Zawadi Hotel Zanzibar - All Inclusive

“Fantastic hotel in every way.”

People often say it’s the people that make a holiday, and I never really appreciated what that meant until now. Yes, Zawadi is beautiful. The villas are stunning, the ocean is mesmerising, and waking up every morning to that view is something I’ll genuinely miss. But beautiful places exist all ove… more

People often say it’s the people that make a holiday, and I never really appreciated what that meant until now. Yes, Zawadi is beautiful. The villas are stunning, the ocean is mesmerising, and waking up every morning to that view is something I’ll genuinely miss. But beautiful places exist all over the world. What makes this place different is how it makes you feel. Somewhere along the way, we stopped feeling like guests. There was no script, no forced friendliness and no sense that anyone was simply doing a job. Every conversation felt genuine, every smile was real, and every interaction made us feel as though we belonged there. I’ll always remember walking towards the bar and seeing Amani and Hamad greeting us with a smile before we’d even reached them. Somehow, they always seemed one step ahead, remembering exactly what we enjoyed and making every evening something to look forward to. Meal times became another highlight of every day, thanks to Ally, Devis and Hidaya. Their warmth, humour and kindness never changed, whether it was breakfast on our first morning or dinner on our last night. They created an atmosphere that simply made you want to stay a little longer. It’s also impossible not to appreciate the people you don’t always see. The chefs consistently produced incredible food, housekeeping quietly worked their magic while we were out enjoying the island, the gardens were immaculate every day, and the reception team somehow made everything feel effortless. A heartfelt thank you to Evelyne, Pema and Razza. You can tell when a team genuinely enjoys working together, and I don’t think that’s something that happens by accident. The warmth and professionalism across every department is clearly a reflection of your leadership. I’ve been lucky enough to visit some amazing places over the years, but very few have left me feeling quite like this. When people ask me about Zanzibar, I’ll tell them about the beaches, the ocean and the sunshine. But more than anything, I’ll tell them about the people at Zawadi. Thank you for making our holiday so special.

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“Exceptional in every possible way”

Some places impress you when you arrive. The truly exceptional ones stay with you long after you’ve left. Ziwadi is unquestionably one of them. After two unforgettable weeks, we leave feeling completely relaxed, refreshed and already planning our return. We arrived looking for a holiday, but what … more

Some places impress you when you arrive. The truly exceptional ones stay with you long after you’ve left. Ziwadi is unquestionably one of them. After two unforgettable weeks, we leave feeling completely relaxed, refreshed and already planning our return. We arrived looking for a holiday, but what we found was so much more, a place that allowed us to completely switch off, slow down and appreciate every single moment. What makes Ziwadi so special isn’t just its breathtaking location, it’s how effortlessly every detail comes together to create an experience that feels both luxurious and deeply personal. With just 12 private villas, every moment feels peaceful, private and wonderfully exclusive. Waking up to uninterrupted views across the turquoise Indian Ocean, listening to nothing but the waves, and watching the changing colours of the sea throughout the day is something that never loses its magic. Every villa feels like your own sanctuary beautifully designed, incredibly comfortable and perfectly positioned to make the most of one of the most spectacular views in Zanzibar. The food deserves a special mention. Every meal felt like an occasion, with beautifully prepared dishes and personalised menus that made every lunch and dinner something to look forward to. The quality, creativity and attention to detail were exceptional, and it was clear that nothing was ever too much trouble. What truly elevates Ziwadi, however, is its people. To the incredible bar team Amani and Hamad thank you for somehow always knowing exactly what we’d like before we even asked. Having our favourite cocktails and wine waiting for us each evening made us feel so genuinely welcomed, and your warmth, humour and attention to detail became one of the highlights of every day. To our wonderful waiters Ally, Devis and Hidaya thank you for delivering such consistently exceptional service. Every meal was accompanied by genuine smiles, thoughtful conversation and a level of care that made us feel like family rather than guests. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and your kindness and professionalism made every dining experience feel truly special. Behind every memorable stay is an incredible team working tirelessly to create such a magical experience. Thank you to the talented chefs for producing exceptional food every single day, the housekeeping team for keeping our villa immaculate, the gardeners for maintaining the beautiful surroundings, and the reception team for making every request effortless. A very special thank you to Evelyne, the General Manager, Pema, the Assistant General Manager, and Razza, the Food & