The lagoon at low tide — Jambiani's natural spectacle

Those experiencing low tide in Jambiani for the first time are usually bewildered – the sea disappears. Not just a little, but hundreds of meters away. What was deep blue water in the morning becomes an endless expanse of sand in the afternoon, dotted with small puddles where locals search for seaweed, crabs, and shellfish.

This isn't an anomaly. It's the natural rhythm of Zanzibar's east coast and one of the reasons we chose Jambiani over the north, where the tides are less dramatic and mass tourism reigns supreme.

Twice a day, the entire coastline transforms. At low tide, you can walk for miles out, past seaweed farms where women from the village cultivate and harvest their seaweed. At high tide, the turquoise water returns, almost reaching the hotel seawalls.

For our guests, this is often the most memorable experience of their stay – not the pool, not the room, but this daily rhythm of nature, unlike anything else in Europe. Those who go out when the tide is out see Zanzibar as it truly is.

We always tell our guests: "Look at the tide tables, not your watch. The lagoon follows its own rhythm, and that's precisely what makes Jambiani so special."