Romantic Stays and Evenings in Kendwa

October 31, 2026

Travel advisory, October 2026: The US State Department lists Tanzania at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, and advises checking travel.state.gov before you commit to a booking. The UK does not advise against travel to Zanzibar. It does record assaults and sexual offences at Zanzibar beaches and resorts, which is a reason to keep evening beach walks within sight of your hotel. See the UK safety page .

Romantic Stays and Evenings in Kendwa

Kendwa’s romance is simple: a west-facing bay, a warm sea and sunsets over the Indian Ocean. Couples here spend time on the sand, on a dhow and at a resort table.

Where to stay

Zuri Zanzibar: a resort on Kendwa Beach.
Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa: another Kendwa Beach resort, with spa services.
Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar: an adults-only hotel on the north-west coast, near Kendwa and Nungwi. Check the transfer time with the hotel when you book.
Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel: a livelier choice, since it hosts the monthly full moon party on a Saturday around the full moon. Couples who want quiet should pick other dates.

Compare beach stays in Kendwa

Sunset on the water

A private dhow charter for two is arranged through your hotel. Prices vary, so ask for a quote and what it includes, such as drinks, snacks and the length of the sail. Shared sunset cruises also run along the same coast. Dolphins may appear, but a sighting is chance.

Dinner on the sand

Wikivoyage names Kendwa Breezes and the restaurant at Amaan Kendwa as beachfront places to eat. Ask your hotel whether they are open on the evening you want, and reserve a table at sunset time for the best view. Hotels on the beach provide loungers to guests and to diners.

Spa time

Spa treatments are available at the resorts, and booking one for the afternoon before a sunset dinner is an easy way to pace the day.

A day away

Snorkel on the reef around Mnemba Island, which is closed to landing, so you swim from the boat. The conservation area fee for non-East-Africans is US$10 per adult and the Special Area fee is US$25. Ask whether the operator includes it.

Etiquette and safety for couples

Same-sex activity is illegal in Zanzibar, and visitors should be discreet in public.
Beachwear is fine at resort beaches and on boats. In villages, cover shoulders and knees. Clothing the authorities see as inappropriate can bring a fine of at least US$700.
Never leave drinks unattended, and avoid lonely stretches of beach after dark.
Every visitor must buy Zanzibar’s compulsory insurance before arrival, US$44 per adult for up to 92 days, through visitzanzibar.go.tz .

Best time to go

December to March is hot and calm. June to October is drier and cooler. The long rains arrive around April and May, and some resorts close for maintenance in that period, so confirm your hotel is open.