Zanzibar

Zuri Resort Hotel is elegantly styled with a local context in mind. From the art-inspired library to the open-air Peponi Bar, decorated with rainbow-colored pendant lamps assembled from old bottles.

The Zuri has plenty of places to relax: a fragrant spice garden, an outdoor library, a water sports pavilion, a yoga area, an open-air gym and a spa that uses all-natural products. Guests’ favorite spots are the gorgeous ice blue pool and silk sand beach.

Positioned above ground to protect the local flora, the Zuri lodges feature warm Tanzanian teak, eucalyptus and nyasi grass thatch imported from the mainland. On the interior, willow mosquito nets flutter over inflatable beds cleverly fitted with Evening Breeze, an energy-efficient cooling system hidden in the folds of the netting. Handmade murals paint the walls. Outdoor terraces overlooking the garden or the Indian Ocean feature hammocks and wicker furniture in bright purples, blues and oranges.

Restaurants Zuri, Upendo, Maisha and Bahari Grill & Bar, offer a mix of African, Indian, Arabic and European cuisine. The seafood dishes here are simply superb. Exquisite cocktails that can’t be matched in any city club are served at Peponi Bar, poolside at Maisha and on the beach at Dhow Bar and Bahari Grill & Bar.

It is set back from the main coastal road, creating a sense of secluded tranquility, although most of the island’s popular tourist spots, such as the famous spice plantations, are easily accessible by car in less than an hour.

The grounds are divided into the main complex and The Level, a large, new luxury enclave with its own restaurant and lounge. In the latter, guests will find a bright, impeccable design reminiscent of Ibiza, with immaculate white cabanas clustered around the infinity pool and turquoise sofas reflecting the Indian Ocean in the lounge. The entire resort has a relaxed style due to the hotel’s seaside location.

The designers were inspired by the writer Karen Blixen from Africa. Palm trees just outside the windows cast shadows on the treatment rooms, and the ebb and flow of the real world can be heard to a typical new-age soundtrack. The staff is attentive and friendly, which is a definite plus since they are often asked to drive guests back and forth across the resort’s vast grounds.

The two-bedroom beach pavilions of The Level complex are a true archetype of the Indian Ocean, in the brightest sense of the word. Mosquito net-adorned four-poster beds open out onto wide terraces, and bejeweled dressing nooks are perfect for changing out of sand-covered beachwear. All rooms feature traditional makuti roofs made from dried palm leaves, and inside, whitewashed wooden walls and dark wood floors provide a backdrop for colorful prints and patterned rugs.

With five restaurants and four bars, there are plenty of dining options for longtime vacationers, and Gabi Beach stands out among them. Located on the hotel’s 300-meter beach, this restaurant offers fresh seafood, and for an additional fee, guests can book a private beachside dinner with their own menu. There’s also the Jetty Lounge, an impressive combination of two huts on stilts, with a lively bar and international restaurant. Breakfast here is all-inclusive, with a rich buffet and classic à la carte dishes to order.

This hotel is housed in three adjacent buildings. Two of them were once home to the Sultan of Oman and are now UNESCO-listed, while the third building was built in 2000, 15 years before Hyatt took ownership of the hotel. The décor reflects the history of Zanzibar, with a harmonious blend of Persian, Omani, European and Indian accents, while intricate lamps with pendulum grilles blend seamlessly with plantation shutters and teak cabinets. The views of the Indian Ocean are breathtaking.

The central building is arranged around a cavernous enclosed courtyard illuminated by a huge glass skylight. Magnificent sunlight falls on the timbers of the original roof structure, which accommodates the space with a palette of creamy hues and warm woods. It is ringed by tall Omani-style arches and a small fountain provides gentle trickles of water. The place is serene, with wide-winged colonial-style ceiling fans whirring silently over gorgeous Persian carpets.

The hotel has a gym, a small but excellent spa, an artist-in-residence, a hair salon and a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the beach, accessed by a short staircase. The hotel has a total of 67 rooms: 56 guest rooms, 7 standard suites and 4 specialty suites, including a huge presidential suite and a luxurious royal residence.

The hotel’s main restaurant is the Dining Room, which serves classic Zanzibar cuisine, including delicious coconut curries and lamb biryani, in comfortable air-conditioned surroundings or on the landscaped terrace overlooking the harbor. Breakfast is also served here, consisting of an extensive buffet. The Living Room and The Library are pleasant lounge areas for a drink, but it’s Beach House that takes over – a restaurant and bar a 4-minute walk from the hotel, with an expansive terrace (which has just about edged out the long-established Africa House Hotel as the best place in Stone Town to watch the sunset) and a trendy menu with plenty of seafood.

