Ras Nungwi beach hotel

A quality traditional lodge with lots on offer !

Hotel name:
Ras Nungwi beach hotel

Address:
Nungwi hotel

Phone:


Website:


Overview:

Ras Nungwi is a well established hotel with a very natural and laid back feel. The white washed palm thatched cottages that make up the resort are perched upon a short coral cliff top on the northern tip of Zanzibar Island, offering stunning views to the sparkling iridescent Indian Ocean beyond. Spread throughout rich tropical gardens and loaded with high-quality facilities to keep you entertained, this hotel is a great choice for anyone who is looking to both relax and enjoy the activities on offer.

Ras Nungwi is located just 30 minutes walk from the vibrant area of Nungwi, whilst the beach at the lodge remains quiet, pristine and unspoilt. Ras Nungwi is designed to be eco-sensitive and work harmoniously with the beautiful natural paradise that surrounds it, without foregoing our creature comforts. The buildings are traditional in design and made from all-natural materials with thatched makuti roofs. Each room is decorated beautifully with the use of local artifacts and fabrics. There is a good sized swimming pool, which is lined with blue shaded glass mosaic tiles and from here there are amazing views out to the ocean.

Ras Nungwi is renowned for its excellent cuisine. An English breakfast is served daily with a buffet of fresh tropical fruits, cereals, breads pastries and preserves. Lunch can be enjoyed wherever you like; the open air restaurant, by the pool, on the beach or at the beach bar. A five course table d’hote menu is served for dinner with occasional seafood buffets and barbeque dinners to keep things different and exciting. Naturally there is an extensive South African wine list as well as French Champagne to accompany the menus.

Room Descriptions:

Ras Nungwi has four categories of accommodation. Each has hand crafted four poster beds, hardwood furniture, tasteful fabrics, indigenous decor, mosquito nets, a private balcony, mini bar, air conditioning and en-suite facilities.

Lodge Rooms

Lodge Rooms have garden views and include all the facilities above

Superior Chalets

These Rooms have all the same facilities as the Lodge Rooms, they are slightly larger with sea views

Superior Deluxe Chalets

Superior Deluxe Chalets are like the Superior Chalets but also have iPod docks and are in closer proximity to the sea.

Ocean Suite

For those seeking a truly exclusive hideaway for all or part of their stay, Ras Nungwi's unique Ocean Suite provides a very unique and luxurious beach experience. The Ocean Suite is a self contained private villa with its own plunge pool and over 200 metres of space. There is a wonderful roof top terrace and open air sitting room, perfect for private dining, airy siestas and star gazing.

Facilities and Activities List:

The hotel’s on-site watersports centre is a member of the PADI International Resort Association. It incorporates a 5 star PADI dive school, also offering snorkelling, dhow cruises, kayaking and professional deep-sea fishing.

- Deck-level fresh water swimming pool for hotel guests.

- Games area including pool table, darts, table tennis, board games and small library.

- Tennis Court.

- Mountain Bikes available.

- Gift shop.

- Tennis Court

- Ubora Restaurant

Visits to Nungwi village, Zanzibar’s dhow-building capital and home to a turtle sanctuary. The village has several bars and restaurants, popular with some guests.

Peponi Spa.

Power is 240V AC, 50Hz, supplied from the national grid via the hotel’s own transformer. A modern high output generator provides back-up power 24 hours a day. Power outlets are UK three-pin type and adaptors are available.

Community Projects:

As part of Ras Nungwi's commitment to the local community, they were the driving force behind the establishment of the Labayka (“The Voice”) Development Fund (LDF), a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). LDF aims to support and steer sustainable socio-economic development, promote good health & hygiene practices, support education and training initiatives, and offer family counselling for the general population and families in Nungwi village. Furthermore, LDF aims to protect and preserve the natural environment at Nungwi, as well as its cultural and historical assets.

LDF is managed by an Executive Committee of 10 volunteers, all of whom live and work in Nungwi village. Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel is the main sponsor of LDF, currently accounting for more than 90% of its annual operational budget, and has additionally assisted the NGO in several specific projects since its inception.

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Pongwe Beach resort

Considered to be the market leader in its price category.

Hotel name:
Pongwe beach resort

Address:
Pongwe, Zanzibar


Phone:
+255 (0) 773 169 096

Website:
www.pongwe.com

Overview:

Pongwe Beach hotel sits in a private bay on the east coast of Zanzibar just an hour’s drive from Stone Town. The beautiful beach is swept daily before even the earliest of birds wake for their morning cup of tea. Morning refreshment is delivered freshly to your door step by the attentive and touchingly proud team at Pongwe. Nothing is a problem here and they host so confidently that you can see the pleasure in the faces and actions of each and every member of the team. This is a guest house with a difference, the staff are loyal and in many cases have been at Pongwe for the best part of a decade, resulting in a finely tuned service and as mentioned, a proud and happy team hosting your stay.

