Zawadi Hotel: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Your own secluded beach home has everything you need: all the basic comforts, a terrace, huge beds, a plunge pool facing the Indian Ocean. It’s protected by a sandy cove and framed by flowering bougainvillea and palm trees.
A chef whips up meals blending African, Indian, Arabic and Persian influences. And the kids are nowhere in sight — this all-inclusive haven is adults only. That’s one of many factors making The Zawadi Hotel a favorite for honeymooners seeking uncrowded beaches and a serene setting.
This luxury resort, part of the posh Zanzibar Collection, can be found on a cliffside on Zanzibar’s southeast coast about an hour’s drive from the airport. There are only 12 spacious private villas, but if that’s not private enough, you can rent out the entire property.
Some couples have their wedding ceremonies here and take advantage of Zawadi’s honeymoon specials.
But you don’t have to reserve the whole place to find peace and seclusion. Guests say staying in one these 100-square-meter villas makes you feel like you’re in your own private summer house as opposed to a hotel.
“The all-inclusive experience is fantastic; the hotel is beautifully designed, both inside and out, creating a spacious and comfortable atmosphere where you can truly relax,” a patron wrote last month on Google.
Each villa is filled with elegant seaside décor and has an en-suite bathroom with a bath and shower directly overlooking the ocean. There’s a large terrace with flowers, palm trees and more Indian Ocean views, a seating area, and big double beds with memory foam mattresses. You also get a private plunge pool, WiFi, satellite TV, air conditioning, a yoga mat, and other niceties you may not have known you needed.
“Sundowner snacks and cocktails being brought to our terrace at 6pm daily were a lovely surprise,” a reviewer wrote on Tripadvisor while discussing her recent honeymoon stay. “Each villa is impeccably clean, well-appointed and restful. Sunrises are incredible and a scroll is delivered to each room daily with times of sunrise/sunset.”
Step outside of your villa to explore the grounds of The Zawadi Hotel, which has lovely gardens and direct access to a private beach. One guest said the beach was a bit rocky and not ideal for swimming but most raved about its other features. Many enjoyed participating in the resort’s snorkeling experience or spending time at its main pool.
A highlight that frequently came up was the hotel’s service. Visitors said that staff took the time to learn their preferences and went out of their way to make them comfortable, including serving food that wasn’t on the menu.
“The food is out of this world and so plentiful, you will never go hungry,” a reviewer wrote, adding that she was also impressed by Zawadi’s extensive wine cellar and exceptional cocktails.
The resort prides itself on being eco-conscious and takes efforts to serve food that is organic, fresh and local.
Zawadi has its own farm or “shamba” with chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, cows, donkeys and an organic garden that supplies the kitchen with vegetables, spices and eggs. Leftovers and scraps from the kitchen are fed to the animals who provide a naturally composted fertilizer for the soil to grow the fruits and vegetables.
