On the 27th of December 2019, we were fortunate enough to travel to a magical paradise, Zanzibar. During our trip, we came across unforgettable faces, breath-taking stories and a unique kite spot. In this article, we will be sharing our story and experiences with the support of Naish Kiteboarding.
The beautiful blue waters of Zanzibar located just off the coast of Tanzania makes the perfect kiters destination. We had the opportunity of a life time to go and film a video for Naish Kiteboarding in the remote destination of Paje. Paje is a small village in Unguja, Zanzibar. It is located on the Southeast coast between the villages of Bwejuu and Jambiani. There are countless ways to describe Paje. From the loving locals, to the way of life and the importance of music in their culture. With very little knowledge of the place before arrival, we were content to see the local culture integrate and balance well with tourism. It is a common fear when arriving to a remote destination, such as Zanzibar, that the magic of Africa would be stripped away for touristic purposes. Paje is definitely a touristic area, much like any kite spot in the world, but the sense of African living is alive and so welcoming. The locals are very lively and give a kite trip a completely new face.
Before we arrived, our expectations were vague and we didn’t know what to expect besides turquoise warm water, and very hot temperatures. Flying into the airport we were already amazed by the views from the plane window, we couldn’t wait to arrive. Everyone planning to go to Zanzibar needs to be prepared for a long and hot wait in the airport. It took us two hours to get through passport control. The tourist visa is a long process but adds to the experience. Once we made it through the airport, we enjoyed a fun taxi ride through stone town, past beautiful beaches but also a way of life that may be different from a lot of kiters. The second we arrived to the spot we were gifted with a smooth 15 knot breeze, 35 degrees (Celsius) and crystal clear flat water, the perfect way to cool down. We knew we were in for a treat and this was going to be a trip to remember. We pumped up straight away and went out for a session before even going to our apartment. We scored a super fun session, and this set the tone for the rest of the trip.
Those of you who don’t know about Zanzibar it’s an archipelago of Islands off the coast of Tanzania and is 2,461 km squared. The name Zanzibar comes from Arabic and means ‘the coast of black people’. Zanzibar is most well-known for its exotic and dreamy beaches and its diverse culture and history. We certainly understood why. Zanzibar has so much to offer for kite surfers, whether you’re searching for the perfect foiling spot, flat water, waves, or wanting to learn how to kite, with its warm temperatures and reflecting sands Zanzibar has it all.
With gratitude, we walked every morning from our apartment to the kite beach (40-minute walk), passing different sceneries and making many new friends. We kited almost every day for ten days. The conditions are definitely light, but offer an amazing place to learn kitesurfing, a great 12m freestyle session and perfect foil when the tide is higher.
Looking back at this trip, we wouldn’t change anything. The place creates its own magic, the wind was light but ridable, the people were kind, the weather was warm, and the vibe was warm, fun and unforgettable!
To learn more and see the video of our trip, be sure to head over to www.naishkites.com
A huge thanks to Naish Kiteboarding for supporting us an allowing us to see beautiful parts of the world!
Pole pole
Anna and Tom
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