Kitespot guide – Zanzibar

📍 Location on Google Maps

Summary: The #1 kitesurfing spot in Zanzibar with a huge turquoise lagoon, white sandy beach, and steady trade winds. Ideal for freestyle, freeride, and downwinders, with a lively kite community and plenty of facilities.

Wind directions:
Kusi (May–Oct): S / SE, 15–25 knots, usually strong and very stable.
Kaskazi (Dec–Feb): NE, 12–20 knots, slightly lighter but still very consistent.

Level: From beginner to advanced. The shallow lagoon and flatwater make it perfect for lessons, but also great for freestylers and foilers.

Key points: The spot is highly tide-dependent → at low tide large parts of the lagoon dry out. Watch out for coral and sea urchins – surf shoes recommended.

Launching & landing: Wide white sandy beach with plenty of space. Beach boys and kite centers often assist with safe launching and landing.

Tide: Best conditions at mid- to low tide (flatwater lagoon). At high tide the water gets choppier and there’s less space on the beach.

Kite zone: Almost the entire lagoon is open for kiting, but keep clear of the swimming zones in front of the hotels. Downwinders to Jambiani and Bwejuu are popular and well-organized.

Crowds / community: The biggest kite community in Zanzibar with many schools and rentals. Very lively and busy on the water during high season; much more relaxed outside the peak periods.

Wing & Foiling: Thanks to the steady trade winds and the large lagoon, foiling is excellent here. Just mind the depth → often too shallow at low tide, while high tide is ideal.

Imagine standing on the beach of Paje, the lagoon stretches out in front of you like a turquoise mirror. Far away on the horizon you can see the thin white line of the reef. About two kilometers offshore, the Indian Ocean breaks into perfect waves on this reef – a paradise for kiters looking for a bit more adventure.

Together with a few other riders you leave the lagoon, heading further away from the coast. The water gets deeper, the color shifts from light blue to deep blue, and then you hear the roar of the waves on the reef. Here, far out at sea, long glassy waves roll in. It feels surreal: kitesurfing in a place almost no one else goes, surrounded only by the ocean and the horizon.

This is not a place to go alone – the reef lies far from the shore, and if something happens it’s difficult to get back. But with friends or on an organized trip you’ll experience the magic of wave kiting in the tropics, in pure natural beauty.

And when the energy of the waves has been enough, you can drop your kite into a downwinder: starting from The Rock at Michamvi, gliding along the lagoon, past Paje and all the way down to Jambiani. Kilometers of riding with the wind at your back, through turquoise water, along white beaches and tiny fishing villages. A journey that captures the essence of Zanzibar: adventure, nature, and freedom.

📍 Location on Google Maps

Summary: A quieter alternative to Paje, with the same turquoise lagoon and perfect flatwater conditions. Ideal for kiters who want to avoid the crowds and enjoy a more local atmosphere.

Wind directions:
Kusi (May–Oct): S / SE, 15–25 knots, strong and stable.
Kaskazi (Dec–Feb): NE, 12–20 knots, lighter but consistent.

Level: From beginner to advanced. The large and open lagoon makes it perfect for lessons, freeride, and freestyle sessions.

Key points: Tide-dependent → at low tide much of the lagoon dries out and you may have to walk far. Watch out for coral and sea urchins → surf shoes recommended.

Launching & landing: Wide sandy beaches with plenty of space. Less busy than Paje, making launching and landing easier.

Tide: Best conditions at mid- to low tide (flatwater). High tide brings choppier water and less space on the beach.

Kite zone: Open kite zone covering almost the entire lagoon. Downwinders to Paje or further towards Dongwe and Bwejuu are popular.

Crowds / community: Small-scale kite community with a few schools. Much quieter than Paje, often leaving you with plenty of space.

Extra – Wing & Foiling: Thanks to the steady trade winds, foiling works well here. Often too shallow at low tide, but around high tide it’s ideal for foiling.

📍 Location on Google Maps

Summary: Expansive and quiet spot on the northeast coast, with wide lagoons and views of Mnemba Island. Perfect for long downwinders and for kiters seeking peace and space.

Wind directions:
Kusi (May–Oct): S / SE, 15–25 knots, strong and stable.
Kaskazi (Dec–Feb): NE, 12–20 knots, slightly lighter but very consistent.

Level: Suitable for beginners to advanced riders. The lagoon is flat and easy to navigate, but due to the remote location it’s mainly interesting for independent kiters.

Key points: At low tide the lagoon mostly dries out. Coral, sea urchins, and shells are present → surf shoes recommended. Fewer kite facilities compared to Paje/Jambiani.

Launching & landing: Wide sandy beach with plenty of space, but few kite centers → often self-service.

Tide: Best conditions around mid- to low tide for flatwater. At high tide it becomes choppier with less room to play.

Kite zone: No official restrictions; the entire lagoon is open for kiting. Downwinders towards Kiwengwa or Mnemba Island are popular (guidance/support recommended).

Crowds / community: Very quiet; hardly any kiters compared to Paje. Small community with just a few local schools and lodges.

Wing & Foiling: The steady wind makes foiling possible. Too shallow at low tide; at high tide conditions are ideal for foiling.

📍 Location on Google Maps

Summary: Popular beach destination on the far north of Zanzibar with crystal-clear water and wide sandy beaches. Not a typical kitespot, but with the right wind you can definitely ride here.

Wind directions: Best with NE / N during the Kaskazi (Dec–Feb). With S / SE (Kusi, May–Oct) the wind is mostly offshore and therefore unsuitable.

Level: Advanced (due to changing wind conditions and lack of a flatwater lagoon). Not ideal for beginners.

Key points: Wind can be gusty due to buildings and is offshore during the Kusi season. Currents around the northern tip towards Kendwa can be strong.

Launching & landing: Wide sandy beaches, but often busy with tourists and boats. The available space for launching and landing depends on the season and beach crowds.

Tide: No pronounced lagoon like on the east coast, but currents and water depth still shift with the tide.

Kite zone: No official kite zone; kiting is possible along the beach but you must respect swimmers and boat traffic (dhows and fishing boats).

Crowds / community: No large kite community like in Paje. A few small kite centers operate here, but kiting is more of a “side activity.”

Wing & Foiling: Wind is less reliable than on the east coast. Foiling is possible, but watch out for boat traffic and currents.

Ask our team when you book, it needs to stay a secret 🙂