South-east Zanzibar village with a shallow reef-sheltered lagoon, famous for kitesurfing and women's seaweed farms
Paje faces east across the Indian Ocean, with powdery white sand and a lagoon of pale turquoise water that stretches out to a reef line where the waves break. Because the reef holds back the swell and the bottom is sandy and shallow, the lagoon is ideal for kitesurfing, and on windy days dozens of colourful kites fill the sky. Kite schools, guesthouses, cafés and beach bars line the shore, giving the village a relaxed, sporty feel.
The tide shapes everything here. When it falls, the sea retreats a long way, exposing sandbars, rock pools and rows of stakes where local women grow seaweed on ropes. When it returns, the lagoon fills with warm, waist-deep water. Paje is also well placed for exploring the south-east coast, with Jambiani and Bwejuu on either side and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park a short drive inland.
Paje grew as a fishing and farming village on Unguja's east coast, where communities have long made a living from the lagoon and reef. Today seaweed farming is the village's main economic activity: red algae of the Eucheuma and Kappaphycus groups are tied to ropes in the shallows and harvested by hand after around six to eight weeks, without chemicals, fresh water or soil. Women are at the forefront of the work, and hundreds of them farm seaweed in Paje.
Tourism has grown alongside, led by kitesurfing, as the steady winds and sheltered lagoon drew schools and visitors to the east coast. Seaweed farmers face pressures from warmer seas, shifting currents, price swings and middlemen who take a large share of the profit, and local initiatives such as the Mwani Zanzibar Mamas, a collective that turns seaweed into soaps and skincare products, aim to give women a better return from their work.
Paje remains a Swahili Muslim village, and beyond the beach strip daily life follows the tides and the call to prayer. Women head out at low tide to tend seaweed lines, fishermen set off in outrigger canoes, and children play football on the sand in the late afternoon. Visitors should cover up when walking into the village, and ask before photographing seaweed farmers at work.
Kitesurfing is the main draw, and Paje's schools teach complete beginners as well as hosting experienced riders; the flat, shallow water makes learning easier and safer than in open surf. For non-kiters, stand-up paddleboarding, cycling along the beach and snorkelling trips to the outer reef are popular. Many travellers also visit Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park or take boat trips from the south coast.
To understand local life, join a seaweed farm visit, where women explain how the crop is planted and harvested and what it is used for. Plan your days around the tide tables: at low tide you can walk far out across the sand flats, while swimming is best when the water returns.
The lagoon has usable wind for much of the year. The north-east monsoon, the kaskazi, brings strong sea breezes to the east coast during the northern winter, roughly December to February, and the drier months from June to October are also popular with kiters. The long rains from March to May bring heavy showers. Tides matter as much as season: check tide tables, as the lagoon can almost empty at low tide.
Checked against the sources on 28 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Jambiani lies just to the south and Bwejuu to the north, both with similar beaches and seaweed farms. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, home of the red colobus monkey, is a short drive inland on the road to Stone Town, which is about an hour away.
Tanzania · 10 nights5★ LodgeTanzania · 8 nights5★ LodgeTanzania · 5 nights5★ LodgeThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 28 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
