Paje holidays

Holidays to Paje are set on tropical beaches, within arm’s reach of balmy forests and tucked-away caves.

Toes in the sand

Paje is a lively village on the eastern coast of Zanzibar, sandwiched between the smaller villages of Bwejuu and Jambiani. This place is best known for its beach – it's home to a stretch of powdery sand that unravels along the coast for about six miles. The shoreline's dotted with beach bungalows and thatched-roof bars, and the sea's often alive with watersports. Huge palm trees give your holiday selfies a colourful backdrop, and there’s a sprinkling of restaurants nearby with views out to sea.

Surf’s up

This seaside village is Zanzibar's kitesurfing capital, with plenty of people flocking here to take to the waves in peak seasons. The best times for surfing are between June and October, or from December to February, when the swells get a little bigger. The beach is dotted with dozens of surf schools and watersports shops kitted out with the essentials, so if you need a helping hand, you’ll have plenty of choice. Lots of people come here to go snorkelling, diving and paddleboarding, too, if that’s more your thing.

Monkey business

If you drive inland for about half an hour, you’ll reach Jozani Forest National Park. It’s the only park of its kind on the island, and it’s famously home to the endangered Zanzibar red colobus monkey. There are around 2,000 of these guys roaming the walkways and swinging from tree to tree, so be sure to bring your camera along. If you’re a nature lover, you’ll want to keep your eyes open for birds like kingfishers and woodpeckers, too, as well as over 50 different species of butterflies and cute creatures like squirrels and bush babies.