Paje, Zanzibar: Things to Do, Where to Eat & Our 13-Night Guide
The tide in Paje genuinely stopped me in my tracks. One minute there was water in front of the beach cafés, and then it felt like somebody had pulled the ocean away. I had never seen it change so much.
But the reason we spent 13 nights here was everything around that beach. Coffee, a gym we kept going back to, dinners that were far better than I expected, and enough little outings that we never felt stuck. It suited the way Daniel and I travel: not holiday mode every hour of the day, but somewhere we could settle into a routine and still feel excited to be there.
We visited in July 2026, with four nights in Nungwi in the middle of our Zanzibar trip. This is my guide to actually staying in Paje: what I would do, where I would eat again, and how I would plan around the tide instead of fighting it.
Is Paje Worth Staying In? My Quick Answer
Yes, if you want a beach base with cafés, restaurants and things to do beyond a resort. I loved having choices within the town. I would go back for that combination, not because it is the easiest place to swim whenever you feel like it.
If your whole holiday is about stepping straight into the sea at any time, read our Nungwi guide before booking. Paje's tide is part of the experience, and it will affect your plans. Wind and kite activity are part of the beach atmosphere too.
Thirteen nights was our slower-travel stay, not the minimum you need. For a shorter trip I would start with four or five nights here, then decide whether you have enough time to add another coast without spending too much of the holiday moving bags around.
Where to Stay in Paje
I would book somewhere that lets you reach both the beach and the places you want to eat. For us, being able to go out for coffee or dinner was important. A beautiful room is lovely, but I would not want to arrange a car every time I was hungry.
Chokoro House: Our Five-Night Base
We had five nights at Chokoro House. The pool and garden made it a nice place to come back to, and we could walk down to the beach. It worked well as a base for getting out into Paje rather than spending the entire stay inside a hotel.
We paid A$638.56 for five nights for the two of us, about A$127.71 a night. Use that as a reference from our July visit, then check your own dates and room type.
Chokoro House
A pool, garden and a walk to the beach. An easy base for days out and eating around Paje.
ENVI Paje: Oceanfront Rooms and a Wellness-Focused Stay
We also spent four nights at ENVI Paje, and I loved how much of the day could happen right by the water. Our oceanfront villa had a private pool, and there was an outdoor gym, yoga space and wellness facilities.
This is the one I would compare if you want the accommodation itself to be a bigger part of your trip. Look at the exact room category rather than assuming every room has the setup in an oceanfront villa photo.
ENVI Paje
We loved our oceanfront villa, private pool and time by the water. Compare the exact villa or room category before booking.
Mahali Zanzibar: The Beachfront One I Would Compare
If you want to stay right on Paje beach, Mahali Zanzibar is another one I would compare. A pool for the low-tide part of the day, air-conditioned rooms and a beach bar is a very appealing combination here! I would look at this if you want the beach on your doorstep while still being based in Paje.
Choose your room carefully if the view is the draw. There are standard rooms as well as ocean-view suites, so I would check the actual room photos before booking.
Mahali Zanzibar
This is one I would compare for a beach base with a pool and air-conditioned rooms. Check the room category if you want an ocean view.
Be Zanzibar: A Boutique Alternative in Nearby Jambiani
If you are happy to stay further south, Be Zanzibar Boutique Hotel is the one I would compare for a slower, boutique-style stay. The pool overlooking the ocean and the rooms are what draw me to this one. I can see the appeal of spending more of the day at the hotel here.
This is in southern Jambiani, not Paje town. I would choose it if that setting matters more than walking to all the Paje cafés in this guide, and allow for transport when you want to come up for dinner.
Be Zanzibar Boutique Hotel
The ocean-facing pool and boutique rooms make this one I would compare for a slower stay. It is in southern Jambiani, so plan transport for meals in Paje.
My shortlist would be Chokoro for a base like ours, Mahali for another beachfront option in Paje, ENVI for the wellness-focused stay, or Be Zanzibar if you prefer the Jambiani setting. Our Zanzibar area guide covers the bigger decision between towns.
Things to Do in Paje
Watch the Beach Change With the Tide
At higher water, you get that bright blue sea close to the beach. As it retreats, the view changes completely. I watched the waterline move so far in about an hour that I could hardly believe it.
