Kivuli Beach Resort Paje

We stayed here for month in June and July and had the most wonderful time. The rooms are really large with a very big comfortable bed- all the furnishings are high quality. There is a safe, fridge and tea making facilities. The bathrooms are big and everything works really well. Due to some reviews suggesting there aren't safe's we didn't bring too much cash, which was challenging, or laptops- this was a shame as there were good safes in all the rooms and overall the whole environment felt safe and secure. The staff are so very lovely, the waiting staff, chefs and the maasai guards. They all made so much effort to ensure we enjoyed every day and are so cheerful and welcoming. Juan the manager is hugely welcoming, helpful, kind and brings energy and fun to the hotel. We didn't test his willingness to remove a gecko in the middle of the night, as mentioned in another review, but his generosity extended to anything that could reasonably be expected through the day and evening! The breakfasts are generous and good quality, the meals are well cooked and tasty and the chefs are very happy to make local dishes and their own specialities if asked. The repetitive pop playlist became monotonous and we loved when William had atmospheric piano music over breakfast and local afrobeats at sunset. Be careful of the sides- chips are $8 get the whole chicken burger!

Well – we’ve been coming to Zanzibar for over 10 years now and have stayed more than 20 times. Most of the time, I don’t write reviews – but occasionally I do. Either because something was truly outstanding, or because there’s a lot of room for improvement. In the case of Kivuli, unfortunately, quite a few things need to be improved. So, what could be done better? I'm referring specifically to the Luxury Family Villas: Cleanliness/Condition: While the staff clearly puts in effort, the villa – despite being relatively new – is already in poor condition. It should have been built better from the start. Insects can get in everywhere, and using chemicals to fight them isn’t a sustainable solution. Privacy: In theory, you have a private villa all to yourself – which sounds great. But in practice, staff members are present in your private space throughout the day, which takes away from the feeling of seclusion. Costs: Yes, the villa comes with a large private pool, which surely drives the price. But we’ve never been charged for water in any hotel in Zanzibar before. Even though breakfast is included, things like coconut water are charged at a steep price. Staff: Extremely friendly – but consistently late for everything. Outdoor Shower: Unfortunately, the only shower option is outdoors. While some people might find that charming, we would have preferred to shower without the company of insects. Would we return? Probably not. We just don’t believe in the Kivuli concept – too much would need to change. And perhaps the real issue is expectations: when you pay over $350 per night, things really should be spot on.

This hotel has the perfect location, it’s right at the end of Paje beach, stretched overlooking the sea. The area from the villas to the beach is shaded. We booked a regular gardenview room, but were upgraded to the oceanview bungalow. Juan, the manager, was very helpful and courteous! All rooms are newly built, and very nice in design. Daily room cleaning was twice a day. The areas are sprayed for bugs, so you don’t have to worry about mosquitos. The resort has a really good chef, highly recommended to try many dishes at the restaurant. Even if you are not staying at the hotel, the ocean front restaurant is amazing for drinks or lunch! The beach bar with swing is very cool to relax by. We were there in October, the resort had another area of addition to be built in the main area and the pool, which should be finished soon. From the resort tour, it would look amazing when done! Also, if you are staying as a larger family, I highly recommend the large villas with private pool! Very private and nice! The resort has a kite surfing school as well, if you are learning or just would like to rent equipment. You can also rent SUP board and other water equipment. I highly recommend this resort if you’d like to stay in a quiet, well-taken care of resort, just relaxing, but still be in the walking distance towards the main tourist area.