This small estate on the southeast coast of Spice Island is a 75-minute drive from Zanzibar airport, through an unremarkable sandy turn with no signposts. It can be overlooked if you don’t know its location, and that’s the point. It takes a minute to walk from the villa to the fine white sands of Bwejuu and look out over the Indian Ocean. Pahe, a 10-minute drive from Xanadu, has bars and great windsurfing opportunities.

Zanzibar belonged to the Sultanate of Oman in ancient times, and the striking domed roofs and large circular rooms testify to Arab history and the influence of spices on this island. In addition to ornate copper camps and trays, there are works of African art, including black-and-white watercolors.

Service here is as personalized as possible. Each villa has a personal butler who can be contacted by walkie-talkie to deliver drinks, pick up laundry or set up tables for meals wherever you wish. The pool is at the heart of the hotel grounds, with loungers, bar and restaurant surrounding it, lit by lanterns in the evenings. The beach has more than enough sun loungers and swinging double hammocks, as well as kayaks, SUP boards and other outdoor activities, and of course a small spa center with one treatment room with a circular spa pool.

All villas look different. The décor combines African art (watercolor portraits of Masai), furniture with Arabic motifs (copper trays and lamps), massive cabinets and mirror frames made from dhow boats. The living room and kitchen are in a separate building within the villa. Creative lunch and dinner menus are updated daily. Seafood is plentiful here.

Located around the corner from the popular and lively Kendwa Beach, Kilindi is strikingly quiet and secluded. It is set amid 20 hectares of coastal greenery and overlooks the ocean and the islands of Tumbatu, Mwana na mwana and Popo.

Space and openness are key elements here. The 15 private, individual, small complexes of white buildings and grounds, called “pavilions” here, have a bedroom, bathroom, downstairs lounge area and pool, and are surrounded by an enclosed garden. The paths are sprinkled with brightly colored hibiscus flowers; monkeys, birds and lizards are often seen and heard here. Wherever you are – on the private beach, by the sleek central pool, or in your own pavilion on the hill – there’s relaxation everywhere.

Each pavilion has its own “guest ambassador” who can help book a spa, order drinks, do laundry or organize dinner. The main pavilion has a cool light blue infinity pool overlooking the bay, passing boats and islands, as well as an incredibly welcoming bar and a partially unused upstairs area with Moroccan-style lamps, seating, games and a certain selection of books.

The private beach is a two-minute walk downhill. There are sun loungers and sun beds, as well as SUP boards and kayaks for rent. The hotel also has a store with local crafts, jewelry and clothing, as well as a small spa.

There is no shortage of seafood on the lunch menu, unsurprisingly for the island, while the dinner menu, which changes every evening, usually has three main choices (meat, fish or vegetarian). For breakfast, there’s plenty of choice, from tropical fruits to original menu items.

Romantic boutique hotel located on the beautiful Paje Beach. Spacious luxury villas (from 500 sqm) with pool and lounge area offer maximum privacy in natural surroundings, while the amenities provide the highest level of service: spa treatments and services, two restaurants, a rooftop champagne bar, beach bar and lounge, and a high-end kitesurfing and water sports center. The resort’s expansive 4 hectares of land accommodates only 11 luxury villas and 3 Cinnamon rooms to maximize space for each guest in an unshakable harmony of the senses.

Unobtrusive service will allow you to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility of this luxurious spa resort. It is the perfect choice for a honeymoon or for those who love the beach life.

Dining at Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa is an assortment of African and Western styles combined with organic produce grown in the garden and a sophisticated atmosphere.

The hotel is located just 15 minutes by speedboat from Stone Town Zanzibar, inside the island. It enchants with its rich flora and beautiful lagoon with white-sand beach, as well as a collection of 70 villas, including the first overwater villas in Zanzibar, each with a private pool and huge terrace with spectacular ocean views at sunrise and sunset. All are exquisite additions to The Cocoon Collection.

A new destination for honeymooners and a direct helicopter connection to the most prestigious safari lodges in Tanzania, Bawe Island is the perfect escapist destination. The chic and contemporary minimalist African décor creates a relaxing environment with soothing earth tones in cozy spaces throughout the resort. In addition to the main restaurant, the dine around concept invites guests to sample a variety of gastronomic specialties including Italian, Teppanyaki and local cuisine, each in a unique setting. A favorite cocktail can be sipped at The View Restaurant, where live music is played to accompany another spectacular sunset.

Accommodating 2 to 9 guests, each individual villa features a private pool and butler service. Canopy beds and double-sided baths are offered, as well as spacious outdoor spaces with ocean views. Amenities and entertainment are extensive. A dive and water sports center offers shore diving, as well as bike rentals, tennis, paddle boarding, yoga and Pilates. The menu of spa treatments is carefully designed to relax and rejuvenate.

The hotel is set in secluded splendor on the southwest coast of the island, on 32 hectares of unspoiled land that is only 55 minutes from the airport and the capital Stone Town.