Accommodation:

ROOM AND SUITES

There are 16 rooms at Pongwe, 14 set at beach level and 2 in an elevated position at the opposite end of the cove from the pool and dining area/bar. Each room has a double bed and some have an additional single for families and those requiring triple occupancy. There are ceiling fans, hand crafted wardrobes, sun hats and beach sarongs, en-suite bathrooms with saline showers and outdoor terraces with sun loungers and sweeping sea views.

Resort Service & Facilities:

A huge thatched Makuti roof covers the reception, bar, restaurant and lounge - the public areas at Pongwe. The beach has hammocks strung up between palms and sun loungers nested in both shaded and unshaded positions, though they are free to be moved wherever you wish.

There is an infinity pool, free snorkelling equipment, fishing on the lodges own longboat, sunset cruises, jeep hire or bicycles to ride around the local villages.

Community & Conservation:

Pongwe actively encourages guests to visit the local school to give them a lesson in English or any discipline/topic you are well versed in. They buy their produce from local farmers and fishermen and employ Zanzibari staff and Massai security from the mainland.

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Neptune beach resort

Considered to be the top choice in its category.

Hotel name:
Neptune beach resort

Address:
Kiwengwa, Zanzibar

Phone:
+ 255 (0) 24 223 3449

Website:
www.sandies-resorts.com

Overview:

Neptune Pwani was originally an independent hotel which was bought by a larger luxury hotel group. The service is fantastic and the food sensational for the all-inclusive buffet style experience. There is a fresh fish grill, pasta station (where you create your own dishes) and then more traditional style buffet meals served by smiling chefs. The selection of cheese and chocolate based desserts is pretty much unrivalled in Zanzibar, though we know the secret to be a monthly food container shipped from Italy! Pizzeria, a la carte restaurant, you’ll not be disappointed with the food and wine.

Naturally seafood and traditional Zanzibari dishes are served alongside the international favourites. The resort itself is spacious and never feels too crowded. A natural line of palm trees on the beach provide shade over sun loungers and the huge free form pools are perfect for families, friends and couples to relax around. There’s a swim-up bar and baraza area in the centre of the main pool.

Room Descriptions & Facilities:

There are 154 rooms at Neptune Pwani; 72 Sea View, 78 Beach Side and 4 Beach Suites. All rooms have a balcony or veranda with a further outdoor relaxation space. Each room is elegantly furnished in traditional Zanzibar style with hand crafted wooden furniture. Beds are king size with mosquito nets and there are large bathrooms with walk in showers, sitting areas with a sofa and coffee table and the following facilities: individual climate control AC, TV with satellite channels, stocked mini bar, coffee and tea making facilities, digital in-room personal safe, telephone via operator, hairdryer and shaver plug point.

SEA VIEW

Sea View Rooms are set back from the beach in an elevated position providing fantastic sea views. The ground floor of this building houses the spa and treatment rooms.

BEACH SIDE

Beach side rooms are in groups of 4 rooms per thatched cottage – 2 on the ground floor and 2 on the upper floor.

BEACH SUITES

Beach Suites are individual bungalows with separate lounges and bedrooms in addition to the outside space. They also feature Jacuzzi baths.

Resort Service & Facilities:

The main restaurant offers dining with optional indoor or outdoor seating. It serves a lavish buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Special theme nights are organised on a weekly basis with a fusion of light and tasty international cuisine and favourite local dishes.

The Samaki a la carte restaurant serves seafood and fusion cuisine accompanied by refreshing cocktails in a refined and peaceful ambience. The restaurant opens only for dinner and must be pre-booked.

The Pizzeria serves fresh baked pizza and soft drinks, fruit juices, beer and house wine for dinner. Dining is included in the all-inclusive package once per stay and additional meals are chargeable.

The Ngalawa snack bar offers cool drinks and snacks throughout the day, afternoon tea and a variety of cocktails and drinks. Open from 10 am to midnight.

The Pool Bar lies in the middle of the swimming pool overlooking the ocean and serves a wide selection of soft drinks, wine, beer, cocktails and local spirits. Open from 10 am to 5:30 pm.

LEISURE & SPORT FACILITIES

The water sports centre offers catamaran, windsurfing, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing courses and blokart (three wheeled kart with sail like a mini land yacht). Daily entertainments with animation teams include water gym, water polo, volley ball, table tennis, billiards, darts and board games.

THE MVUA AFRICAN RAIN SPA

The fragrance of local spices and traditionally infused oils permeate the air throughout the Mvua spa. Treatments for individuals and couples include massage, beauty treatments and holistic therapies lasting from 80 to 260 minutes. There is a Turkish bath, sauna and Oasis pool.

