Africa’s Best Beach Destinations: Zanzibar Vs. Kenyan Coast

Watamu is a small fishing town that’s about a 2-hour drive north of Mombasa. Like most towns along the coast, Watamu is located close to a creek. It’s spread along a couple of coved coastline areas and is home to beautiful beaches, a superb marine park, and the fascinating Gedi ruins. Watamu is a seasonal town and is dependent on the tourism brought by the local Nairobi population, who own a lot of residences in and around Watamu town. There isn’t a huge amount of hotel accommodation on offer, though Hemingways Watamu is a notable exception.

Situated around an hour south of Watamu and Malindi, Kilifi is a market town with smaller, more peaceful neighbouring communities and some incredibly beautiful creeks. Most of the land here is privately owned, with little in the way of international tourism, but if you’re looking for the ultimate in luxury and exclusivity, look no further than Sirai Beach. This is one of the most impressive beach properties in East Africa and a pretty special place to get away from it all!

Lamu is the oldest and best-preserved town in East Africa. Established in the 12th century as a Swahili settlement, it has been inhabited ever since and is the only settlement that was never abandoned. The history, the beaches, and the islands of Lamu are by turn fascinating and absolutely breathtaking. There is so much to see and do here, and it’s still not on everyone’s radar (thankfully, we think!) There are plenty of private beaches in and around the island, featuring some of the more characterful properties on the Kenyan Coast. Manda Bay and Peponi are two of our favourites.

Diani is very much the epicentre of tourism on the Kenyan Coast. At 17 kilometres long, it offers plenty of restaurants, resorts, hotels, and private houses, all nestled along the coast. Diani is more commonly frequented because it’s notably more established than the other towns we’ve looked at above, and it’s considerably larger than any of the above options too. That does mean that much of this part of the coast has quite a busy and commercial feel, but there are a couple of notable exceptions if you head to the extreme ends of Diani. Kinondo Kwetu is a family-owned boutique lodge next to a sacred forest area, so it has a wonderfully peaceful feel. Alfajiri Villas private houses offer one of the most personalised and high-quality beach stays in Kenya.

Along the Kenyan Coast, there are some great activities to enjoy, such as snorkelling, fishing, and boat trips. However, on the whole, this is a beach location for those who appreciate doing very little, eating well, and enjoying the ocean.

Zanzibar has a different feel to the Kenyan Coast. There’s something electric about being on this legendary island, with its amazing cultural heritage and superb resorts. The ambience is also much more varied, depending on where you stay. Travellers seeking a busier social scene will enjoy the north of the island, while those looking for a more relaxed pace and seclusion will be happy on the east coast. The list of activities available on Zanzibar is much more varied – for example, visiting the monkeys of Jozani Forest and exploring the eclectic capital of Stone Town. The island offers lots of different brilliant diving spots – and while Kenya also offers you the chance to dive, I do find Zanzibar’s underwater world much more appealing.

This coastline is less tidal than other parts of the island, allowing you to swim in the sea for most of the day. The beaches of Nungwi and Kendwa are two of the best on Zanzibar, famous for their laid-back atmosphere. Good snorkelling and diving spots can be found locally, including the famous Mnemba Atoll, which is a short boat trip around the head of the island just off the north east coast. Two of Zanzibar’s finest beach properties are also located along the north coast. Kilindi Zanzibar Resort is a long-standing luxury favorite, offering exceptionally private, split-level suites with private plunge pools! Zuri Zanzibar is a larger hotel, but with this comes a wealth of room choices and great restaurants, all set within a lantern-lit beachside paradise.

This is also a very relaxed beach area, with long stretches of picture-perfect, white sandy beachfront set back with palm trees. This is where to come to get away from it all and is home to one of Zanzibar’s best-value lodges! Pongwe Beach Hotel, set within its own private cove, offers a charming, relaxed vibe, an excellent beach, and a wide range of activities. Sunshine Marine Lodge is a similarly unpretentious property, brilliant for divers due to its close proximity to the nearby Mnemba Atoll, accessible by a short boat trip.

There are plenty of satellite islands surrounding Zanzibar. Pemba and Mafia are renowned for their superb dive sites, so if you’re going to spend lots of time underwater, these are good to consider! There are also private island retreats, such as Mnemba Island Lodge, which is the ultimate in barefoot luxury and certainly the best beach in the whole region. The rustic and minimalist lodge comes in at a high price point but you’ll find the wonderful privacy, snorkelling from the shore, and fine dining make splurging on a true paradise island worthwhile. For somewhere with a few more mod cons, Bawe Island offers sprawling 5-star villas, various restaurants, and every activity imaginable, including tennis, padel, yoga, spa, a kids club, cycling, and a host of watersports.

The island’s history as a major trading hub throughout the centuries can be appreciated by visiting the still-active spice farms! Take a guided tour around a plantation while sampling all of the fresh herbs, fruits, and spices. The capital of Stone Town is also a fascinating melting pot of cultural experiences, where you can get lost in the alleyways, enjoy traditional foods at the night market, and visit the old slave trade chambers for a sobering look into Zanzibar’s past.