Talk of Zanzibar and a peaceful Island with lots of freshwater come to mind. But is it safe to swim in the fresh waters of Zanzibar?
In this article, I recall my experiences at different beaches at Zanzibar as I did some research on whether or not it’s safe to swim in the sea at Zanzibar and I’m ready to share everything I found with you.
So, is it safe to swim in the sea at Zanzibar? Yes, it’s very safe to swim in the sea in Zanzibar. Not only because Zanzibar has some of the cleanest and freshest beaches, but also, the water temperature is perfect, less affected by natural disasters, and doesn’t host dangerous water species.
In the remaining part of this article, I’m going to share with you 7 reasons why the Zanzibar beach is super safe for swimming. Continue reading this article to learn more!
1. Conducive Water Temperature
“How’s the water temperature?” is a question most of us will be curious about whenever we go swimming.
Unlike other beaches, the swimming season in Zanzibar lasts from January to December. Zanzibar waters are always warm enough for safe swimming.
All year round, Zanzibar waters do not drop below 200C (680F) which makes it more suitable for swimming. I together with my family whenever we go on vacation to Zanzibar always find the most fun when we go swimming.
The water temperature is always perfect. The water temperature at the Zanzibar beach ranges between 250C (770F) in summer to 290C (840F) in winter.
However, from time to time there may be slight local and regional variations depending on the time of the day and wind direction. But these conditions will have significant effects on your fun swimming activities in Zanzibar waters.
Some of the top beaches that have water temperatures are perfect for swimming in Zanzibar are Kendwa or Pongwe beaches.
Swimming in these beaches is something you cannot forget too soon as their waters are always warm.
Swimming in Jambiani waters (the warmest waters on earth) will raise the stakes. So, visiting Zanzibar for swimming is a perfect choice for experiencing the good time that Zanzibar waters have to offer as the water temperatures are safe for you to have an enjoyable swimming session.
So, if you’re looking for a great place to swim on the continent of Africa when the water temperature is simply spot on, then you would want to rank Zanzibar high on your list.
2. Absence of Dangerous Marine Life
Zanzibar is nothing like most of the oceanic waters where swimming becomes impossible due to the presence of dangerous water animals.
When you’re swimming in Zanzibar you may occasionally get the pleasure of seeing only small white or blacktip reef sharks.
It’s going to be more of a pleasant sight than one that will send shivers down your spine.
If you’re lucky, you will see these small sharks, especially when diving, and thankfully, these creatures tend to completely avoid contact with humans.
Although I have always been to Zanzibar at least once a year since 20013, I have never seen any shark whenever I go swimming in Zanzibar.
The story will always be about how the previous year had a lot of sharks you could see. And I go like “Umm, but I was here last year and did not spot any”.
Interestingly on the same subject, there is no record of any shark attacks in Zanzibar waters. So although there’s a lot of talk about theses sharks, for me the whole thing is a myth.
Enough with how frustrated I am about not catching a glimpse of any sharks whenever I go swimming at Zanzibar
On the other hand, what’s definitely not a myth to me is the fact that beach lovers like you and I will enjoy swimming in “Kizimkazi” as it is safe to swim with dolphins there!
One thing that won’t be as fun as swimming with dolphins it the occasional blooms of jellyfish that may sting sometimes but it’s quite rare.
But when this happens, there’s going to be help on hand to attend to you especially if you swim anywhere near built-up areas or larger hotels.
Also, just like in every other tropical sea, venomous fish and sea urchins may be lurking, but still, it’s easy to avoid them because if you do not touch them, they will not touch you either.
From my personal experience, I would say it’s generally a lot more safer if the water at low tide where your feet are a lot more closer to the corals.
This is so that in a rare instance where you encounter something like an urchin around the Zanzibar waters, help could come easily and instantly.
3. Beaches Are Hardly Affected By Tropical Cyclones
Although the archipelago is located near the Equator, yet Zanzibar is hardly ever affected by cyclones.
However, we cannot say Zanzibar is completely free from tropical cyclones as cyclones of the Southern Hemisphere may pass close to cause storm surges especially between November and May.
Luckily, most of Zanzibar beaches are protected by an offshore coral reef which keeps the inner waters calm and safe for those of us who like a good view and swimming at the beach.
Zanzibar waters are truly welcoming to dip in when the sun becomes too strong outside.
I can assure you that if you’re interested in swimming in one of the safest waters, then Zanzibar truly has got something for you.
