place in the world where you’ll be able to see these guys. There are a few nature walks weaving through the park, past mangrove forests and fragrant eucalyptus trees, and the monkeys will often swing from branch to branch right by you. The local guides leading you around are full of knowledge about the park – ask them if you have a question, and they’ll likely have a story that tells you the answer.