A palm-lined white sand beach curving along a calm turquoise lagoon at sunrise, reef rocks in the shallow water

Kitesurf in Jambiani with Mawimbi, your local team

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Jambiani now

Tides, wind and your best hour today

Wind forecast from Windy.app

Wind, gusts, tide and swell for Jambiani Beach, next to our school.

Open Jambiani Beach in Windy.app

  • Local teachers, real names

    Alawi, Mustafa and Rama are locals, and guests mention them by name again and again. They know this lagoon.

    Meet the team
  • Prices you can see

    A 3-hour private lesson is $120. Group, private, rental, SUP and downwinder prices are listed openly, and the equipment is included.

    See all prices
  • A lagoon to learn in

    Shallow, sandy water where you can stand up, two students per teacher at most, and lessons only when wind and water are right.

    Watch the tide

What guests say

4.9

Google, 23 reviews

TripAdvisor 4.8, 17 reviews

From the introduction to the more advanced sessions, everything was very professional and hands-on from the start…
ValentinLessons with Mustafa, Google
Rama is such an energetic, positive, and experienced coach.
NoraGoogle
Alawi was my instructor and with zero experience I was up and kiting within a few days.
AndrewGoogle
We had an amazing time at Mawimbi Kite School, one of the few kite schools owned by Zanzibaris.
MaximilianTripAdvisor
Best kite school in Jambiani and around! Had a lot of fun learning my first steps in kite surfing.
OleGoogle
Our instructors (Alawi and Mustapha) were taking very good care of us. They did everything to make the lessons safe.
JohnnyTripAdvisor
Amazing local school and teachers, I was able to learn the basics and ride 50 meters in 2 days.
XaviGoogle
Awesome kiteschool owned by locals, with great prices and great quality on kitegear.
KevinTripAdvisor

Watch the lagoon change with the tide

Illustrated views of the lagoon. Times and levels are real predictions from the Zanzibar tide gauge.

The lagoon

Three Mawimbi teachers in yellow vests hold up a kite in the shallow turquoise lagoon, a board at their feet
Rated 4.9 on Google
23 reviews

Our spot in Jambiani

Mawimbi Beach is a small station on the south-east coast of Zanzibar, between Coral Rocks and Kimte Beach. The wind is steady, wetsuits are not needed and there is plenty of room for everybody.

At low tide the lagoon drains and shows white sand flats, with dhows resting on the sand and seaweed farms in the shallows. At high tide the water reaches the beach. The planner above tells you which one to expect.

Find us on Maps

Your teachers

The Mawimbi teachers in yellow vests on the beach under palm trees, with a kite and a board

Meet the Mawimbi team

Alawi, Mustafa and Rama are the teachers guests mention most. Here is what they say about them.

  • Alawi, kite teacher at Mawimbi Kite School

    Alawi

    Alawi was my instructor and with zero experience I was up and kiting within a few days.

    Andrew, Google

  • Mustafa, kite teacher at Mawimbi Kite School

    Mustafa

    From the introduction to the more advanced sessions, everything was very professional and hands-on from the start…

    Valentin, Google

  • Rama, kite teacher at Mawimbi Kite School

    Rama

    Rama is such an energetic, positive, and experienced coach.

    Nora, Google

A Mawimbi teacher shows a guest how to hold the control bar, both standing waist-deep in the turquoise lagoon

How your first lesson goes

  1. Meet on the beach

    You meet your teacher at the station. Helmet, harness and impact vest are included in every lesson.

  2. Learn the kite on land

    Safety first, then kite control on the sand, before you go near the water.

  3. Move into the lagoon

    Body dragging in shallow water, then your first rides on the board.

  4. Ride, then repeat

    Most guests ride on their own after 9 to 12 hours, spread over about three days.

Find your course

Pick a level, see the price, book on WhatsApp.

See the full price list

Kite lessons

Kite lesson prices in US dollars
CourseHoursPrice
Private, one student3$120
Private, one student6$230
Private, one student9$300
Beginner group, two students, price for both3$150
Beginner group, two students, price for both6$260
Beginner group, two students, price for both9$370
Refresher, private2$100

SUP and downwinders

Stand up paddling and downwind trip prices in US dollars
ActivityHoursPrice
SUP lesson1$15
SUP rental1$10
Downwinder to Paje, 9 km, group of 4 to 5, per rider2from $20
Downwinder to Paje, 9 km, private2$55
Downwinder to Michamvi, 22 km, group of 4 to 5, per rider3from $30
Downwinder to Michamvi, 22 km, private3$75

Equipment rental

Equipment rental prices in US dollars
TimeFull gearBoardKiteHarness
1 hour$20$10$15$5
Half day$50$20$40$15
Day$80$30$55$20
3 days$200$60$150$40
6 days$300$120$250$70

To rent gear you need IKO level 3 (independent rider: self-rescue, riding upwind, turning) or VDWS level 4 with self-rescue and full pack-down knowledge.

All lessons include equipment and safety gear. Downwinders are for experienced riders, an instructor rides with you: ask on WhatsApp and pick the best time together. Prices in US dollars. Pay in cash in USD, EUR or TZS, or by credit card (plus 5 %). Kite repairs and wing foil: just ask on WhatsApp.

Two dhows and four kites over the Jambiani lagoon at low tide, with seaweed farms in the shallow water

Contact us

Tell us your level and your dates

Send a message with your level, your dates and how many of you are coming. We answer on WhatsApp and help you pick the right course. Questions about wind, tides or kit are welcome too.

Book on WhatsApp

The east coast

Spots and seasons, month by month

Find us

The Mawimbi kite school from above, with its painted sign and the teachers on a bench in front

Mawimbi Beach, Jambiani

The hand-painted Mawimbi Kite School sign

South-east coast of Zanzibar, between Coral Rocks and Kimte Beach. Open every day from 9:00 to 18:00. Pay in cash or by card when you arrive.

Find us on Maps
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