Promised Land Lodge

We stayed for 5 nights in Promised Land Lodge. Very relaxed atmosphere, nice seaview from our room, fascinating to see the tide coming in and out. Good swimming at high tide, there are not many waves. Staff is generally friendly. Rooms were basic but clean. The water in the swimming pool was not clear and smelly (too much sunscreen in the water??). We only used the pool once. A pity, because it is a nice large pool, great to have a dip during the day when the tide is low. We found the food average, the breakfast is rather simple (a platter with fruit, a choice of eggs or pancakes, fresh juice, coffee and tea, milk and cornflakes). It is the same every day. For lunch and dinner there is enough choice, quality is OK but not outstanding. Not all options were availalbe all the time. We frequently did not have water in our bathroom sink. It was fixed and broken again multiple times. Be aware: - no Airconditioning in the room, the ceiling fan was providing enough wind so we could sleep well - no drinking water in the room, you have to buy 1.5 liter bottles at the bar - no kettle in the room to make some tea or coffee - electricity shuts off frequently and during the day there is no generator working - order your dinner in advance, during the afternoon to make sure your choice is still availalble - there are 4 (friendly) dogs wandering around the premises, the also come in the restaurant and sleep under and on top of the sunbeds. - music is played at the bar all day (when there is electricity), can be disturbing if you want a quiet holiday - bring watershoes! - there is no sandy beach

We stayed for 4 nights at Promised Land. It’s a beautifully situated lodge with direct access to the sea. It sits high above cliff formations and has wonderful views of the sunset. There is a lovely pool to cool off in, and towels are provided. Our room was well appointed, stylish minimalism. The bed was comfortable and new, and the sheets were crisp and white. The daily cleaning was superb and speedy. The gardener is very talented and there are copious nooks where he has created beautiful organic masterpieces. As many mention in other reviews, there are many artistic elements scattered throughout the complex and many glorious lazy spaces to truly relax. We found the food to be great and recommend the local dishes which were delicious. There were options for vegetarians which were also tasty. Pre-ordering your dinner by 5pm at the restaurant will ensure you will not wait for your meal when you arrive for dinner at 7.30. The staff were great, with Peter standing out as always ready to assist with any information and suggestions. Mariam in the restaurant was very gracious, kind and always engaging and made our times there special. The lodge is an “beach-vibe lodge”, so don’t expect urban luxuries, as that’s not what it’s about. Electricity in Zanzibar is patchy so there are outages and sometimes the water will therefore not be warm, but cool showers are fine after a hot day outside. Our room was number 20. We had a lovely view of the sea from our balcony and could hear the waves at night. The style of the building is true to local building traditions which have screened wall sections, which allows for the sea breeze to cool the interior. There are no air-conditioners in the rooms, but fans circulate the air. We had a lovely stay and thank Laure for answering all our questions and concerns through our booking process. We recommend Promised Land to anyone wanting a very chilled out, and comfortable Zanzibar holiday!

This wonderful place is located in the south of Zanzibar, we actually were based in Nungwi but decided to spend some days in the south. It was like spending the nights in the jungle. The pool is large and at the bar you always get some nice drinks. It`s simply an amazing place!

Better than expected. Food was good. Service was excellent, every single person was very nice and helpful. Location perfect for quiet relaxation. Rooms vere excellent and very good cleaning. Free kayaking. Whole hotel area was picture perfect and many places to chill and sunbathe. If you have to think of something negative it was that my tummy did not like the food a few times (=diarrhea episode), but what we discussed with other travelers, it happens in every hotel….

The hotel has a great seafront location with fabulous views and a really cool Rasta-inspired bar area. The sand around the bar and sitting area is kept incredibly clean. There are plenty of hammocks, sun beds and nice sofa areas to lounge around, and in the evening a lovely bon fire is lit by the bar. The bar is charming but with limited selection. The pool is ok but not as clean as in the photos. There are some lovely looking beach front chalets on the property - we had a family room towards the back of the property that was clean but rather stuffy. No air condition. Internet however was excellent. The property is beach front, but the beach is not really made for walking - in fact there are not many places to move about. The restaurant has a limited menu, but some good dishes. We loved the fish curry. I would recommend this place for couples who want to relax and are happy to chill, but not if you are expecting to move around. We also felt that the price we got really was poor value for money compared to other places we stayed.

If you’re looking for a beautiful place to relax then this is perfect. Only down side was no kettle in room, low water pressure & no hot water in shower.Intermittent power means that room fan doesn’t always work and room can get very warm. Lots of construction going on. Staff were exceptional. Food basic but more than adequate. Best were the prawns and fish curry.