Amaan Bungalows.

Welcome to Amaan Bungalows

This is where it all happens in Nungwi. After burning down two years ago, the owners have restored the place to almost its original state, with the exception of a couple of new additions and nicer rooms.

If you are looking to be at the centre of all the action in Nungwi, then this is definitely the place to be. The place is full of vibey younger people. They have a huge array of facilities from a dive shop to an internet café to a boutique. You could actually just stay here and not go anywhere else if you liked, as it is all here.

However, we would recommend checking out the area around Amaan Bungalows, as there is a lot to do and sea, for example the Dhow building facilities in the area, the local village and plenty of lovely beaches to walk on. There is some excellent fishing in the area and they have a fantastic dive shop run by a South African affectionately known as “brew”. The facilities at the hotel are excellent, and the pricing is very good.

The hotel is locally owned and run by a Kenyan chap, Andrew. They are centrally located in Nungwi, making them easily accessible to the villages and surrounding areas. We like the vibe of the place, as it is always busy, there is always something to do or a place to go. They have a festive pub in the Blue Sea restaurant which can go on until the early hours of the morning. If you enjoy partying, then this pub, together with Cholo’s just up the road, should keep you going during your stay.

Rooms.

Amaan Bungalows' rooms have been divided up into 4 categories; however, we will not sell type D rooms, as they are way too basic.

The best rooms by far are the Sea Front Rooms. These 5 rooms are located just about in the ocean on a cliff. They have a fantastic balcony where you can sit and overlook the ocean enjoying cocktails. These rooms are bigger than the other rooms, and come furnished in a Zanzibar style. The rooms could do with a woman’s touch though, just to make it that little bit cozier. They have en suite bathrooms with hot water.

The 10 Type A rooms are located behind the sea front rooms in a U shape facing on to the gardens. These are comfortable with en suite bathrooms and a hot water shower.

They have 14 type B rooms, located further away from the beachfront. These are pretty basic, with en suite facilities, but only cold water in their showers. It is very hot in Zanzibar, and often hot water is not a prerequisite, however if you like that little bit of warmth in your water, then the Type A rooms would definitely be better.
The 10 Type C rooms are for backpackers with shared ablution facilities and are very basic. 
All rooms have mosquito nets and ceiling fans.

Average cost of accommodation per person per day is 25 US $.

Smiles Beach Hotel.

Welcome to Smiles Beach

Location: Smiles Beach Hotel is situated on the Nungwi Peninsula on the North Coast of Zanzibar. It is about 65 kilometres from the airport.

Smiles is all about enjoying the simple pleasures in life: long carefree days on the beach, awesome sunsets, the sound of the ocean and watching local village life going by. If you’re after a big bustling beach resort where you’ll have constant entertainment look elsewhere. This small and casual 16-roomed guesthouse doesn’t have much in the way of activities or facilities, although they might organise the occasional dinner show on a moonlit night. At Smiles, there are just the guest rooms and a tiny restaurant. No reception office, games room, lounge, curio shop, disco or pub. 

However, Smiles Beach Hotel’s setting in the party hub of Nungwi means that you’re close to a number of festive bars and restaurants so those nights of wild fruit cocktails are just a five minute walk away (or a little longer if you’re prone to post-cocktail zigzagging on the way home). You can then spend the following day quietly curled up with a good book under the palms.

The rooms are situated a little back from the beach with tropical gardens wedged attractively in between. No problem for beach bums, however, as the double-story blocks have an ample supply of white beach sand directly in front of them, so you can step out of your room (or down the staircase) onto sand. A short sandy pathway also leads you through the gardens onto the beach.

The stylish appearance of the four guest blocks differs to many of the makuti-thatch constructions on the island. The modern, whitewashed walls, columned balconies and red tin roofs have a distinct European flavour. White spiral staircases lead you gracefully down from the upstairs rooms. This design will be pleasing to many but if you’re after more Zanzibari type makuti constructions there are plenty of other places to choose from. That said, Smiles does have the traditional Zanzibari beds in many rooms. They are also spotlessly clean and tiled so if you’re after spic and span interiors (especially bathrooms) Smiles is an excellent choice.