I would check a local tide forecast each day, then put the swim or beach time where it actually makes sense. Use the other part of the day for a café, lunch or an outing. It is a much happier way to stay here than arriving on the sand at low tide and wondering where your swimming beach went.
Do not assume shallow water is clear of hazards. Watch your footing and avoid standing on coral or disturbing marine life. Conditions vary along the shore, and walking further out is not always the answer to a low tide.
Enjoy the Kitesurfing Atmosphere
The beach came alive in the afternoons during our visit, with kite surfers out and people gathering along the cafés. Even without booking a lesson, it was fun to watch.
If you want lessons, compare the school's supervision, equipment and weather policy. Stay clear of launch areas if you are swimming or walking past. Watching everyone out there was enough entertainment for me!
Make Space for a Normal Morning
This is one of the reasons Paje worked for us. We went to Jumbo Fitness almost daily; a day pass was US$5 when we visited. It overlooked a football pitch, and it gave us something familiar in the middle of a long trip.
We also spent time in cafés with our laptops. That does not mean I can promise a particular internet speed at every table. If you need to work, check the connection before settling in, order while you are using the space and have a backup connection. The eSIM I use is one option to check for your trip's coverage.
Where to Eat in Paje: The Places I Would Return To
This was a huge part of why I liked Paje so much! We did not just have one good dinner and then spend the rest of the stay trying to repeat it. There were genuinely different places to look forward to.
al Casbah: Beef Tagine and That Banana Cake
We found al Casbah without making a big plan, and the owner Sharif talked us through the food. You could see into the kitchen, which I loved. We had homemade bread with a chickpea spread, a Kilimanjaro iced tea, beef tagine and banana cake with banana sauce.
That cake was a 10 out of 10 for me. Honestly, leave space for it! The whole meal felt personal, and it is one of the first places I would send someone who asked where to eat in Paje.
Basil: Good Enough That We Went Twice
Basil, Modern Asian Kitchen and Bar, was run by two Vietnamese women, and we went back for a second visit. We had nasi goreng, pad krapow and satay, with popcorn brought out too. It was a lovely place to have something different after a few beach meals.
Shanga: An Early Dinner by the Beach
We went around 5:30pm and had chicken and beef curries with local beers. Acrobats were performing on the sand, and it was such a fun place to sit and watch the evening happening around us.
I would come here when you want the beach atmosphere with your meal, rather than treating dinner as something to squeeze between activities. Performances are not a guaranteed nightly inclusion; that was what was happening on our visit.
Bento: When You Both Want Something Different
Bento is a food court, with options including burgers, sushi, Mexican food, pizza, seafood and desserts. It is handy when you do not feel like agreeing on one cuisine.
We got the Carnival of Flavors sharing platter for 80,000 Tanzanian shillings. Two mains would have been 60,000, so we spent the extra and shared nachos, burritos, empanadas, tacos and flautas. That was our order and price at the time, not a current menu quote.
Coffee and Breakfast: A Few Worth Keeping on Your Map
Mr Kahawa was lovely for sitting by the sand, with coffee or a ginger-lime kombucha and the changing water in front of us. ZanziBarista was another café we used, including for some work time. These little mornings were as much a part of our stay as the bigger outings.
We also went to Hello Capitano and BaraBara. I would keep a few options saved and choose depending on where you wake up, rather than crossing town to follow a rigid breakfast itinerary.
Outings From Paje I Would Make Time For
Maalum Cave: Book a Swimming Slot Direct
Maalum was one of my favourite things we did in Zanzibar! We booked the 9:30 slot and had the swimming space to ourselves. The light coming into that water was incredible. I would go early again, even though I would not expect to get it to ourselves twice.
We paid US$20 each for a 90-minute swimming slot and booked directly. Rock shoes, lockers and towels were provided during our visit, which made it easy to turn up and enjoy it.
Check the current session times and terms on Maalum's own website before going. This is the cave swim we did, not a recommendation for a captive-turtle swimming attraction. They are different experiences, and I would not mix them up when booking.