Other features include a 24 hours front desk, business centre with internet facilities and secretarial service, concierge and luggage storeroom, free parking, currency exchange, laundry and valet service (7 days a week), first aid in-house clinic with doctor on call (24 hours), two swimming pools, dedicated children’s beach area and children’s facilities such as cots and high chairs, Spherique fashion boutique.

Community & Conservation:

Neptune is one of the few hotels in Zanzibar that has been harnessing solar power for over 5 years now. They strive to employ and train their staff from surrounding villages and use local farms and fishermen to supply their kitchens. The wider hotel group supports East African arts projects and more recently joined the Ecotourism Kenya group to support eco and sustainable tourism in Kenya.

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Mnemba island lodge

The epitomé of rustic bare foot luxury on it's own private island.

Hotel name:
Mnemba island lodge

Address:
Mnemba island


Phone:
0774 438 656

Website:
www.andbeyond.com/mnemba-island

Overview:

Mnemba Island Lodge is a private island lodge off the North East coast of Zanzibar. There are just ten luxury Bandas with private beach front Salas, a dive school and two dive boats. Everything about your stay at Mnemba is tailored to you and your pace of relaxation and exploration.

Faultless in every aspect, this exclusive island offers guests an experience so entwined with the island’s natural habitat that there really is no comparable place on earth.

The island lies within a Marine Sanctuary and is the only protected environment for nesting green turtles that come ashore year round to lay their eggs. Females lay eggs in dug out nests above the high tide line on the beach. Up to 100 eggs will hatch some 60 days later and this is a wondrous sight to behold which many guests get to experience, especially during February and March. The waters off the Mnemba atoll teem with life from the shallows lapping the powder white sand to the depths of the ocean. From tiny reef fish to dolphins and hump back whales, a marine lover’s paradise awaits all guests. Diving and snorkelling equipment is provided free of charge and certified divers have two daily dives included in their stay. For those who prefer to swim or snorkel, access from the beach is fantastic or boats take guests to reefs further away from the shoreline. The dive school offers courses for beginners and experienced divers as well as guiding.

Aside from the ocean and her vibrant inhabitants, the island itself is home to many species of rare and endangered animals; particularly the beautiful Aders Duiker (known as Nunga in Swahili). These small antelopes, along with the tiny Suni antelopes, live in the forest at the centre of the island and can be spotted wandering among the gardens of the bandas.

Accommodations:

Set slightly back from the beach for privacy, each of the ten luxury Bandas are constructed using traditional methods of thatch and weave with materials indigenous to the island. Though the Bandas have large open sided lounges with sweeping ocean views, they also have a private beach Sala with day beds which are perfect for sunbathing and relaxing whist exploring the beach or snorkelling. The large open lounge leads through to your bedroom with a canopied bed draped in fabrics and an expansive bathroom with double basins, separate toilet and glass beaded shower (fresh water is pumped from the islands own desalination plant). There are ceiling fans, though the breeze from the beach is a natural coolant and each banda has its own bar which can be stocked to reflect your tastes.

Resort Service & Facilities:

The guest relaxation areas are understated and elegant. Open thatched lounge and dining areas are furnished with deep pillows and low wooden tables, naturally with magnificent ocean views. Meals are served where and when you decide though typically breakfast is brought to your Banda, lunch served under the dining thatch and dinner served on the beach at fully dressed tables with traditional lanterns and a sky blanketed with stars.

The facilities of the lodge are not technological, they are of the earth. The dive centre provides all the equipment you could possibly need for exploring the ocean. For those wishing to sail, fish, take in the sites of Zanzibar or simply adventure inland, the lodge staff are always at hand to arrange this for you.

Community & Conservation:

Mnemba Island Lodge belongs to a family of small luxury lodges with an ethos of low impact, high yield conservation initiatives. They work to protect and care for large bio diverse land and island environments whilst supporting the wildlife and local communities. Mnemba Island itself sponsors local fishermen to protect the surrounding reefs and has a desalination plant to provide fresh water for the island.

Current initiatives include an ‘experimental fish aggregating device’ project to attract deep ocean fish to FADs, in order to enable local fishermen to obtain sufficient tuna and other species away from the fragile reefs, thus reducing their impact on the coral environments. Suni Antelope have been transported across to Jozaani Forest on Zanzibar to improve the species status on the Island and Mnemba staff monitor and record data on the green turtles breeding activities for scientists and local marine biologists. Though Mnemba has no local community on the island, the villages of Matemwe and Kigini over in Unguja are supported with school programmes; to educate the youth through interactive and exciting conservation lessons. Vegetable gardens have been well established and a windmill has also been erected on the island.

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Milele Villas

Spectacular views and a private beach; a relaxing stay in your very own paradise.

