Paje

Why Paje Is the Kitesurfing Coast

Paje stretches along Zanzibar’s south-east coast as a broad, dazzling white lagoon protected by an offshore reef. The reef keeps the water shallow and flat, and the steady trade winds that funnel across it have made Paje the kitesurfing capital of the Indian Ocean — on a windy afternoon the sky fills with kites.

This is east-coast Zanzibar, where the tide retreats a long way twice a day to reveal sandbars, seaweed farms tended by local women, and walkable flats. At high tide the lagoon is a turquoise swimming pool; at low tide it becomes a vast beach for walking and kite launches. The village has grown a relaxed, youthful scene of beach cafes, kite schools, and laid-back guesthouses.

Paje suits active, sociable travellers and anyone wanting to learn to kitesurf, though it is just as good for doing nothing at all. It is about an hour from Stone Town and the airport, an easy beach base on the island’s sunrise coast.

What to See & Do

• The Indian Ocean’s leading kitesurfing beach, with top kite schools
• A wide, reef-protected white-sand lagoon, flat and turquoise at high tide
• Dramatic tides revealing sandbars, flats, and seaweed farms
• A relaxed, youthful scene of beach cafes and guesthouses
• Easy excursions to the Jozani forest and Blue Lagoon snorkelling

How a Visit Works

Paje is about an hour’s drive from Stone Town and the airport on the south-east coast. Accommodation ranges from backpacker-friendly guesthouses to boutique hotels, with kite schools along the shore. Note the strong tidal range: swimming is best around high tide. Most travellers stay three to five nights, often combining Paje with a safari.

We came to learn to kitesurf and stayed for the vibe — flat turquoise water at high tide, a hundred kites in the sky, and the most relaxed beach cafes on the island. — Guest review, TripAdvisor

Things to Do

• Guided exploration and wildlife viewing
• Photography-focused safari days
• Custom private itinerary planning