There is a small open-walled, makuti-thatch restaurant close to the beach where you enjoy meals but no bar or music is available at Smiles. As the manager Ibrahim always says, “We like guests to listen to the sound of the waves and the breeze blowing through the palms.” After all, there are a host of other nearby bars and restaurants for festive evenings. Nungwi Village Beach Resort is also right next door. 

Smiles will arrange breakfast in bed if the mood strikes and they can organise snorkelling, diving, fishing and other activities with operators in the area.

Rooms.

Smiles has 4 double-storey units, each containing 4 rooms. The rooms have patios or balconies overlooking the tropical gardens and beach. There is a sandy patch in front of the rooms so you can feel the clean white sand underfoot while you stroll down to the beach.
The rooms are simply furnished and exceptionally clean. They have the luxuries of air-conditioning, telephone, satellite television, mosquito nets, hair dryers and safes. 

There are triples, doubles and honeymoon rooms. The rooms are tiled and have typical wooden Zanzibari three-quarter beds with designs on the headboards and mosquito netting covering them. There is a build-in cupboard with a dressing table. The honeymoon rooms are similar to the other rooms, except they have queen size beds (attractive elevated concrete slabs covered with a mattress and mosquito netting). Honeymooners can also enjoy fresh garden flowers in their room. 

The en-suite bathrooms are fairly modern, exceptionally clean and decorated with attractive blue tiles. The showers have hot and cold water.

Average cost of accommodation per person per day is 45 US $.

Baobab Beach Bungalows.

Welcome to Baobab

Location: Baobab Beach Bungalows is located in Nungwi, about 65 km from Stone Town.

Unfortunately the hotel has recently upped their rates and now only sell on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. With so many little restaurants to choose from in Nungwi, we feel this is not a viable option. We feel their rates are excessively expensive and clients should perhaps look at alternatives like Nungwi Village Beach Resort or Amaan Bunaglows for better value for money accommodation. However the place is nice, so please feel free to read on...

Baobab Beach Bungalows is located in Nungwi, south of the Nungwi Village and the main hub near Amaan Bungalows. 

The layout of the lodge is a bit awkward. The main reception area is located very far back in the lodge, then they have built the lodge in a U-shape facing out towards the ocean. There is a large area of landscaped garden between the two sides and it looks like the lodge goes on for miles and miles. There is method in their madness, as it gives a nice feeling of tranquility not having your neighbors right on top of you.

The restaurant area is fantastic, located on the beach front, and situated on one of the prettiest stretches of beach in the area. Guests are able to enjoy fantastic views of the ocean whilst enjoying meals or cocktails served in the bar area.

They have also recently included a conference centre, which is very well priced. We would be able to arrange conferences for you of up to 70 people at the hotel. Please ask one of our sales staff for more details.

We find the staff to be very friendly, particularly the management, and we could see how this filtered down the ranks. The area and location is ideal as you are suitably far away from the noise. The lodge is perfectly situated if you want some peace and quiet and is sufficiently close and within walking distance to the multitude of shops, restaurants, bars and dive centers in Nungwi. 

Rooms.

Baobab Beach Bungalows has 50 rooms in total consisting of 21 bungalows, 19 Lodge Rooms and 10 Deluxe Rooms. 

The deluxe rooms are by far the best as they are located closest to the beach. These rooms have air conditioning and a lovely verandah. They also feature a small bar fridge, double beds and ceiling fans. For the price of the rooms, they are definitely one of the best in this class of accommodation.

The Bungalows are situated further back than the deluxe rooms, some facing the ocean and some facing out on to the gardens. These rooms are comfortable with ceiling fans and twin or double beds.

Finally, the bungalows are situated close to the entrance of the lodge. The rooms are in a long line facing each other with a pathway running through the centre. These rooms are pretty basic, but very comfortable. If you are on a bit of a budget, these are definitely the best.

All rooms have en suite facilities with hot water. Being new, they are in good condition and kept neat and tidy by the staff. One thing we really like is the bathrooms are new, clean and nicely tiled. All rooms have shower

 ROOMS

Superior Deluxe Rooms.

