Paje is the beating heart of the southeast and the most famous beach in southern Zanzibar — a broad sweep of white sand backing onto a wide, shallow turquoise lagoon. It has a laid-back, slightly bohemian energy, with beach bars, yoga decks, seafood shacks and a young international crowd drawn by the wind.

That wind is the headline: the steady trades and the flat, shallow lagoon have made Paje one of the best kitesurfing spots on the planet, and on a breezy afternoon the sky fills with kites (more on that below). When the wind drops it is simply a gorgeous beach for lounging and barefoot walks.

The honest catch is the tide — at low water the sea pulls a long way out across the lagoon, so swimming is tide-dependent and the scene is more about the sand, the kites and the bars than all-day bathing. For wind, atmosphere and a sociable barefoot vibe, Paje is the pick. We arrange the stay and the activities. Pricing on request.

Just south of Paje, Jambiani is its quieter, more traditional neighbour — a long ribbon of white sand fronting a genuine working village rather than a resort strip. Fishermen launch at dawn, women tend the seaweed gardens on the flats, and daily Swahili life carries on much as it has for generations, which is exactly its charm.

You can walk for miles along the beach, swim when the tide is in, and wander into the village to see the coral-rag houses, the little shops and the rhythm of the place. It is the south at its most authentic and unhurried.

Like all of this coast it is tidal, so swimming follows the sea, and it is low-key by design — come for peace, character and real village life rather than nightlife. Lovely for slow travellers and culture-minded couples. We arrange the stay and a village walk with a local guide. Pricing on request.

North of Paje and Jambiani, the coast gets even quieter. Bwejuu is a peaceful, palm-backed beach regularly named among Africa’s prettiest, with little but a few small hotels and a lot of space. Beyond it the Michamvi Peninsula curls north, and here something unusual happens: because the peninsula has a west-facing side, you can watch the sun set over the sea — a rarity on Zanzibar’s east coast and some of the best sunsets on the island.

Michamvi’s western shore is also calmer and more sheltered, fringed with mangroves, and it is home to the famous Rock Restaurant (below).

This is the relaxed, romantic end of the southeast — quieter than Paje, still tidal, and made for couples and anyone wanting space and sunsets. We arrange the stay, the sunset spots and dinner. Pricing on request

On the southeast coast the tide is not a nuisance but an attraction. When the sea draws far out, it uncovers a vast, glistening world of rippled sandbanks, warm tidal pools full of starfish and small fish, and exposed coral — a landscape you can walk out into for hundreds of metres, barefoot, under a huge sky.

It is also when the coast goes to work. The seaweed farms come into view — neat rows of staked lines tended almost entirely by local women, whose seaweed harvest is one of the most important village industries on this coast. A seaweed-farming tour, led by the women themselves, is one of the most genuine cultural experiences in the south, and your visit supports them directly.

Wear water shoes for the coral and reef rock, and let the guide read the tide so you time it right. Fascinating for families and anyone curious about how the coast really lives. We arrange the walk and the seaweed tour. Pricing on request.

Safari Blue is Zanzibar’s most celebrated marine day out, and the south is where it happens — it launches from Fumba on the southwest coast, right on your doorstep here, rather than being the long-haul excursion it is from the north. A full day aboard a traditional dhow in the protected Menai Bay, it strings together snorkelling over healthy reef, a stop on a dazzling sandbank, swimming in a turquoise lagoon at Kwale Island, dhow sailing and a feast of grilled seafood, with dolphins often along the way.

It is justifiably popular and brilliant for families, groups and couples alike — a proper highlight-reel of everything good about the Zanzibar coast in one day.

Because it is so popular it can be busy, so we use good operators and time it well. From the southern beaches the transfer is short, which is one of the real advantages of basing yourself down here. We arrange the day. Pricing on request.

The Menai Bay Conservation Area, off the southwest, is the south’s prime underwater playground — the largest marine protected area on Zanzibar, sheltering coral reefs, seagrass beds, turtles, dolphins and a wealth of reef fish. Snorkelling here, often as part of a Safari Blue day or a dedicated trip, drifts you over vivid coral gardens in clear, sheltered water.

For divers, the south has sites suited to beginners and experienced alike, with local dive centres running trips and courses.

Because it is a conservation area, the protection is real and so are the rules — reef-safe sunscreen and no touching coral — and several operators run marine-conservation experiences that explain the reef and the efforts to protect it. Good for snorkelers, divers and anyone who likes their sea life with a conscience. We arrange the operator and the trip. Pricing on request.

The dhow — the hand-built, lateen-sailed wooden boat that has worked this ocean for a thousand years — is the soul of the Zanzibar coast, and sailing one here is a must. The classic outing is the sunset cruise, drifting along the coast as the day cools, very often with drinks and grilled seafood aboard.

The south has a quiet advantage for this: the west-facing shore of the Michamvi Peninsula gives you the sun setting straight into the sea, which much of the east coast, facing the sunrise, cannot.

As ever with a dhow, the wind decides whether you sail or motor — either way it is a beautiful, romantic couple of hours on the water. We pick the right spot and time it for the best of the light. Pricing on request.