Hotel name:
Milele Villas

Address:




Phone:
+255 (0) 773 828 026


Website:
www.milelevillas.com

Overview:

Milele Villas is an ideal and relaxing base from which to explore the diverse island of Zanzibar. Enjoy the crystal-clear waters and fine sandy beaches – which can be viewed directly from the villas. You will be in prime position to kick-back, soak up the beautiful sunsets and watch as the night sky lights up with an amazing view of the stars.

Milele has two villas - Lisa and Tatu - sleeping 2-12 people. A secluded, relaxed and peaceful atmosphere – perfect for a Yoga retreat.

Milele Villas is Zanzibar’s very first environmentally friendly and self-sufficient property. Milele Villas makes the most of natural resources and always has electricity – unaffected by black-outs.

ACOMMODATION:

VILLA LISA

A spacious open-plan villa with high ceilings that ensure you are kept cool by the gentle ocean breeze. Private rentals mean that you will have the villa, pool and surrounding area all to yourself. Comfortably sleeps 8+ guests:

Three self-contained bedrooms – one has twin beds in it, the other two have a double bed in each.

Two extra double beds upstairs – in their own open, private space.

Facilities include: fans, verandas and showers.

Staying at Villa Lisa you have full access to a private Landcruiser Prado (old model), self drive, seating 6-7 people. Don’t forget to bring your international driving license!

VILLA TATU

Tatu: the Swahili word for ‘three’ – Tatu is made-up of three sections:

The middle section has a self-catering kitchen and an open lounge area, with large glass doors facing the Indian Ocean. There is also a spare bed.

Both outside sections are identical. They have double beds – which also look out onto the sea through French windows, an en-suite shower.

Villa Tatu can comfortably sleep 4+ guests. Villa Tatu features its own infinity pool!

RESORT SERVICES & FACILITIES

-Wifi.

-Infinity swimming pool.

-Spa and massage treatments can be arranged.

-An astrological telescope.

-A flat screen TV with DVD player and a collection of movies.

-A range of bikes and sea-kayaks.

-A hammock - just perfect for an afternoon nap.

-An optional volley ball court.

COMMUNITY & CONSERVATION

Milele Villas take great pride in their rich natural surroundings. Air-conditioning has not been installed, the villas have instead been cleverly constructed – in an eco-friendly fashion – to benefit from the cool sea breezes.

Electricity is supplied by wind power, and hot water is heated by the sun. Collected rainwater is used to water the garden, which is used to grow papayas and passion fruits.

All fruits and vegetables are handpicked locally, and meat and fish is also local produce.

The villas are constructed from local natural materials and furnished with recycled dhow (Arabic boats).

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Matemwe Retreat

Perfect for tranquil, luxurious and romantic escapes!

Hotel name:
Matemwe Retreat

Address:
Matemwe, Zanzibar

Phone:
+ 255 774 414 834


Overview:

Matemwe Retreat is a group of just four incredibly spacious ocean view villas, with their own private beach. With personal butler service and the option of massages and meals served in your villa, this lodge truly is a retreat where all your needs catered for.

Matemwe Retreat sits among the palms above the pure white sands of Matemwe. Mnemba Island is nearby, surrounded by its stunning coral reef. There are no large hotels in this area, and the beach is shared only with fellow guests and local fishermen. You can watch their elegant traditional boats pass by, or even join them on a fishing trip if you so desire.

Guests can choose to simply relax in the privacy of their extensive villa, or take a stroll along wooden pathways to use the pool, bar, spa and restaurant of the sister hotel, Matemwe Lodge. The service and food at both are outstanding, with great attention to detail and care taken to accommodate your own personal tastes.

The villas at Matemwe Retreat are decorated in a traditional style using local materials and bright textiles. You have uninterrupted ocean views from nearly all areas including your enormous bathtub. There are many lounging opportunities in the villa- at your private cocktail bar, on your veranda, or your rooftop terrace where you have your own plunge pool.

Room Descriptions & Facilities

There are 4 private villas at Matemwe Retreat. Each has uninterrupted ocean views, bar area, dining area, air conditioned bedroom, bathroom with large sea view bath tub, double basins and shower, veranda with couch and hammock, plus a private roof terrace with sofas, plunge pool, sun and shade decks.

Resort Service & Facilities:

-Private butler service

-Spa treatments

-Access to the pool, cocktail bar and restaurant at Matemwe Lodge

-Activities on offer include snorkelling and diving, kayaking, local village tours and day trips   to any part of the Island.

Community & Conservation:

Recycling and green waste management systems have been put in place at the retreat and in the local village.

The bungalows have been built using traditional techniques and local materials. The colourful textiles are made locally by women’s groups and the blind association make the matting in Stone Town.

Energy saving methods are practiced.

Food is sourced locally.

The local school in Kigomani is supported by the Pack for a Purpose enterprise, and financial assistance is given to develop the classrooms and help students along the path to higher education.

Carbon emissions are offset via a Tanzanian forestation programme, and investment is put into renewable energy sources.

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