Zawadi Hotel, Zanzibar

Experience: From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this wasn’t just a hotel—it was an experience. Every detail of our stay was meticulously thought out, ensuring we felt pampered, relaxed, and truly valued as guests. Our every need was preempted. Arrival & Check-In: The experience began with an authentic and genuine warm welcome from the staff, who greeted us by name and offered a refreshing welcome drink while handling our luggage. Check-in was seamless and swift, and we were shown immediately to our room albeit we arrived early at just 10 am, following an overnight flight. Noa the Assistant Manager explained everything we needed to know about our room, ensuring we were well-informed without feeling rushed. The Room: Our villa was simply breathtaking, blending modern design of a calming neutral palette with timeless Zanzibar elegance. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views from the super king size bed, over the most beautiful sea we have ever seen. The bed itself was a cloud of comfort, and the personalized welcome note, alongside a complimentary bottle of champagne, was a truly lovely touch. The bathroom was a spa-like sanctuary, complete with a large separate shower and deep soaking tub, with luxurious toiletries respecting the environment with limited plastic. Dining: Every meal was included in the room price and was a five course culinary masterpiece prepared by the hotel’s Kenyan chef. The breakfast was all made with fresh, high-quality ingredients much of which is grown on site. The lunch and dinner is five courses and can only be described as an unforgettable experience. Every dish was beautifully plated and paired perfectly with wines recommended by Bernard the sommelier and served by the kindest of staff. Live music in keeping with the evening beauty of the resort accompanied us twice during our eight day stay. Service: The service at the Zawadi was something we will never forget. It was impeccable throughout. Every staff member we encountered was beyond courteous, attentive, and genuinely eager to ensure our stay was flawless. They anticipated our needs before we even voiced them and went above and beyond to make us feel incredibly special. We have never encountered such hospitality in decades of travel. One evening after a day safari on mainland Tanzania, we returned to discover the staff had organised a private dinner overlooking the sea for us. We will never forget that evening. Amenities: The hotel offers daily snorkelling trips at no cost which can’t be missed. They provide reef shoes and snorkelling equipment. Unlike many hotels in Zanzibar there is always the possibility to swim in the sea here. Evelyn and Noa the management team can also organise trips to Stone Town, airport transfers, and day safaris on the mainland. The hotel also has a very small spa room offering massage. Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the gym, equipped with everything needed for a great workout albeit in a small space.

We had a fantastic stay at this excellently managed hotel. The location is stunning, and the villas are extremely well-maintained, spacious, and offer a high level of privacy. We especially loved the private garden and the large covered terrace – perfect for relaxation. The management and staff were always friendly, courteous, and attentive. The cuisine was an absolute highlight: top-notch dishes complemented by exquisite wines. Another great feature was the opportunity to go swimming at any time, at high tide as well as at low tide. Free snorkeling equipment and water shoes are available for guests at the reception, and a boat is ready for guests to use. A perfectly enjoyable stay – we’d love to come back!

Zawadi Hotel was an amazing experience - from the time we arrived until the moment we left, we enjoyed every second of our stay! All the staff greeted us by name, with a smile and "welcome home!" The food was incredible, as I was concerned being vegetarian, but they had plenty of tasty choices for me, as well as fish for my pescetarian husband. The chef even went out of his way to make a whole fish for my husband - something he is use to eating being from the Carribean. We hope to be able to go back to Zawadi as we just enjoyed it more than any place we have ever stayed. Don't hesitate to go - you will love it!

We stayed at the Zawadi for 5 nights after a Kenyan safari for a much needed rest. As soon as you enter the reception you are blown away by the luxury and aesthetics of the place, There is no vista that isn’t perfectly pleasing to the eye. You are greeted by the management and staff like a family member. It continued with outstanding villas with the best sea view ever. The rooms are spacious and so exquisitely clean. The icing on this wonderful venue is the staff. There are no exceptions they are all friendly, happy and extremely hard working. Nothing is too much trouble to ensure you have the best stay, and we most certainly did. It was a celebration for my 70th birthday and they gave me a lovely surprise celebration where they sang and danced in Zanzibar style. Thanks to all of you. I am not good with names but special mention for Bernard, Iddy and Innocent. Also the pool man who took us around the farm and the lovely guys who always made sure we had a drink. We are well travelled but this rates as our absolute favourite so far.

We had a magical week at Zawadi to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary. It was beyond wonderful. Zawadi means 'gift' in Swahili. Incredible location: white sands, a coral reef teeming with beautiful fish , warm and extremely helpful staff, gorgeous decor, palatial rooms (aka villas). Best of all, it is a small resort which meant we felt very at home and the service felt very personal. Zawadi is not just a special place to relax and unwind - We learnt about and experienced (tarab music, snorkelling, mangrove forests, butterfly sanctuaries, even Zawadi's own sustainable farm!) so much of this beautiful island and its people. Truly the holiday of a lifetime!

Zawadi is the most stunning hotel, set in a truly beautiful location by the bright blue ocean with private beach. It is very quiet and peaceful making it the ideal place to relax. The food is incredible, as is the service, and I was very touched by all the alcohol-free options. All of the staff (Evelyn, Noa, Iddy, Innocent, Raza and so many more to name!) were unbelievably attentive all week and we experienced some of the best attention to detail we’ve ever had. Thank you. Thank you for a beautiful stay, we hope to be back again one day! Hattie and Lucinda (Sisters) x