Jambiani: A Beach Outing and a Swahili Lunch
We went horse riding at Jambiani, along the beach and into the water. It gave us some of my favourite photos from Zanzibar. If that is something you are considering, ask about the horses' welfare, rider suitability and conditions rather than choosing only by the picture.
You can browse Jambiani activities here, checking the operator and inclusions before booking.
We also ate at Jiwe's Swahili Kitchen. Daniel had fish curry and I had chicken biryani, with skewers and chips as well. It was a 10 out of 10 meal for us and a good reason not to make a Jambiani visit only about a photo stop.
Mtende and The Rock: What I Would Do Differently
We drove about 45 minutes each way to Mtende and arrived at low tide. We waited, but not long enough to get the swimming visit we had imagined. I would check the tide before committing to that drive and plan the day around it.
There were sea urchins, and we saw starfish being moved for visitors to pose with for tips. I would not take part in that. The beach is enough without handling wildlife for a picture.
We stopped to look at The Rock restaurant from the coast. If you want to make a meal of that visit, check its menu and reserve directly before heading over.
How I Would Plan Five Nights in Paje
You do not need 13 nights to enjoy Paje. That was our time to work, train, eat and move slowly, not a checklist everyone needs to follow. For five nights, this is how I would spread things out on a return visit.
Scroll to see the full table →
| Day | My plan | What decides the timing |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Settle in, walk around the neighbourhood and have an easy dinner | Arrival time and energy |
| First full day | Beach, coffee and al Casbah | Tide and swimming conditions |
| Second full day | Maalum and a relaxed afternoon | Your booked swimming session |
| Third full day | Jambiani and a Swahili lunch | Activity availability and conditions |
| Fourth full day | Gym or café morning, beach and Shanga | Leave this one mostly open |
| Departure | Breakfast and onward travel | Allow time for the transfer |
I would not add Stone Town, Prison Island, Mnemba and Nungwi to that same short stay and still call it relaxed. Choose the outings you actually care about. Our Zanzibar planning guide is the place to work out the wider route.
Getting Around and Paying for Things
We used a scooter for some outings, but our rental company did not deliver the permit they had promised. That led to a police stop and a payment of 20,000 shillings. It is not something I would tell you to copy or treat as a normal fee.
Before riding, confirm the current licence, permit and insurance requirements and make sure you actually have the documents, not just a promise. If that is not sorted, arrange a driver instead.
For day-to-day spending, carry some local cash and clarify whether a price is in shillings or dollars. I use this Wise card for travel, but check any ATM or card fees before accepting a transaction. Our stay and meal figures above are examples from our visit, not a promise of today's prices.
Watch Our Paje and East Coast Zanzibar Vlog
This is the video to watch for the feel of Paje, our meals and the east coast outings. You will see why we liked having more time here rather than treating it as a single beach stop.
Watch our Paje vlog on YouTube, or follow Ell's Passport for the next destination.
FAQs About Paje, Zanzibar
How many nights should you stay in Paje?
I would start with four or five nights for beach time, restaurants and a couple of outings. We spent 13 nights across our trip because we were travelling slowly and working as well. You do not need to stay that long to enjoy it.
Can you swim at Paje beach?
Yes, when the tide and local conditions are suitable. The water retreats a long way at low tide, so I would plan swimming around a daily tide forecast and advice on the particular beach stretch. It is not an all-day swimming beach in the way some visitors expect.
Is Paje only for kitesurfers?
No. We enjoyed the cafés, restaurants, gym and nearby outings without making the stay a kitesurfing holiday. The wind and kite activity are part of the atmosphere, though, so that matters if you want a very still, quiet beach.
Where did we stay in Paje?
Chokoro House and ENVI Paje were two of our bases. We had five nights at Chokoro and four at ENVI, within 13 nights total in Paje across the trip. Chokoro cost us A$638.56 total for two for those five nights.
Final Thoughts: Would I Choose Paje Again?
Absolutely. The tide takes a bit of planning, but I loved that we could have a normal morning, a genuinely good dinner and a beach afternoon in the same place. That is much closer to how we like travelling than trying to fill every day with tours.
Check Chokoro House for a base like ours or ENVI Paje if you want an oceanfront wellness-focused stay. Then save a few restaurants, leave room to change your plans, and please try that banana cake.