The water is calm everywhere since Zanzibar is surrounded by coral reefs. Therefore, if you’re looking to go to Zanzibar and spend some precious time, then swimming is right up your alley as a swimmer’s safety is the priority.
Some of my personal favorite beach spots are the Pongwe and Matemvwe beaches. They are entirely protected by coral reefs. So, if you’re looking for a place safe to swim, then Zanzibar is the one you want to visit.
4. Pure Sand On The Oceanic Floor
Most ocean bottoms are rocky. That’s not how the Zanzibar beaches are formed. The ocean bottom in most of Zanzibar’s beaches is simply powdery white sandy.
I just love the feeling when my feet touches the ocean floor without worrying about stepping on anything hard that could hurt me.
Most guides on the Zanzibar beaches will always assure you that shoes are not very necessary.
The majority of Zanzibar beaches, the ones particularly located in the northwest and southeast have their ocean bottom clear without any seaweed, reef stones, and urchins.
So, if you are looking for beaches where you can walk and swim without worrying about stepping, scratching, or hitting something hard, then I cannot overemphasize Zanzibar.
I find swimming at the Kendwa and Jambiani beaches to be perfect as these two beaches have the cleanest floors. Personally, I can’t wait to return to the transparent water of the Jambiani beach later this year.
Generally, the ocean floors of these beaches are safe and you will not encounter rubbish, dead sea urchins which can be a bit messy.
5. Beaches Are Less Affected By Tides
It’s safe to swim in Zanzibar as most of its beaches are perfect for all-day swimming particularly because the tides affect them the least.
The beaches in Zanzibar have the shortest low tides and the waves tend to be very small.
You will only have to walk for just about 5 minutes to reach the ocean to swim. You can swim in both high and low tides because the tide hardly fluctuates.
Kendwa, Pongwe, and Mnemba beaches are the best beaches in Zanzibar where tides are the least. On top of that, Nungwi beach is not affected by tides at all.
The beach is also named as a beach for all swimmers where its sands is just the place you can rest for some minutes before jumping back into the water.
Mnemba beach is one of my favorite beaches in Zanzibar for swimming although you would have to be a guest at the Mnembe Atoll to access this swimming spot.
6. Less Populated Beaches
Although Zanzibar hosts thousands of visitors every year, there’s a huge barrier of entry which is the location of this beautiful Island.
But with such a barrier will mean that not many people are going to flood the place. So you can be rest assured that you won’t be among thousands at the same time on a Zanzibar beach.
Mostly, populated beaches are not safe to swim as a pleasant time at the beach can turn into a catastrophe of wild spreading waterborne and communicable diseases if any disease outbreak strikes.
Luckily, Zanzibar has lots of scarcely populated beaches making that is also perfect for swimming. The beaches at Zanzibar less populated that you can even practice social distancing if you’d like to in order to enjoy your time swimming.
You can check out the Matemwe, Kiwengwa, Jambiani, and Michamvi beaches. They are safe for you to swim because they are calm. So, if you are looking to get into the waters of the less crowded beaches like me, Zanzibar is absolutely the perfect place for you to go.
7. Water Depth For Experts and Recreational Swimmers
Swimming in the ocean is different from swimming in pools as everything in the ocean is unpredictable and changing.
The ocean remains alive at every moment and that is why swimming in the ocean is such a thrill and offers unforgettable experiences for swimmers like you and I.
Depth is one of the most important factors to take into consideration especially if you’re not a very experienced swimmer.
The recommended depth for recreational swimming ranges from 20m for standard autonomous diving to 60m for teams of 2 to 3 French Level 3 recreational divers, breathing air.
Luckily, Zanzibar offers both conducive depths for safe swimming for both non-experts and experienced swimmers as most of the beaches have their depths not more than 40m deep.
On the east side beaches, all inexperienced swimmers and children can easily swim very safely as they do not have steep slopes.
Contrary to that, beaches like Nungwi and Kendwa in the west and north have steeper slopes. So, any experienced swimmer will enjoy such spots as swimming is possible even at low tide.
The Paje Beach offers the best swimming depth of all beaches in Zanzibar and you definitely would want to check it out.
Conclusion
Ready to go for a swim in the beaches around Zanzibar? If yes, I’m excited to hear that you’re heading over to witness the beauty and experience the exciting pleasure that the Zanzibar waters has to offer.
If you still have anything else you want to know about Zanzibar waters, please feel free to reach out to us.