The Spot
Although there are other potential spots in the north of the island the place you see in the videos and magazine shoots and on facebook is called PAJE and on the east coast.
This is where the kite centres and best conditions can be found in both seasons with a variety of different conditions.
The tide makes a big difference in Zanzibar, however Paje is blessed with an internal lagoon and then a second lagoon 200 metres out. As the tide moves (and also as the moon effects the range throughout the month) you get everything from flat lagoons with standing area for hundreds of metres to high tide beach kickers and everything in between.
There is always flat water available for about 4 hours of the day for beginner courses using both lagoons, and every couple of weeks there is flat water all day as the tides range and moon play wonderfully together.
If that was not enough there is also a reef 2km from the shore, and whilst this makes it more suitable for the experienced riders, this does also provide a wave riding heaven with breaks in both directions and downwinders of truly epic proportions where you can choose to follow this reef as long as your heart desires or cut inside and explore the numerous lagoons along the coast.
The Weather
There are 2 seasons in Zanzibar, December -> March and then June -> October.
Form the middle of June through to October there is a South to North wind. ?This wind blows every day following parallel to the beach line upwards. The wind has a speed of 11 to 22 knots but in a season there may be a few days where the wind really kicks in up to 25+ knots.
For this season the air is 25-28 degrees and the water the same, ..this makes riding without a wetsuit perfect, but a neoprene top for the evening sessions or those that feel the cold can be an option.
Mid December through the end of March. North to South wind.?This wind also blows parallel to the beach, although the speed varies somehow and there are sometimes lulls in the wind for a few days. The wind has a speed of 11 to 18 knots but there are also 18-25 knot days.
For this season the air is 28-32 degrees and the water is 28-30, ..this makes riding without a wetsuit perfect in all conditions.
Good sunscreen is essential in both seasons as Zanzibar is not far from the equator and the sun is very strong.
The Kite Centre
For the sistas there is really only one kite centre in Paje, Zanzibar… Paje By Kite (www.pajebykite.net /www.facebook.com/pajebykite).
They have almost all female IKO instructors, latest equipment from Wainman, Flexifoil, Tablas, with Cabrinha and A-Boards for the next season and always expanding. Better than that they have a fully stocked shop with girly shorts, bikinis, lycras sunglasss and more.
For no wind days they have hammocks, a pool, SUP and surf boards, a boat for wake-boarding, ..in fact there is not much more you could ask for in a kite centre.
Prices for full courses are €300 (10 hours or 6 hours for private 1 to 1) or you can take lessons by the hour for €60/hour if you just want a quick refresher.
They will also give freestyle clinics for girls by girls and will always try and meet your needs.
For the best prices please use our exclusive KiteSista contact email: [email protected] which will put you directly in touch with the best possible person (Marco) to help you.
There are other centres in Paje but none are more stocked with sista friendly options and offer the female instructors and relaxed environment as Paje By Kite.
The Accommodation
There is a wide variety of hotels to suit all budgets in Paje, but we will do our best to list the best in order of preference of course
Paje By Kite/ Paje By Night – www.pajebykite.net – please email [email protected] for best prices.
Rooms from $60 – $115 / night with free-wifi, bar, pool, restaurant, numerous chill out areas and 100m from the beach to shield you from the wind when you have had enough. Regular parties and a really good atmosphere.
Arabian Nights www.zanzibararabiannights.com
Huge variety of different rooms from $40 – $140. Next to the beach also with a pool and everything from rooms to bungalowes to an Annex for large groups with a private pool.
The New Teddy’s Place www.teddys-place.com
With a much more backpackers feel and price to reflect, ..Teddy’s place from $15 – $55.
Teddy’s Place offers you charming makuti bandas, bungalows made of palm leafs. They are equipped with mosquito nets over the beds and fans. Toilets and showers are shared. Beside single, double or triple bandas they also offer single beds in a dorm banda.
They are about 3 minutes walk from the Paje By Kite Centre, but still very much on the spot and also with a nice atmosphere.
Kinazi Upepo www.kinaziupepo.com
From $50 – $75 this hotel has 14 beach bungalowes which are right on the beach and good value for money, however in our opinion if they offer you a room that is not one of the beach huts then you can do better to look elsewhere.
Dhow Inn www.dhowinn.net
Offering a little bit more luxury at $150 – $300 and 5 minutes walk up the beach this place, just completely refurbished, has always been described by me as ‘the place I would put my parents’ if they came to stay.
Cristal Resorts www.cristalresort.net
Owned by the same people as Kinazi Upepo they are essentially the slightly more luxury version with rooms from $50 – $125. Only 300 metres from the spot although not marketed as particularly kite friendly (the only hotel to have a no kite zone immediately outside their beach beds) they have a lot of kiter guests and this should not be seen as a put off if the style is to your liking.
Kitete www.kitetebeach.com
Not luxury and without much charm but I know they offer reasonable rates (none on the website when I checked) when everything else is booked up so worth mentioning them here. On the beach also, but although I have nothing bad to say from what I hear, ..there is also nothing amazing to say either.
Resident Photographer
What better way to share your kiting experience here in Zanzibar than to have some professional photographs of you to share and post?
Shayne Thomas specializes in kiting photography and has done some really big and awesome shoots with girls like Susi Mai.
Feel free to check out his facebook page and have a look at some of his work… www.facebook.com/shaynetphoto
