Kendwa

Kendwa is the beach just south of Nungwi, known for soft white sand, clear water and strong sunsets. It suits couples, groups and anyone who wants a lively beach with more to do than most of the island.

Kendwa Rocks, the beach hotel, has a DJ playing music from daytime until evening. Then a band takes over and plays rock, with a projector next to the stage showing photos of wildlife and people's journeys. More water sports run here than on most other beaches. In the evening you will see Maasai dancers jumping and entertaining on the sand, and you can get your hair plaited in the Maasai small plait style if you want.

The sunset dhow cruises leave from the beach. There are private and shared cruises of one to two hours. As the dhow goes out, a crew plays coastal Swahili songs on drums and percussion (tabla, dumbek, daff, shakers, zeze and bongo). A tray of fruit, nuts, cassava chips and chevda is served. The boat has a lower deck and an upper deck for photos and video. On the way back, close to shore, guests can jump from the dhow, swim, and climb back on before docking. You see other dhows and speed boats pass, and the water is clear enough to see the bottom.

The trade-off is noise and crowds in the evening, so choose a hotel away from the beach bars if you want quiet. We run the transfer from the airport, the sunset cruises and trips to Mnemba from Kendwa.