Each of the 66 detached villas has its own private pool to bask in the sun and hide away from other guests. A true luxury for those seeking tranquility and privacy.

Once it’s time for some well-deserved wellness in this sun-drenched location, head to The Spa. The Residence Wellness Center consists of six treatment pavilions, a sauna, steam room and chill-out area with hydromassage, all woven into a 2 hectare landscaped garden. Join the wellness process with treatments developed by British brand ila (“earth” in Sanskrit). Natural plant and mineral extracts impart healing properties alongside the soothing hands of expert practitioners.

Outside of this secluded retreat, there are bicycle rides, historical tours, dolphin dives and more. A great vacation requires great food, and foodies will find plenty to enjoy here. Local spices combined with global influences from the Mediterranean to Arabia and beyond will delight diners at The Residence Zanzibar’s three bars and restaurants, as well as on the beach, poolside or privately.

The rooms are characterized by stylish design and spaciousness. For those who prefer a luxurious vacation, the hotel offers villas with private pools.

Guests can enjoy a swim in one of the three pools, relax on sun loungers or unwind on the private beach. The main restaurant serves buffet breakfasts with cooking stations, while the three themed restaurants offer a variety of gourmet dishes. The hotel bars offer the best appetizers and aperitifs.

Recreation includes entertainment programs with various activities, live shows and music. The SPA center offers a relaxing pool, hydromassage area, steam bath and a variety of treatments for complete recovery. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is a gym and water sports facilities such as kayaking and paddle surfing.

Guests are encouraged to take excursions to the region’s most iconic sites or enjoy an authentic African experience.

It is located along Bwejuu Paje Beach on Zanzibar, offering spectacular views of the Indian Ocean. This stunning resort with 30 villas recreates the heritage of Zanzibar, dating back to the Omani era. With a blend of Arabic, Swahili and Indian design, Swahili arches, intricate hand-carved décor, fine antiques, handcrafted furniture and quirky brass lanterns, Baraza offers unrivaled standards of luxury on the island of Zanzibar.

For those seeking peace and tranquillity, Frangipani Spa offers a wide range of massages and treatments to help you truly relax and enjoy your vacation. Specialized massage techniques, including the famous Thai massage, will make you feel the harmony of body and soul.

A few meters from Baraza beach is The Water Club Zanzibar, a water sports center. It offers an excellent selection of the latest equipment and professional instruction in windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing. Approved as Zanzibar’s first kiting school, The Water Club offers certified instructors to help you quickly master the art of kite flying and enjoy exhilarating adventures on the water.

Baraza prides itself on creating a menu that fuses the culinary cultures of Africa, Asia, India and Persia into an exquisite savory selection of dishes that change daily. Dishes reflect the diversity of local produce and incorporate a unique blend of continental, Swahili, Indian and Persian cuisines, creating an unforgettable culinary experience for each guest.

Surrounded by swaying palm trees and ocean breezes, The Mora Zanzibar is truly tranquil. Located on the pristine Muyuni Beach, surrounded by an oval reef that has been declared a Marine Conservation Zone, it’s easy to dive into the underwater world – watch for nesting green turtles, bottle-nosed dolphins and schools of colorful fish.

The Mora Zanzibar features 250 modern, elegantly designed rooms and suites to provide the perfect combination of modern amenities and a cozy, sophisticated atmosphere. All are decorated in a neutral palette, with bright bathroom tiles and plenty of natural light.

Outside your private sanctuary are a host of exceptional amenities, including Balinese and Thai treatments at the spa center. Indoor and outdoor educational games are also available at the kids’ club.

Five restaurants offer a rich culinary experience, from a la carte gourmet meals, light delicacies and breathtaking cooking shows to family dinners by the sea.

A luxury boutique resort in Zanzibar operating on an all-inclusive basis. Ideally located on the endless white sands of Uroa on the east coast of Zanzibar, just 40 km from Stone Town and 45 km from the airport.

The hotel has a total of 157 en-suite rooms. Among them are 64 deluxe rooms with garden, exclusive pool, children’s area and bar. Also 40 ocean view deluxe suites, 40 ocean view junior suites and 10 junior suites with Jacuzzi and ocean view. Rounding out the collection are 3 king suites with Jacuzzi and private pool.

There are 5 different restaurants serving a wide variety of dishes and 3 bars offering refreshments. In addition, the hotel has 2 swimming pools with a children’s area and a water sports center, where you can go spudding and windsurfing.

Among the facilities is a SPA center with a gym, massage rooms, hammam and sauna. The restaurant serves gourmet dishes prepared with the freshest ingredients, while the beach bar offers a variety of refreshing drinks served with tasty appetizers. The resort also features a rooftop hookah lounge, a boutique with gourmet gifts and souvenirs, and a hair salon. In addition, the 24-hour front desk and tour desk are ready to help with questions and book last-minute excursions, cabs and safari trips.