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SURF ZANZIBAR

Warm water. Uncrowded reefs. Expert guides. Zanzibar's surf scene is one of the Indian Ocean's best kept secrets — and we've been exploring it since 2014.
Features Strip
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All Levels

Beginner to advanced. Different spots for every ability.

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Wide Gear Range

Soft tops to shortboards. Everything you need on the boat.

All Inclusive

Shuttle, boat, gear, guiding, snacks and water included.

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Two Locations

Paje and Dongwe. We find the best wave for the day.

WARM WATER. REAL WAVES. ZERO CROWDS.

Zanzibar isn’t your typical surf destination – and that’s exactly why we love it. The surf here is warm, uncrowded and genuinely great fun, particularly for beginners and those still building their skills on the wave. Experienced surfers can absolutely score good sessions too, but conditions are more variable and we’ll always be honest with you about what to expect on any given day.

The surf here won’t blow your mind on paper. But it will put a smile on your face in the water — and that’s what matters.

What we can guarantee is warm water, no crowds, and guides who know every reef on this coastline.

Choose your Session

Beginner trips run daily. Intermediate and advanced sessions on demand - we organise around conditions
Beginner Surf Trip
MOST POPULAR ← PHOTO →
First Hit → Getting Hooked

Beginner Surf Trip

Never surfed before or still finding your feet? Our beginner trips run daily in Dongwe — a consistent, protected wave that's perfect for learning and genuinely fun at all skill levels.

4 – 4.5 hrs Max 6 per instructor Dongwe

What to Expect

  • Transfer to Dongwe surf base
  • Gear prep + on-land lesson & safety briefing
  • Short boat ride to the spot
  • 1.5 – 2hrs surf time with group instruction
  • Snacks + boat back to beach
Book This Trip
Dongwe Doughnut
FULL DAY ← PHOTO →
Beginner → Intermediate

Dongwe Doughnut

Our signature full-day trip. Surf + snorkelling in Blue Lagoon + underwater wing experience. The most fun you'll have on the water — all in one day.

~6 hrs 3 activities Dongwe

What to Expect

  • Transfer to Dongwe surf base
  • Gear prep + briefing for all activities
  • Underwater wing experience (~10 min/person)
  • Snorkelling in Blue Lagoon (30–45 min)
  • 1.5 – 2hrs surf time + instruction
  • Snacks + boat back to beach
Book This Trip
Intermediate & Advanced
ADVANCED ← PHOTO →
Full Addict → No Cure Needed

Intermediate & Advanced

You can ride. Now let's find you a proper wave. Our guides know every reef and break on this coastline — and will take you somewhere worth the paddle.

Half or full day Shortboards available Paje & Dongwe

What to Expect

  • Spot selection based on swell & conditions
  • Board selection from our full quiver
  • Guided boat trip to outer reefs
  • 2+ hrs surf time with guide in water
  • Conditions & technique feedback
Book This Trip

Our Surf Trip Rates

  • $60
  • $75

Packages

  • $230
  • $55 per session
  • $530

Good questions. Honest answers.

Before you get hooked, here's what you need to know.
The main surf season runs December to mid-March and again June to end of October. That said we run beginner trips year-round — the protected beginner spot in Dongwe is consistent almost all year. If you’re an experienced surfer chasing proper waves, aim for the main season windows.

Not at all for our beginner trips — they run daily and are designed for complete first-timers. If you have some experience and want to push your surfing further, get in touch and we’ll talk through what’s realistic based on current conditions.

Honest answer — Zanzibar isn’t a big wave destination. Our beginner spot in Dongwe is small, consistent and protected, which makes it perfect for learning. On good swell days the intermediate and advanced spots can deliver fun, punchy waves — but we’ll always tell you what to realistically expect before you book.
The amount of guides depends on group size and level of surfers. All our surf lessons are group lessons and usually no more than 6 students per instructor. We are the only ones in the spot which means even in a bigger group you will be able to catch a lot of waves and progress nicely.
Zanzibar is primarily a reef break destination — most of our spots are accessed by boat and break over coral and sand. This is actually a good thing: reef breaks tend to be more consistent and better shaped than beach breaks. Reef shoes are included in every trip and our guides will always brief you on the bottom before you paddle out.
It depends on the tides more than the time of day — Zanzibar has significant tidal movement which affects which spots work and when. We plan every trip around the tide chart so you’re always hitting the spot at the right time. Earliest start is before sunrise and latest start at 15:00 until Sunset.

Unfortunately not — board rental is only available as part of our guided trips. The surf spots here aren’t signposted and aren’t suitable for independent surfing — rip tides, shallow reef sections and sea urchins make local knowledge essential. This isn’t us being overly cautious, it’s genuine safety advice.

No — the tides only give us one surfable window per day, typically 1.5 to 3 hours depending on conditions. It’s one of the realities of surfing Zanzibar waves. The upside? You’ll be back on the beach in time to enjoy the rest of the island. Book consecutive days to make the most of your time here.

Yes — all surf trips include a free shuttle from hotels in Paje, Jambiani and Bwejuu. Staying somewhere else on the island? Drop us a message and we’ll help arrange a driver at a fair price.

Have you seen us on WSL?

Check it out and enjoy this fun documentary series about surfing in Zanzibar

Episode 1

The Rise Of Swahili Surf Culture On Zanzibar

Episode 2

Exploring Traditional Medicine And Stunning Swahili Island Reefs

Episode 3

A Special Final Session With The Pioneers Of Surfing On Zanzibar

GET IN TOUCH WITH US

Contact us for any questions and inquiries and we will be happy to sort you out for your time in Zanzibar.

+255 (0) 776 897 978
info@aquaholics-zanzibar.com
Paje Beach, Zanzibar
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