The new superior Deluxe Rooms are the best rooms of our hotel.

Deluxe Rooms.

The new Deluxe Rooms are very spacy rooms, furnitured with double or twin beds, a desk board, fridge, air condition, fans and a private verandah overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Bungalows.

The bungalows are situated in a beautiful garden. They have Zanzibarian double or twin beds, a cupboard, fans and mosquito nets and a satellite TV.

Lodge Rooms.

The Lodges are featured with twin or double beds, mosquito nets and fans and a private verandah.

Average cost of accommodation per person per day is 40 US $.

If you’re looking for a place to put up your feet, relax and feel at home, Nungwi Village Beach Resort is a good choice. This superb little lodge is situated on a lovely strip of coastline just outside Nungwi Village in the north. The atmosphere is calm with dhows plying the azure waters in front of you.

If you love being barefoot with the feel of sand between your toes, you’re in the right spot. Firstly, there’s a good beach for lying about in hammocks and chilling under the plentiful palms. Secondly, some of the rooms are situated just a few paces from the sand. Thirdly, there’s a delightful restaurant situated on the beach, so you’re never far away from the smells, sounds and sights of the ocean.

Sandy walkways with fishing-basket lights link the reception to the restaurant and bar. The layout and all the makuti thatch gives the place a lovely village feel. There’s an open-air bar and on some nights acrobats perform after dinner. On quiet nights, if you do feel like socializing with a lively crowd, you can walk down to a variety of pubs and restaurants further along the beach. Nungwi attracts a host of tourists, backpackers and hippies, who gather here. The restaurants are all quite attractive with makuti-thatch roofs and a selection of pizza, pasta and seafood on the menu. If you’re after a special type of fish, order it the day before or early in the morning so the chef can tell the fishermen what to catch. Some of restaurants are right on the beach, others are on the rocky headland. There are sometimes impromptu, moonlit drumming sessions on the beach. Just be careful walking about on your own late at night.

The lodge can take you to see how dhows are made in the old, traditional way. There is also a natural aquarium near the lighthouse on the northernmost tip of the island. It’s actually a small tidal lake surrounded by coral rag stone which attracts the endangered hawksbill and green turtles. You can also explore the village and beaches on bicycles and mix with the local people.

We have always found the staff to be really friendly and efficient. Many of our clients have commented on what a great Zanzibar experience they had while staying here, and we certainly agree with them.

Mnarani Beach Cottages.

Welcome to Mnarani BEach

Mnarani Beach is situated near the village of Nungwi, on the northern tip of Zanzibar. It's located on the eastern side of the lighthouse and is a 20-minute walk along the beach from the festive bars and restaurants of Nungwi Village. It's about a one-and-a-half hour drive from Stone Town.

If you're after a small, intimate and reasonably priced lodge on the quieter flank of the Nungwi Peninsula, Mnarani Beach Cottages is a great option. The bungalows are nestled privately in a cove near the lighthouse on the tip of Nungwi. Divers will appreciate its reasonable proximity to the Mnemba Atoll (just less than two hours away) and for part-time partygoers the lively bars and restaurants of Nungwi are just a 20-minute walk away. 

There is a fantastic sandy beach where you can laze about on sun lounges and develop that long-awaited golden tan. But the beach quality does vary according to the tides and time of year, so there may be times when you need to walk a short distance to the western side of the peninsula to find a better beach to swim. We didn't find this too much of a drawback though.

The lodge is run by Zanzibar locals. It was originally built in 1996 thanks to the enthusiasm of a young man, Nassor Salim Ali, from Pemba. Over the years this simple resort has been added to and improved. The staff makes the place special. They're always friendly and courteous and provide impeccable service. The gardens have been well maintained and you’ll find name plaques on the trees and shrubs so you can learn more about the local vegetation.

