Kitesurfer jumping over the Paje lagoon beside a ngalawa outrigger

Cattle walking along the white sand at Paje

A kanga snapping in the trade wind on Paje beach

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Ride Paje, Zanzibar, keep it open

A white-sand village on Zanzibar's east coast, where a reef-sheltered lagoon drains and fills with the tide and the trade winds blow for most of the year. Kiters share the shallows with the women who farm seaweed there.

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20 riders call this homeKite, WingKite Centre Zanzibar, Paje

Everything you need to know about Paje, Zanzibar

Live conditions

Why riders love it

What brings people here, from the people who manage it and the people who ride it.

The Kaskazi blows from the north at about 12–25 knots from mid-December to February. The Kusi blows from May to October, usually calmer in the morning and stronger after lunch.
Inner and outer lagoons give flat, knee-deep water at different tides. Low tide empties the inner lagoon and pushes riders to the outer lagoon and sandbanks.
The reef is less aggressive than many tropical reefs, but watch for sea urchins.

Sources: IKSURFMAG

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Access and rules

Local governments and environmental agencies set the terms. The chapter works with them, not around them.

We found no published government rules for kitesurfing in Paje.
Riders are advised to cross the seaweed farms only at mid or high tide. A 2016 study recommended an integrated coastal management plan, developed with the community, to manage use of the intertidal zone.

Sources: IKSURFMAG; SIT Study Abroad (Walczak and Levine, 2016)

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Ecology and habitat

Protected lagoons, wetlands and the species that depend on them. Stewardship days keep launches clean inside the protected zones.

Women make up more than 80 percent of Zanzibar's seaweed farming workforce, according to a 2025 World Bank report.
Farmers in Paje report die-offs linked to temperature changes, salinity swings and long low-tide exposure.

Sources: Daily News (Tanzania)

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Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

Paje is a village on the southeast coast of Unguja, the main island of Zanzibar, with Jambiani to the south and Bwejuu to the north.
A barrier reef shelters a wide, shallow lagoon in front of the beach.
December to April can also bring swell from Indian Ocean systems.
Several kite centres operate along the beach, so gear rental and lessons are easy to find.

Sources: IKSURFMAG

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Schools that teach on this water

Kite Centre ZanzibarPaje by KiteZanzibar Kite Paradise

Paje, Zanzibar

The Kaskazi blows from the north at 12–25 knots mid-December to February.

Source: IKSURFMAG

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Paje, Zanzibar

The Kusi trade wind returns May–October building after lunch.

Source: IKSURFMAG

Know the spot

Paje, Zanzibar

Inner and outer lagoons give flat water at different tides. Knee-deep and turquoise.

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Why Paje, Zanzibar needs a chapter

Africa

Twice a year the trade winds settle over Zanzibar, and Paje's lagoon becomes a playground: knee-deep, turquoise and protected by the reef. As the tide moves, riders shift between the inner and outer lagoons.

20riders call this home

3local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Paje, Zanzibar chapter, World Wind Sports

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Africa

The same shallows are a workplace. Women make up most of Zanzibar's seaweed farmers, and in Paje they tend their lines in the lagoon at low tide while warming water and die-offs cut into harvests. A 2016 study found that unmanaged kitesurfing in the intertidal zone had added to conflict with farmers, fishers and the community.

20riders call this home

3local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Paje, Zanzibar chapter, World Wind Sports

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Africa

A chapter can help Paje's schools and riders work with the village on the plan that study called for: agreed riding areas, respect for the farms, and a sport that gives back to the place it depends on.

20riders call this home

3local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Paje, Zanzibar chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Paje, Zanzibar

Riders from Paje, Zanzibar Paje, Jambiani, Bwejuu, Zanzibar, Stone Town, Stone Town, and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board

KKite Centre ZanzibarLocal school teaching on this waterPPaje by KiteLocal school teaching on this waterZZanzibar Kite ParadiseLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.KKite Centre ZanzibarLocal school teaching on this waterPPaje by KiteLocal school teaching on this waterZZanzibar Kite ParadiseLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.

Leodiger MageniInstructor Level 2, Zanzibar

Elif TaluyInstructor Level 1, Zanzibar

Abdulrahman wahadha BakarInstructor Level 1, Zanzibar

Hassan VuaaInstructor Level 1, Zanzibar Paje

Bahama HusseinInstructor Level 2, Stone Town,

Hassan Issa PanduInstructor Level 1, Zanzibar

Hassan Said MaburukiInstructor Level 3, Zanzibar

Yakobo ParamisaInstructor Level 1, Jambiani

Moh’dLevel 4U, Zanzibar

Mudric SaidLevel 4V, Zanzibar

Natalino MwendaLevel 4T, Zanzibar

Georgia AnsellLevel 3L, Jambiani

abubakar AliCertified rider, zanzibar

Said Ramadhan Suleiman RamadhanLevel 4T, Paje

Yahia ElghoniemiLevel 4Q, Zanzibar

Abdulrahman MohamedCertified rider, Zanzibar

Captain InnohCertified rider, ZanzibarMMalu Van LeeuwenLevel 3L, ZANZIBARFFaiz khamisLevel 3L, zanzibarSSuleiman YussufCertified rider, Zanzibar

Leodiger MageniInstructor Level 2, Zanzibar

Elif TaluyInstructor Level 1, Zanzibar

Abdulrahman wahadha BakarInstructor Level 1, Zanzibar

Hassan VuaaInstructor Level 1, Zanzibar Paje

Bahama HusseinInstructor Level 2, Stone Town,

Hassan Issa PanduInstructor Level 1, Zanzibar

Hassan Said MaburukiInstructor Level 3, Zanzibar

Yakobo ParamisaInstructor Level 1, Jambiani

Moh’dLevel 4U, Zanzibar

Mudric SaidLevel 4V, Zanzibar

Natalino MwendaLevel 4T, Zanzibar

Georgia AnsellLevel 3L, Jambiani

abubakar AliCertified rider, zanzibar

Said Ramadhan Suleiman RamadhanLevel 4T, Paje

Yahia ElghoniemiLevel 4Q, Zanzibar

Abdulrahman MohamedCertified rider, Zanzibar

Captain InnohCertified rider, ZanzibarMMalu Van LeeuwenLevel 3L, ZANZIBARFFaiz khamisLevel 3L, zanzibarSSuleiman YussufCertified rider, Zanzibar

iSportsKite, WingiWind spotKite Centre Zanzibar, PajeiKnow thisPaje, southeast coast of Unguja, Zanzibar, Tanzania.iKnow thisKaskazi (Dec–Feb, 12–25 knots) and Kusi (May–Oct) trade winds over a knee-deep lagoon.iKnow thisNo formal kiting rules; the intertidal zone is shared with seaweed farms.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotKite Centre Zanzibar, PajeiKnow thisPaje, southeast coast of Unguja, Zanzibar, Tanzania.iKnow thisKaskazi (Dec–Feb, 12–25 knots) and Kusi (May–Oct) trade winds over a knee-deep lagoon.iKnow thisNo formal kiting rules; the intertidal zone is shared with seaweed farms.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Paje, Zanzibar

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