Tanzania : Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a place which evokes exotic and mysterious images, where Arabia meets and joins with the Dark Continent of Africa. An island, which has lured visitors for centuries and it is this strange history and the differing cultures which still draws them today. The old quarter of Zanzibar is Stone Town, which is a muddle of tiny streets, intricately carved woodwork, huge brass studded doors and overhanging balconies. Wandering through these winding back streets you come face to face with Stone Town life, passing spice sellers, tailors and mosques. Many of the older buildings have become quite dilapidated, although efforts are now being made to restore them, this adds further to the atmosphere.

A visit to the rest of the Island is essential with forests and ancient Omani ruins, glorious white sandy beaches and swaying palm trees, fishing villages unchanged by modern life with dhows and out rigger canoes pulling up on the beaches. The sea holds a different world of reefs and coral gardens where you can dive and snorkel amongst tropical fish and sea fans. A visit to the spice plantations is a fascinating experience of tasting and learning about the spices, which have changed the history and fuelled the economy of Zanzibar over the past 2 centuries.

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Quick links:
Fundu Lagoon	Salome's Garden	Breezes Beach Club
Ras Nungwi	Matemwe Bungalows	The Palms
Emerson's and Green Hotel	Mnemba Island	Zanzibar Palace

Fundu Lagoon
Fundu Lagoon is situated on the island of Pemba to the north of Zanzibar. The lodge covers 18 acres and 4.5 kilometres of white sandy coastline on the secluded Wambaa Peninsular. This unique lodge is designed for couples and groups of friends looking to escape the usual holiday crowds as well as divers and water sports lovers looking for a perfect combination of quality activities and luxury. Whatever you're looking for, Fundu Lagoon provides a friendly, relaxed haven of peace and natural beauty. There are 20 luxury en-suite bungalows either directly on the beach or high on the ridge of the peninsula, each room has a private balcony, fans and mini-bar. The rooms are all built on hardwood-stilted decks giving excellent views of the Indian Ocean.

There is the restaurant and 2 bars, where the priority is to provide high-quality dishes reflecting the local area and its produce, the emphasis is on locally caught seafood. From the lodge you can enjoy a wide range of water sports including, snorkelling, bird watching, windsurfing, water skiing, wakeboarding, knee boarding and canoe safaris into the mangrove swamps. A luxury 48ft Catamaran is also available for charter, as well as daily sunset sails on the dhow. There is a fully equipped PADI diving centre and also excellent game fishing. If you are interested in deep-sea fishing please let us know, as it has to be arranged prior to your arrival.

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dugout	Fundu Lagoon dive boat	view to beach bar

Fundu balcony	Fundu bedroom	hammock

Ras Nungwi
Ras Nungwi is located on a long beautiful beach at the northern tip of Zanzibar island and is the ideal location for all forms of watersports, or merely relaxing under a palm tree. It is quite a large lodge with 32 rooms, tastefully furnished, with handcrafted four-poster beds with Mosquito nets, indigenous décor, and all have en suite facilities and balconies. There are 4 types of rooms, lodge rooms have a garden view and 3 types of chalet room with a sea view. There are also some new villas with their own pools further down the beach. When the tide is out you can relax around the large swimming pool between the lodge and the beach.

The variety of the surrounding reefs makes Ras Nungwi the perfect diving destination, and the hotel has an on-site fully equipped dive centre. The waters between Zanzibar and Pemba are home to some excellent game fishing. A wide range of other watersports are also available such as snorkelling, sailing, dhow trips and dolphin safaris and other activities include; spice tours, bird watching, visiting historical ruins, visiting Jozani Forest with its Red Colobus monkeys.

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the main lodge	interior	accommodation

	the pool with sea view	diving

Emerson's and Green Hotel
Included in the skyline of Zanzibar, along with Mosque minarets, Hindu temple towers and church spires is the tower top restaurant of Emerson's and Green Hotel. Atmosphere is of principle import at Emerson's and Green Hotel where the furnishings are all original Zanzibari antiques of varied origins and styles that tgether, create the impression of Arabian nights. The seven guestrooms here are beautiful and romantic, each representing Zanzibari traditions in a distinct way. All rooms are equipped with a large, airy bathtub providing unusual bathing pleasure where a bubble bath and a bottle of wine are a frequent request. Ceiling fans keep guests cool along with sea breezes on the upper floor. The Tower Top Restaurant, is a romantic spot featuring a panoramic view of Stone Town and a spectacular view of the ocean, it's the perfect place to watch the sun set. The dining room is open on all sides and guests sit Arab-style on pillows and carpets, their shoes having been left at the door, while their dinner is served in five or more courses and is accompanied by the religious sites and sounds of exotic Zanzibar.

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luxurious bath	bedroom

Salome's Garden
Situated 4 miles north of Stone Town and set in 18 acres of private gardens and orchards is the restored and refurbished 19th century Plantation House, Salome's Garden. The gardens are beautiful with exotic plants and bourganvillea and depending on the season you will be self sufficient in mangoes, pineapples, bananas, coconuts, papaya, oranges and passion fruit. The gardens run down to the beach where you can swim in the clear waters and watch the fisherman coming in on their dhows. There are a couple of small guesthouses up the beach where you can go for a drink or a meal. The house has 4 rooms, which can sleep 8-10 and it is beautifully decorated with Zanzibari antiques, original colonial furniture, Persian carpets and kilims. Fans and sea breezes cool the rooms. There are seven staff to look after you with two house keepers and a cook. Breakfast is included in the price but you have a highly trained cook at your service, he will help you with buying in the markets and preparing your food. Stone Town is only 15 minutes by car and you can rent a car or minibus and visit other parts of the island.

