Paje Zanzibar Holidays
Paje
Holidays
Zanzibar's kitesurfing capital — a long white beach, consistent trade winds and a vibrant young traveller scene
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Flight Time
9h from London (via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam)
Best Time
June to October (best winds), December to February
Country
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
Paje Holiday Guide
Paje is Zanzibar's kitesurfing capital — a long, beautiful beach on the southeast coast with consistent trade winds, a shallow turquoise lagoon and a vibrant, youthful atmosphere. It is the finest kitesurfing destination in East Africa.
The kitesurfing schools at Paje are IKO certified and among the best in the world — lessons cost approximately £40–50 per hour. The best winds are June to October (southeast trades) and December to February (northeast monsoon). The shallow lagoon is perfect for beginners.
Jozani Forest (15 minutes away) is Zanzibar's only national park and the home of the rare red colobus monkey. The snorkelling and diving off the east coast is excellent. The beach bar scene is the most social on the east coast.
The best time to visit for kitesurfing is June to October. For beach holidays, December to February is ideal. We search across Travelpack, Emirates Holidays and JTA Holidays for the best deals, with the FIBI discount applied automatically.
Popular Areas in Paje
Average Temperatures
Jan
30°C
Feb
31°C
Mar
30°C
Apr
28°C
May
26°C
Jun
25°C
Jul
24°C
Aug
25°C
Sep
26°C
Oct
28°C
Nov
29°C
Dec
30°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Paje
The kitesurfing, beaches and adventurous atmosphere that make Paje Zanzibar's most exciting and vibrant beach destination.
Kitesurfing — Best in East Africa
Paje is the finest kitesurfing destination in East Africa — consistent southeast trade winds (June to October) and northeast monsoon winds (December to February), a wide shallow lagoon perfect for beginners, and a well-established kitesurfing school scene. Lessons cost approximately £40–50 per hour. The International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) certified schools at Paje are among the best in the world.
The Beach & Lagoon
Paje beach is one of the longest and most beautiful on Zanzibar's east coast — a wide stretch of powder-white sand backed by coconut palms, with a shallow turquoise lagoon at low tide that is perfect for kitesurfing and paddling. The beach is less crowded than Nungwi and has a more relaxed, natural feel. The seaweed farming in the lagoon is a fascinating local industry.
Snorkelling & Diving
Paje has excellent snorkelling and diving — the coral reefs off the east coast are excellent, with good visibility and abundant marine life including turtles, rays and colourful reef fish. The Blue Safari Club and other dive centres at Paje offer PADI courses and guided dives. The snorkelling at the reef edge (accessible by boat) is excellent.
Beach Bars & Social Scene
Paje has the most vibrant and social beach bar scene on Zanzibar's east coast — a string of beach bars, restaurants and guesthouses along the beach, popular with kitesurfers, backpackers and young travellers from across the world. The atmosphere is relaxed and international. The beach bars serve cold Kilimanjaro beer, fresh coconut cocktails and excellent seafood.
Jozani Forest Day Trip
Jozani Forest, 15 minutes from Paje, is Zanzibar's only national park and the home of the rare red colobus monkey — found only on Zanzibar and one of Africa's most endangered primates. The forest walk (approximately 1 hour, £5 entry) takes you through the extraordinary forest and mangrove swamps, with almost guaranteed sightings of the red colobus monkeys.
Seaweed Farming
Paje is one of the main centres of seaweed farming in Zanzibar — the shallow lagoon is dotted with the frames of seaweed farms, tended by local women who harvest the seaweed for export to cosmetics and food companies. The seaweed farming is a fascinating and photogenic local industry. The local women are happy to explain the process to visitors.
Boat Trips & Snorkelling
Boat trips from Paje to the offshore coral reefs and sandbanks are excellent — most operators offer half-day snorkelling trips to the reef, dolphin watching trips (dolphins are frequently seen off the east coast) and sunset dhow cruises. The sandbanks that appear at low tide are extraordinary — white sand surrounded by turquoise water in the middle of the ocean.
Fresh Seafood
Paje has excellent fresh seafood restaurants — grilled lobster, prawns, octopus and fresh fish at very reasonable prices. The beach restaurants are more relaxed and less touristy than those at Nungwi. The local Zanzibari food — pilau rice, biryani, coconut fish curry and the extraordinary variety of Swahili cuisine — is excellent at the local restaurants away from the beach.
Explore Paje on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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