Mnarani is the only lodge development for kilometres on either side, so you're not inundated with hoards of tourists. Thank goodness! Its location fairly close to the village means you get to see the goings-on in a typical fishing village. However, don't expect to find all the facilities of a large beach club at Mnarani. There's not much in the way of water sports, no dive centre and no swimming pool. But you can go out with a local Zanzibarian on the lodge's dhow to enjoy a day of sailing, fishing or snorkelling. Mnarani's dhow is rather high-tech for these parts and is probably the envy of most of the traditional fishermen. It is fitted with outboard engines, short-wave radios, GPS and fish finders, and all kinds of fancy fishing rods.

Your days at Mnarani can be spent relaxing and enjoying the freedom of being able to walk on a long stretch of beach. There's also a local village where they build dhows and the Mnarani Aquarium to visit.

Rooms.

There are 17 comfortable rooms at Mnarani Beach Cottages, situated along sandy paths in the greenery. They're all en-suite with hot water and mosquito nets.

The 12 standard makuti-thatched cottages are small, arranged in pairs and face the sea. They are furnished in simple Zanzibar style and are decorated with fresh blue, pink and white shades. If you're into star signs, you'll enjoy the names of these rooms. 

The four new apartments are more spacious and are recommended for couples or families, since the children can sleep downstairs in the lounge and the adults upstairs (in an open-air bedroom). They have a kitchen and one downstairs bathroom

There's also a romantic wooden honeymoon cottage called Mahaba House. It is situated at the edge of the property for privacy and has its own garden and access to the beach. Mahaba is an open-plan, double-storey cottage. There's a kitchenette and sitting room (with cushions on the coir floors and hammocks for lazing) on the ground floor, which leads out onto a large balcony (great for relaxing over sundowners). The bathroom has both a bath and shower (uncommon in Zanzibar). Upstairs is an airy bedroom with a large bed decorated in local style with wooden floors and reed matting covering the walls. It’s open to the seabreeze. If you can't go without music, no matter how much you love the sound of the ocean, there's a CD player.

Average cost of accommodation per person per day is 30 US $.

Nungwi Village Beach Resort.

Welcome to Nungwi Village Beach

Rooms.

Location: Nungwi Village Beach Resort is situated on the northwestern side of the Nungwi peninsular, just more than 2km from the lighthouse on the northern tip of Zanzibar.

The rooms are divided into standard and sea-view rooms. 

The sea-view rooms are built in double-storey makuti thatch blocks on the beach. Our favourite are the sea-view rooms located on ground level, as you can literally step out of your room onto the beach sand. Wow! The other prime sea-view rooms are situated in the top section of the house. They have a lovely balcony on which to sit and enjoy the view. They’re simply but attractively furnished and decorated with African designs and paintings by local Zanzibarian artists.

The standard rooms are located away from the seafront in an enclosed courtyard with two wings of eight rooms. They’re fairly plain and basic (nothing fancy in the décor) but a clean and comfortable option if you’re on a tight budget. Unfortunately only 2 persons can sleep in these rooms, so they cannot be made up into triples.

The rooms have air-conditioners, en-suite facilities and double, twin or single beds.

Average cost of accommodation per person per day is 42 US $.

Amaan Kendwa Beach Resort.

Welcome to Amaan Kendwa Beach

Located on the North Coast of Zanzibar, Amaan Kendwa Resort is one of the newest in the area. Kendwa is noted for it’s long magnificent beaches and very laid back atmosphere.

Being quite new, the landscaping of the place still needs a bit of attention. The lodge has been built in stages down a mild slope, with the reception area at the top, then a couple of sea view rooms facing out on to the ocean. The standard rooms have been built in a U-shape facing out on to the gardens, and the balance of the sea view rooms located closest to the beach. The garden rooms are located some 50m or so from the beach.

When you arrive, you are greeted at a very laid back reception by Moroko, the front office manager. The journey out to the lodge can be quite intimidating as the roads are terrible, mainly coral rag. Once you arrive at the lodge, you will almost forget the road, as the beaches at the lodge are most magnificent. If you have a look at the pictures, you will see the fantastic beach, this is the epitome of a tropical island beach. The owners have built their restaurant and bar area on the beach under a massive Makuti structure. Meals are served at the restaurant, whilst guests also have a variety of other restaurants and lodges to choose from in the Kendwa area and nearby Nungwi. The lodge offers free boat transfers to and from Nungwi, and during low tide you can walk along the beach from Kendwa to Nungwi. Just make sure you don’t get caught at high tide.

