Kendwa Beach, Diving and Full Moon Parties

October 31, 2026

Safety notice (October 2026): Washington currently rates Tanzania Level 3, Reconsider Travel, with crime, terrorism and unrest named as risks; check travel.state.gov at the time you plan. London takes a milder line on Zanzibar and restricts its warning to the Mozambique border zone, yet it reports election-related violence in the past and crimes at island resorts. The UK advice page is the one to read.

Kendwa Beach, Diving and Full Moon Parties

Kendwa is a small resort village on Zanzibar’s north-west shore. Everything here is within a few minutes of the sand, and the main activities fall into four groups: the beach itself, diving and boat trips, the monthly party, and evenings on the water.

At a glance

Swimming: good at every tide in Kendwa’s bay.
Diving: PADI centres on Kendwa Beach and at nearby Nungwi.
Snorkelling: by boat to Mnemba and Tumbatu.
Nightlife: the Kendwa Rocks full moon party.
Sunset: dhow cruises and beach loungers.

Swimming and sunbathing

The sea off Kendwa stays swimmable through the tidal cycle, because the range here is small, though not zero. That sets it apart from Nungwi village beach to the north, where the water pulls back far at low tide. The sand is open to everyone free of charge. Resort loungers are offered to guests and customers of the beach bars and restaurants. Lifeguard cover cannot be assumed, so watch swimmers closely.

Scuba diving

Scuba Do Zanzibar is a PADI 5-Star dive operation running two bases on Kendwa Beach. Courses and fun dives go to Kendwa’s own reefs, to Tumbatu and to Mnemba. The operator’s price list, which carries no date, shows US$575 for Open Water, US$365 for Scuba Diver and US$110 for a Discover Scuba session. Ring ahead to confirm before you pay. In Nungwi, Spanish Dancer Divers works from Nungwi Beach Hotel and is also rated PADI 5-Star, with trips to Mnemba, Leven Bank and Tumbatu. Check the operator’s listing

Snorkelling trips

Snorkelling straight off Kendwa Beach is poor, as the coral close to shore is small and damaged. Boats take people to Mnemba or Tumbatu for better reef. Nobody can land on Mnemba, which belongs to a private lodge concession. For non-East-Africans the Mnemba conservation fee is US$10 for adults and US$5 for children from 5 to 15, and the Special Area costs US$25 and US$10. Many operators fold the charge into their price, which is worth asking about. Compare Mnemba boat trips

The full moon party

Once a month Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel stages a beach party on a Saturday near the full moon. Confirm the exact night before booking flights around it. Dates listed for the rest of 2026 are 21 November, 25 December and New Year’s Eve. Entry begins around TZS 32,000, billed in dollars, with an extra ticket for the afterparty. Children may stay until midnight, and bringing your own drinks is not permitted.

Evening on a dhow

A sunset cruise on a wooden dhow runs along the north-west coast. Your hotel desk can confirm cost, departure time and whether children may join.

What Kendwa lacks

Wind is too weak and fickle for serious kitesurfing. Paje and Jambiani, on the east coast, host the main kite schools, and Nungwi Kite Beach has one. Kendwa has no museums or craft studios.

Before you go

All visitors must buy Zanzibar’s government insurance in advance: US$44 per adult, valid up to 92 days, through visitzanzibar.go.tz .
Tanzanian shillings are the local money, and dollars are accepted widely.
Women and men alike should cover knees and shoulders in the village.