Kendwa Rocks

Zanzibar Island


This long-standing Kendwa classic has something for everyone, from basic bandas (thatched-roof huts) with shared bathrooms to luxurious bungalows with private plunge pool right on the beach, via several accommodation options in-between, all set in gardens covering a gently sloping cliff. Rooms set back from the sea may not have views, but they're quieter and more private.

There is an on-site dive centre and a huge bar-restaurant, as well as a separate smaller bar and pizzeria, plus plenty of seats and tables on the beach where you can drink in (and under) the stars. There's music and partying most evenings, with regular live bands and DJs. Full-moon parties are an institution.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Zanzibar Island attractions

1. Mangapwani Slave Chamber

17.61 MILES

This dark cell cut into the coral rock was used as a holding pen to hide slaves after the legal trade was abolished in the late 19th century. From here it…

2. Mangapwani Coral Cave

18.55 MILES

This large natural cavern with a freshwater pool was originally used as a source of drinking water for local people and is rumoured to have been used in…

3. Kiwengwa-Pongwe Forest Reserve

19.94 MILES

Set back from the main road between Kiwengwa and Pongwe, this reserve protects a swathe of indigenous forest and its wildlife, including groups of the…

4. Kidichi Persian Baths

23.84 MILES

Sultan Seyyid Said built this bathhouse at Kidichi (11km northeast of Zanzibar Town) in 1850 for his Persian wife, Scheherezade. The royal couple would…

5. Mtoni Palace

26.31 MILES

Overlooking the coast, away from the heat and hustle of Zanzibar Town, Mtoni Palace was built for Sultan Seyyid Said in 1828. It was home to the sultan’s…

6. Maruhubi Palace

27.8 MILES

Maruhubi Palace was built outside Zanzibar Town in 1882 for Sultan Barghash to house his impressively large harem. A few years later it was destroyed by…

7. Cine Afrique

28.58 MILES

It's no longer a working cinema, but the grand old Cine Afrique is an art deco gem and a significant landmark.

8. Old Dispensary

28.68 MILES

With its peppermint-green latticework balconies and sculpted clock tower, this 19th-century charitable dispensary is one of the most attractive landmarks…