The lodge is very comfortable, and the sort of place where you come and go as you please. There are no formalities, just a hassle-free kind of place.

Rooms.

There are a total of 39 rooms in garden and sea view categories. The garden rooms face the gardens and are comfortable and reasonably priced. There are two types of sea view rooms, 11 of them are located at the back of the lodge, and then the other 10 are almost right on the beach. Unfortunately there is no price difference between the two, so we will always try to get you in to rooms 1-10 when booking with us. These definitely have the best views.

All the rooms are basic but comfortable. They all have en suite facilities, hot water showers and ceiling fans. The sea view rooms have the added bonus of air conditioning. All rooms have 2 ¾ beds in them which can be pushed together to make a double bed. All beds have mosquito nets. 

The lodge has 8 rooms which can sleep 4 people, so is excellent for family accommodation.

The rooms are kept clean daily by the 30 or so staff that they have at the lodge.

Average cost of accommodation per person per day is 30 US $.

La Gemma Del Est.

Welcome to La Gemma BEach

This is by far the largest resort in Zanzibar, not only because they have the most rooms, but also the vast space over which it is situated. Gemma is located on the North West coast of Zanzibar, near to Kendwa Rocks, on a magnificent stretch of beach. The beauty of this side of the island is that it is not as affected as the East by the tidal fluctuations. You are able to swim during low and high tide. Even though they have a great beach, they went and built the most massive swimming pool on the island with a sunken bar on the northern end where you are able to enjoy cocktails.

We do like the resort, but feel it is a little too big and perhaps not very authentic. Guests are transported by golf carts from the reception area to their rooms. All over the resort they have pathways for the gold carts who transfer guests between the top restaurant or reception and their rooms. From your room, it is a good 80 metres down to the beach. All in all it is almost half a kilometer from reception down to the beach (if not longer). This just gives you an idea of how huge it is. The hotel has been styled on a modern European style, ignoring the Zanzibar style, in which most other resorts have been built. Large white plastic tarpaulins greet you as you enter the main gate, something you might expect to see in Milan. The restaurant area is beautifully decorated using glass windows and water features, all very chic and modern.

One of the most stunning features of the resort is the large entertainment area built on a pontile out in the ocean. The jetty just out some 100m into the ocean and provides a stunning place to enjoy cocktails during the day, sundowners at sunset or a late night drink. From the deck in the evening, you can watch the fish swimming in the floodlit ocean.

Rooms.

The resort boasts an impressive 138 rooms, including 17 Junior Suites, 23 Executive Villa guest rooms and a presidential villa which consists of 5 bedrooms. All rooms are fitted with French doors which open out on to a landscaped garden. The rooms also have a small balcony where guests can sit and enjoy the view of the ocean.

The rooms all feature kingsize beds or twin beds for single persons. The rooms have all the modern conveniences which include satellite television, air conditioning, ceiling fans, mini bar, safe and telephone. The hotel has blended the room in a terracota and brown colour scheme. The bathroom includes a great shower, bidet, hair dryer, bath robes and hotel personalised toiletries.

The executive villas also include a personal butler.

Average cost of accommodation per person per day is 70 US $.

General facilities found in most Beach Hotels.
• Fully inclusive resort • Restaurant • 3 Bars • Full watersports centre
• Big game fishing facilities
• Full PADI certified dive school
• Swimming pool
• 24 Hour reception and concierge
• Small gift shop
• Laundry service
• Limited room service
• Conference facilities.

Room facilities:
• Air-conditioner and fans
• Mosquito nets
• Satellite television
• Telephone facilities
• Safe
• Telephone facilities
• Mini bar.

Activities:
• Diving
• Go snorkelling, water-skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, dhow cruises and deep-sea fishing
• Visit the hotel masseuse for a relaxing massage
• The hotel offers excursions to the surrounding areas, including Stone Town, Spice plantations and Jozani Forest.

