Unguja Lodge

Rooms

The lodge's setting and facilities are great, but its unique selling point is undoubtedly the 12 huge, organically designed thatched villas, which are all swirls and curves rather than straight lines. Choose between the slightly more expensive Sea View Villas and Sea View Family Villas which open right out onto the sea, or the Baobab Villas, which open onto the bush garden and have private Jacuzzi plunge pools plus air-conditioning. All have terraces from which you can watch the sun set or rise.

The master bedroom in each has a big kingsize bed, mosquito net and fan and is the only part of the villa that is fully enclosed. The rest is open plan, with a cushioned seating area, open-air (but private!) shower with hot water. Up the stairs in the Sea View Villas and Baobab Villas is a small traditional Zanzibar bed in the heavens (which can sleep 2 additional people). This is near the top of the vast circular thatched roof that shelters each villa, and it's a cosy, romantic space. Beautiful coconut wood furniture and doors throughout add elegance. White washed walls dotted with contemporary Zanzibar art keep it fresh. While in the Sea View Family Villas, upstairs are 2 small bedrooms, each with 2 single beds; the decor is just as beautiful, and provides a great extra space for families.

The open-plan bathrooms are equally exotic. Though well spaced, some villas face onto one another and onto paths, so you may feel worried about having to streak from the shower into the bedroom! However local kanga and kikoi cloth is provided to help guests maintain their modesty. Overall, the villas are glorious, and their openness makes you feel like you are on safari.

Features include:

• Cots available
• Fan
• In-room treatments available
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is conventional but good, with fresh fruit such as mango and pineapple, breakfast cereals and hotel-made chocolate croissants. Pancakes, eggs and toast are available on request.

Owners Ralph and Elies have created a 3-course menu for dinner in the restaurant. The options are fairly limited, 2 starters, 3 mains and 2 desserts, but the main course always offers a meat dish, seafood of some kind and a vegetarian option, so you’re likely to be able to find something suitable. Lunch is less formal, with a light menu of sandwiches, salads and snacks, plus a specials board with 3 cooked options.

Surprisingly, despite the hotel having a strong local Zanzibari emphasis in terms of buildings and staff, the menus have a European slant, although there are sometimes Swahili-style buffets and barbeques. The dinner on our last night of fish carpaccio, grilled barracuda and cashew nut tart with unripe mango slices was absolutely gorgeous.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Room service

Activities

• Snorkelling and diving are the key activities here. The hotel is close to a reef, featuring mainly tropical fish, such as snappers and angelfish. There are also some fantastic dive sites for experienced divers who are able to deal with strong currents - these are relatively unexplored compared to many sites to the north, east and west of the island. Unguja Lodge now has its own PADI Dive Centre, Unguja Divers
  
  
• Go on a tour of the local village, Kizimkazi. You'll meet the village head (the sheha), see women making coconut rope and men working on their fishing nets. The fee for the trip goes directly to the school
  
  
• Dolphin tours are a highlight in Kizimkazi; at Unguja Resort you can go out on the One Ocean dhow and swim in the sea, with a good chance that the dolphins may choose to come and swim alongside you
  
  
• Go on a fishing trip with a local company and try to catch marlin and huge tuna. Reception can arrange
  
  
• Go swimming at high tide: a tide table is helpfully provided in each villa and you can climb directly into the sea from wooden steps at the front of the hotel
  
  
• Relax by the pool and watch the monkeys in the distant trees; or book a morning yoga lesson on the terrace with local teacher Paul Kazibwe
  
  
• The hotel can arrange for guests to go on typically Zanzibari day trips, such as to Jozani Forest to see the Red Colobus Monkeys, to the spice farms to see how Zanzibar’s traditional spices are grown, and around the World Heritage site, Stone Town

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Fishing
• Plantlife / flora
• Scuba diving
• Scuba diving courses
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Yoga

Kids

Owners Ralph and Elies welcome children, babies stay for free and those aged 2-12 years receive a 50% discount on the adult rate.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The 2 Sea View Family Villas have 3 enclosed bedrooms. Baobab and Sea View Villas have a double bed in the loft, which could work well for kids who can share, with a master bedroom downstairs. All villas have showers.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 60 minutes
• Hospital: 2 hours by plane and car
• Doctor: 60 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Unguja Lodge is situated on the southern tip of Zanzibar, near the village of Kizimkazi. It's part of the Menai Bay Conservation Area, which features diverse wildlife and coral reefs.

By Air:
Stone Town (65km) in Zanzibar is the closest airport. You'll probably fly here on a connecting flight from Dar-es-Salaam (in Tanzania). It's also possible to catch a hydrofoil from Dar to Zanzibar. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports, and hydrofoil information.

From the Airport
The hotel offers transfers from the airport - see Rates. Alternatively you can grab a taxi to Unguja Lodge, which will take about 1 hour.

By Bus:
If you're feeling adventurous, you can take a local dala dala bus from the market in Stone Town to Kizimkazi and ask the driver to drop you at the hotel.

By Car:
Hire cars aren't very popular because of the bumpy roads, bad signposting and short distances involved, but work out well if you are a group of four or want complete independence. If you’re interested, see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.