Family Days on Kendwa Beach

October 31, 2026

Advisory for families, October 2026: The US State Department currently lists Tanzania at Level 3, Reconsider Travel (travel.state.gov ), while the UK does not advise against travel to Zanzibar. The UK also reports assaults and other crimes at some Zanzibar beaches and resorts, so keep children close and stay with your group in quiet places. See the UK travel advice .

Family Days on Kendwa Beach

Kendwa suits families who want a beach holiday with a few boat outings. The bay faces west, the sand is wide and white, and the evenings are the highlight. Here is how the options sort out for children.

The beach

Kendwa is the north-west bay where swimming works at every tide. The tidal range is limited, not absent, so water depth still changes through the day. Nungwi village beach, 3 km north, is more tidal, and at low tide you wade a long way out there. Do not count on lifeguards at either beach, and supervise children in the water at all times. Hotels provide loungers to guests and diners, and public access to the sand is free.

Boat trips with children

Mnemba snorkel trip: children aged 5 to 15 pay the reduced marine fee of US$5, while adults pay US$10 for the conservation area. Ask whether your operator includes it, and whether life jackets in child sizes are on board. Browse family boat trips
Sunset dhow cruise: a gentle evening on a wooden boat, with a child policy that differs by operator, so confirm before paying.
Dolphins: a sighting on a boat trip is luck. Do not choose a trip that promises to swim with dolphins.

Animals

Prison Island, reached by boat from Stone Town, has Aldabra giant tortoises and suits a full-day outing from Kendwa. The Mnarani turtle pond in Nungwi can be visited to look at the turtles. Children must not feed, touch or hold them, because welfare concerns have been raised about handling and crowding at turtle ponds. Pay the small entrance fee on site.

Evening plans

The Kendwa Rocks full moon party is held monthly on a Saturday around the full moon. Children are admitted until midnight only, and outside drinks are banned. Many families give it a miss and watch the sunset from the sand instead.

Practical tips for parents

The sun is strong on the open beach, so bring hats, shade and plenty of water.
Cover shoulders and knees in villages. Beachwear is fine on resort beaches and on boats.
Zanzibar’s compulsory visitor insurance is per person, and children pay a lower rate than the US$44 adult price. Check the current under-age rules at zic.co.tz before you fly.
A taxi from Stone Town costs at least TSh 70,000 and takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, which is a long ride for small children.
Keep valuables and drinks in sight, and avoid quiet stretches of sand when you are alone.