Services:
• Transfers between Hotei and Stone Town
• Laundry service

RAS NUNGWI.BEACH RESORT.

Welcome to Ras Nungwi Beach

Location; It is located on the North coast of Zanzibar, The ideal place for all Beach Holiday Activities.

On the northernmost peninsula of Zanzibar Island, Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel overlooks a sparkling expanse of iridescent Indian Ocean. The lush gardens drop down onto one of the finest and most unspoilt beaches on the island, which in turn is fringed by a wide and thriving coral reef. Infused with the laid-back, exotic yet ultimately natural spirit of Zanzibar, this is the place to relax and enjoy all that this extraordinary part of the world has to offerThe hotel is situated in a glorious natural paradise, and our vision is for nature and the hotel to coexist harmoniously, with guests enjoying the beauty of the natural surroundings in luxurious lodge and chalet rooms, and the stunning Ocean Suite, pictured above. An eco-sensitive approach has ensured that the delicate balance of land and sea, flora and fauna is preserved for all to enjoy in the years to come.

The surrounding reefs create one of the most exciting areas to dive and snorkel, and are home to flourishing populations of dolphin, turtles, and countless other marine species. The hotel has an on-site fully equipped PADI Gold Palm 5 Star dive centre and dive adventures are available for all experience levels including beginners, who can be trained to full PADI certification by our resident instructors. A wide range of other watersports is also available.

Rooms

All 32 rooms are tastefully furnished, with hand-crafted four poster beds and indigenous decor, and all have balconies, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, hair-dryers, electronic safes and en suite facilities with deluxe bathroom amenities.

Mosquito nets over all beds ensure a peaceful night's sleep, with the sound of the ocean rounding off a relaxing day in paradise.

Lodge rooms have a garden view and both types of chalet room (superior and superior deluxe) have a sea view, with proximity to the ocean being closer the higher the category.  Both chalet categories are fitted with mini-bars.

Superior deluxe chalet rooms also have a CD-player and and other special extras.

ROOM RATES for the year 2006;

VALID FROM 1 JANUARY 2006 TO 31 DECEMBER 2006.

LOW SEASON                                          HIGH SEASON 

01/03/06-16/04/06                                      01/01/06-28/02/06

01/11/06-10/12/06                                      01/06/06-31/10/06

                                                                    11/12/06-31/12/06

LODGE (garden view).                                  LODGE (garden view).

Double: $ 135 pp                                            Double: $ 150 pp

Superior CHALET (sea view)                        Superior CHALET (sea view)

Double: $ 175 pp                                             Double: $ 190 pp

Superior Deluxe CHALET (sea view)              Superior Deluxe CHALET (sea view)

Double; $ 205 pp                                                Double: $ 225 pp

Ocean SUITE (Sea View)                                  Ocean SUITE (Sea View)                                   

Suite: $ 750 Single/double                                  Suite: $ 850 Single/double.

SAZANI BEACH HOTEL

Welcome to Sazani Beach Hotel and Dive centre, Nungwi, Zanzibar.

Sazani Beach is located on the northern peninsula of Zanzibar, along the scenic Nungwi coast.  The hotel features self-contained bungalows and chalets, all with sea views, in a tropical garden setting.  Our secluded beach with azure waters is amongst the best in Zanzibar and offers a paradise for both scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts alike or for those simply looking to soak up the peace of this unique island off the mainland of Tanzania.

The atmosphere is tranquil and the service is friendly and welcoming.  We are particulalry popular with couples looking for an exclusive hideaway and offer excellent value for money. The Pweza Juma bar and restaurant serves original dishes with local flavour, specialising in seafood and barbecues.

The secluded snuggeries, set in colourful gardens which extend to the shore, offer attractive accommodation, a spectacular view, privacy and access to our large, beautiful beach.

There are ten rooms, all en-suite, with double or twin beds and verandah, electricity and fans. All overlook the beach, and are constructed and sited in the traditional Zanzibari manner to stay cool in the hot weather.