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terrace	view from the terrace	view from the sea

the beach	bedroom	sitting areas

Matemwe Bungalows
Set on a coral cliff overlooking a lovely beach and distant coral reef, Matemwe Bungalows is a small and luxurious beach lodge. The lodge is tucked away on the northeast coast of Zanzibar and has a total of 14 beach-front-rooms; All the rooms have thatch roofs, sea facing verandahs with hammocks, and are elegantly furnished using palm matting, colourful Swahili fabrics and driftwood ornaments.
The open air restaurant which serves fresh Zanzibari and western cuisine all day and is as good as anywhere on this coast. The welcoming atmosphere is ideal for children: the wide beach means plenty of space to run around, there are holiday activities aplenty and the bar keeps a good stock of beach and board games. Activities include sailing in traditional ngalawa outriggers, snorkelling, scuba diving and big-game fishing, as well as reef-walks, bicycle-hire with picnic lunches and visits to the local fish market.
Matemwe is built and operated on the ethos of low impact ecotourism - wherever possible working with local fishing communities and minimising impact of any kind to the environment. The lodge has recently been upgraded but luckily they have kept expansion to a minimum.
Matemwe is a small lodge, in a great location and has a very relaxed feel to it; it is ideal for those wanting to spend a few days soaking up the Zanzibari pace of life.

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bathroom	beach	diving

lounge area	suite	pool

Mnemba Island
Mnemba is a private tropical island off the northeast coast of Zanzibar, an idyllic setting for an exclusive holiday. The individual cottages hidden in the dappled shade of the tropical beach forest are built from natural materials, their comfort and simplicity ensures a feeling of the natural life on the island. However, the comfort and personal attention guests receive is second to none and the standards are extremely high but in a relaxed and unobtrusive way. The island is on the edge of a large coral atoll where there is excellent snorkelling and diving and game fishing can also be arranged. Mnemba is an exclusive island retreat and the idyllic spot to relax in barefoot luxury.

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the bar	cottage veranda	bedroom

beach	dining

Breezes Beach Club
Breezes Beach Club is located on the eastern side of Zanzibar Island next door to its smaller sister hotel the Palms. The hotels 70 rooms are scattered amongst the landscaped gardens behind the beach. There are 3 types of rooms with the Superior Deluxe Rooms and the Deluxe rooms being located closer to the sea with better views. The rooms are located in groups of four with the Superior Deluxe rooms situated on the upper floor of the bungalow with a large balcony. Deluxe rooms, as well as the Standard Rooms are located on the ground floor with terrace.

The hotel is beautifully decorated with a mix of hand carved furniture and Zanzibari antiques. The hotel offers a selection of facilities with 3 restaurants, a well equipped fitness centre, you can pamper yourself at the spa or enjoy the activities at the hotels watersports center. The choices of activities are varied, you can chose from wind surfing, pedal boats, canoes, snorkelling, scuba diving (and instruction course if required) or land based activities ranging from tennis to spice tours, Dolphin trips or simply relax and stroll on a white sandy beach.

This hotel is intimate enough to be suited to honeymoon couples but with a wide range of activities and no age limit it would be perfect for families.

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beach	bungalow	view to beach

lounge	pool	bedroom

The Palms
The Palms is situated next to the Breezes hotel along a pristine white beach on the east coast of the island. The Palms is part of, but totally separate from Breezes so you will have the seclusion of a private villa, with your own bar and restaurant but have use of the facilities of the larger hotel.

Family owned, the Palms offers all the luxurious comforts and amenities of a five star hotel in an intimate setting with excellent personal attention throughout your stay. The palms consists of 6 private villas, each is over 130 square meters with a bedroom, living room, full en-suite bathroom, walk-in closet, extra room with its own en-suite bathroom and a large furnished terrace with a view of the Indian Ocean. Although they are set back from the beach each villa has a private outdoor jacuzzi and its own corresponding 'beach hut' with sun loungers right on the beach itself. The restaurant and bar are next to the pool which can be used at low tide (the tide goes out quite far on Zanzibar).

The Palms is a wonderfully intimate hotel, perfect for honeymooners or those wanting to spoil themselves after their safari and simply enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Zanzibar.

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private jacuzzi	villa	bedroom

pool	beach	terrace

Zanzibar Palace
Zanzibar Palace Hotel is a nine-room boutique hotel in the heart of Stone Town, just a short walk from the sea front and all the main sites. It has been lovingly restored by its owners to a palace worthy of a spice-trading sultan with tasteful and authentic Arabian, English and Indian decor. Wrapped around an atrium, there are three rooms on each of the three floors. Each of the spacious bedrooms, two of which are suites, are decorated in true Zanzibari style with colourful silks and Persian rugs, majestic beds and lattice work shutters, and each has a well-equipped bathroom. The two suites are at the top of the hotel and have al fresco bathrooms and private decks overlooking the town's ramshackle roof-scape, and are ideal for honeymooners. Home-cooked French-style dinners are served in the cosy restaurant and all local activities can be arranged from the hotel including dhow cruises and spice tours.

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bathroom	bedroom	room

suite	suite lounge	sundeck