Traditional fishing boats float by. A herd of cattle shuffles along the beach, past the Masai in their colorful robes and the locals growing seaweed. And all this against the backdrop of a snow-white beach and turquoise water. Waking up at Blue Reef Fishing Lodge in Jambiani turns out to be an authentic Zanzibar experience.

From the bar, sipping my coffee, I watch the water recede for miles. It disappears down to the surf, all the way into the horizon. It leaves many boats, including the seabed itself, dry. Here in Jambiani the influence of the moon on the tide is clearly visible. Traditional fishermen practice their craft in cohesion with weather and tides. It makes a Western digital nomad like me realize how far she is from living in and with nature.

Dolphins and ngalawas

Blue Reef is located on the east coast of Zanzibar, where the wind blows almost all the time. This makes it the ideal kitesurfing destination. While Paje is known as the original kite paradise, more and more kiters are discovering the neighboring Jambiani. The beach extends there for miles and offers more than enough space for all surfers.

In addition to simple but comfortable rooms, Blue Reef offers a complete package for daytime activities. For example, this author went to Kizimkazi in the hope of meeting dolphins. Thanks to the experiences of other guests, we’re feeling hopeful to see one. You’d have a ninety percent chance of success, but unfortunately our group appears to belong to the unfortunate minority of ten percent. We end up having made an unsuccessful attempt in spotting the mammal, but nevertheless we enjoy a beautiful coastline. In the hour we sail around, we don’t see a single other boat with tourists.

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A day later, Captain Isaak takes us on his authentic Tanzanian sailboat that he got from his father. The boat is made from the trunk of one mango tree, the mast consists of bamboo. The sail is pulled to the other side in the old-fashioned way when the boat has to tack. When the party goes snorkeling to explore the underwater life, the captain scrapes together ingredients for his fish soup.

No room for boredom

But there’s more. Want to get out on the water and try your hand at big game fishing? Go out with brothers Thomas and Nathan. Discover the story behind seaweed farms, visit the monkeys in the Jozani Rain Forest, or see the capital of Zanzibar during a day at Stone Town. Owners Thomas, Nathan, and Nicky will arrange it for you and do everything they can to take your stay to the next level. They are busy day and night, and nothing is too much trouble for them. We therefore wholeheartedly recommend a stay at Blue Reef Fishing Lodge.

Review of Blue Reef Sports & Fishing Lodge in Jambiani

Location: excellent. Right on the beach. What more could a person want?
Service & facilities: great! Both the owners and the staff are very friendly and helpful.
Rooms: simple, but comfortable.
Disabled accessibility: no
Explanation: Don’t expect super-luxurious rooms, but the location, friendliness, and helpfulness of the staff more than make up for it. We therefore wholeheartedly recommend a stay at Blue Reef Fishing Lodge.

Staying at Blue Reef Sports & Fishing Lodge cost around 63 EUR per night. Read more information or book your stay via their website.