Jambiani
Arrive in Jambiani, and the first thing you notice is the rhythm—people do things at their own speed, sometimes a bit slower than your watch demands. You might see a fisherman fixing his net with his toes, or a goat walking through a volleyball game. For popular things to do, locals maybe suggest walking the beach at sunrise, but I once got lost trying to find the famous seaweed ladies and ended up at a coconut stand, where I learned to open one with a rock (took me ages, but I still have most fingers). If you ask about the best hotel in Jambiani, everyone points in a different direction; it’s a kind of local sport. Also, try the chapati from the guy near the old baobab tree—he sometimes throws in an extra piece if you say ‘please’ in Swahili, or if you just smile like you mean it.
Local weather in Tanzania
SPRING
warm & sunny
SUMMER
warm & sunny
AUTUMN
warm & sunny
WINTER
warm & sunny
Accommodations in Jambiani
Discover the best accommodations for Jambiani and start planning your holiday.
Long-term stays and surprising things to do in Jambiani
Many travelers arrive with a plan to stay three days and then accidentally spend two weeks. The place has a way of making you forget to check your email (or your shoes, which I left outside one night and a crab moved in). For long-term stays, there’s a real mix: beach bungalows where you can hear every wave, guesthouses with pancakes at sunrise, and that one spot where the power always comes back just after you finish complaining about it.
As for popular things to do or visit, you can hire a bicycle and ride through villages, or try your luck at sailing with the dhow captains—just don’t expect to go in a straight line. The best hotel in Jambiani is always hotly debated, and everyone seems to be an expert except the actual hoteliers, who just laugh and point you to the next door. One day I tried to walk to the neighboring village for a ‘secret’ restaurant, got sidetracked by a group of kids playing soccer, and ended up as their accidental goalkeeper for an hour. My shoes never recovered, but my sense of direction did (sort of). If you’re seeking something truly unique, look under rocks at low tide, but not all rocks—some are already occupied.
Other cities around Tanzania
These popular destinations have a lot to offer for you next holiday or city break.