The deep water off southern Zanzibar holds excellent game fish, and a charter out from the coast is a real draw for anglers. Crews target yellowfin tuna, sailfish, kingfish, wahoo and dorado in the productive offshore grounds, on half or full-day trips aboard equipped boats with experienced crew.

Billfish are usually tagged and released, the responsible way to fish them, and the rest of the catch can come back to be cooked for you — about as fresh as seafood gets.

The fishing is seasonal and the sea has the final say, so the crew will be honest about conditions and what is running; a little date flexibility helps. Great for a keen angler or a group. We arrange the charter and crew. Pricing on request.

Away from the open beach, the south’s sheltered lagoons and mangrove creeks are made for paddling. A kayak or stand-up paddleboard lets you slip quietly through the still water and into the mangrove channels — especially around Michamvi — at a pace that lets you actually notice the place.

And there is plenty to notice. The mangroves, lagoons and coastal scrub are rich in birdlife, from herons and kingfishers to waders and, in the northern winter, migrants passing through, so it doubles as gentle birdwatching. The mangroves themselves are the nurseries of the reef, which a guide will explain.

It is calm, low-effort and best in the morning before the wind builds — a peaceful contrast to the kite-filled lagoon at Paje. Lovely for families and nature lovers, with birding best from November to April. We arrange the boards, kayaks and a guide. Pricing on request.

The fishing village of Kizimkazi, at the island’s southern tip, is Zanzibar’s best-known place to see wild dolphins, with resident pods of bottlenose and humpback dolphins in the waters offshore. A morning boat trip out to find them is one of the south’s signature experiences.

This is where we have to be straight with you: Kizimkazi has, in places, a poor reputation for boats chasing and crowding the dolphins, even pushing swimmers on top of them, which stresses the animals and is unpleasant to witness. We only use operators who keep a respectful distance and let the dolphins choose the encounter — better for the pods, and a far better experience for you.

Sightings are good but never guaranteed with wild animals, and calm early mornings are best. While you are down there, Kizimkazi also has the oldest mosque in East Africa, from the twelfth century, worth a look. We arrange a responsible operator. Pricing on request.

If there is one thing the south does better than anywhere in the region, it is wind sports. Paje is internationally rated as one of Africa’s premier kitesurfing destinations — the combination of steady, reliable trade winds and a huge, flat, shallow lagoon behind the reef is close to perfect for learning and for ripping, and the town is full of professional kite schools, gear and a buzzing kite scene.

The same conditions suit the fast-growing sport of wing foiling and classic windsurfing, both taught at schools along the coast, so whatever your board of choice, the south delivers.

The wind blows most reliably in two seasons, roughly June to September and December to February. Lessons cater to complete beginners through to advanced riders, and the shallow lagoon makes it a forgiving place to learn. This is the reason many people choose the south over the north. We arrange the school and kit. Pricing on request.

The flat lanes behind the southeast beaches are perfect for a bicycle, and a guided ride is a lovely way to see the everyday south beyond the sand. You pedal between the coastal villages — Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu — through smallholding farms, coral-rag bush and palm groves, past schools, markets and mosques, at the gentle pace where you actually meet the place.

It is undemanding riding suited to most fitness levels and to families, and it reaches the real local life that the beach resorts sit quietly alongside.

One honest pointer: this is a hot, humid coast, so an early start beats the midday heat. Bikes and a guide are part of what we set up. Pricing on request.

The south is the place to get under the skin of Swahili coastal life. A cooking class with a local family teaches you to make Zanzibari dishes — spiced pilau and biryani, coconut curries, the catch of the day — often starting with a shop at the village market, a bright tangle of fish, fruit, spices and cloth, before you cook and eat together.

For something more hands-on, you can head out with local fishermen and learn the centuries-old techniques they still use — hand lines, nets and sailing dugouts — a humbling, genuine morning on the water that puts the seafood on your plate into context.

These are real communities and livelihoods, so we keep it respectful and led by local hosts, which keeps the benefit where it belongs. A delicious, authentic layer to a beach stay. We arrange it. Pricing on request.

One of the south’s most magical secrets is swimming inside its limestone caves — natural pools of cool, crystal-clear water hidden beneath the coral landscape, usually visited as a little circuit. Each has its own character. Maalum, near Paje, is the most polished: an open-top sinkhole where sunlight pours down onto turquoise freshwater, beautifully managed and best pre-booked. Kuza, in Jambiani, is a fifty-metre round sinkhole carved over a quarter of a million years, sacred to the local Swahili community and run as a cultural centre with music, food and history alongside the swim.

Salaam, down near Kizimkazi, is different again — a sea cave where you can snorkel with resident sea turtles in the clear water.

They suit all ages and swimming abilities, run year-round, and the freshwater caves are a glorious way to cool off out of the sun and the wind. Bring swimwear, a towel and water shoes; Maalum needs booking ahead. We arrange the circuit and a guide. Pricing on request.

At the southern end of the island, Makunduchi is one of Zanzibar’s oldest settlements, a town with deep Shirazi roots and a strong sense of its own traditions, away from the tourist trail.

It is most famous for Mwaka Kogwa, the spectacular Shirazi New Year festival held each July. It is a remarkable thing to witness: men playfully fight each other with banana stalks to vent the past year’s grievances, a ritual hut is burned to read the fortunes of the year ahead, and the whole town gives over to feasting, singing and dancing, with visitors warmly welcomed to join in.

Outside the festival it is a quiet, authentic town to visit on a cultural tour; during Mwaka Kogwa it is one of the most extraordinary cultural events in Tanzania, well worth timing a trip around. We arrange the visit, and can plan around the festival dates. Pricing on request.

Perched on a coral rock in the turquoise sea off Michamvi Pingwe, The Rock is one of the most photographed restaurants in Africa — a tiny seafood restaurant on its own little island just off the beach, and a bucket-list lunch for many visitors to the south.

How you get there depends on the tide, which is half the fun: at low tide you simply walk across the sand to it, and at high tide a little boat ferries you over. The food is fresh seafood with an Italian-Swahili leaning, and the setting — ocean on every side — is unforgettable.

It is deservedly popular and small, so booking well ahead is essential, especially for sunset and the prime tide times. A lovely splurge for a couple or a special occasion. We can reserve a table and arrange the transfer. Pricing on request.

The south eats very well. This coast is renowned for its seafood — lobster, octopus, prawns, crab and tuna, landed that day and cooked simply and superbly, whether in a Swahili coconut curry, grilled over coals or served Italian-style at one of the smarter spots.

Much of it is enjoyed beachfront, with tables set on the sand and your feet near the water, which turns a simple dinner into one of the memories of the trip. And between meals, the island’s tropical fruit is a pleasure in itself: a tasting of sun-ripe mango, pineapple, passion fruit and fresh coconut, often straight off a local farm.

From a barefoot grill to a candlelit table, the south does food beautifully. We can book the standout places and arrange a fruit or farm tasting. Pricing on request.

The laid-back southeast is the island’s wellness and honeymoon heartland, and leaning into the slow, restorative side of a beach stay is half the point of coming here. Beachfront spas offer massages and treatments — many using local coconut, spices and seaweed — in open pavilions looking out at the sea.

Paje and the southeast in particular have become a hub for yoga, with retreats and daily classes on breezy decks and the sand, sunrise sessions especially lovely before the wind gets up.

And for couples it is hard to beat: private dinners on the beach, sunset picnics and quiet, unshowy romance come naturally to this coast, which makes it a favourite for honeymoons — particularly as the gentle finish to a mainland safari. We arrange the treatments, classes and private touches. Pricing on request.

No Zanzibar trip is complete without Stone Town, the island’s UNESCO-listed historic heart, and from the southern beaches it is an easy day trip of around an hour. This is the old Swahili and Omani city: a maze of narrow alleys and tall coral-stone houses, famous carved doors, the seafront Old Fort and House of Wonders, the spice-scented Darajani market, and the sobering site of the old slave market, now a cathedral and memorial.

A guided walk is the way to do it justice, reading the layers of African, Arab, Indian and European history street by street. Our full guide to the old city lives on the Stone Town page [link].

Treat it as a full day from the beach. We arrange the transfer and a guide. Pricing on request.

Of all the day trips, Jozani is the one the south can almost call its own — the island’s only national park sits in the centre-south, the closest it comes to any coast, barely half an hour or so from the southeast beaches. Its star is the Zanzibar red colobus, a striking monkey found nowhere else on earth; the troops are used to visitors, so a guided walk almost always brings close sightings, along with Sykes’ monkeys, bush babies and forest birds, finished with a boardwalk through the coastal mangroves.

Being so near, it is an easy half-day rather than a big expedition from the south. Our fuller guide is on the Jozani page [link].

We arrange the transfer, entry and a guide. Pricing on request.

Zanzibar earned its ‘Spice Island’ name on plantations like these, and a spice farm tour is one of the island’s most enjoyable outings. A guide walks you through a working farm in the centre of the island, pulling up roots, cracking pods and crushing leaves so you can see, smell and taste cloves, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and pepper straight from the plant, alongside tropical fruit.

It is hands-on, sensory and great for families, with the history woven in — how the Omani clove economy built the island’s wealth on enslaved labour.

From the south it pairs neatly with a Stone Town day, as the farms lie that way. We arrange the farm visit and guide. Pricing on request.

Changuu — better known as Prison Island — is a favourite half-day, reached by a short boat ride off Stone Town and usually combined with a Stone Town visit. Its celebrities are the giant Aldabra tortoises, a colony some of which are well over a century old; you can walk among them and meet the oldest of these gentle, ancient creatures, then swim and snorkel off the island’s little beach.

Its name comes from a prison built here that was mostly used as a quarantine station, on a site earlier linked to the holding of enslaved people — a darker history a guide will explain.

From the south it is a longer outing, via Stone Town, so it works best folded into a Stone Town day. We arrange the boat, transfer and guide. Pricing on request.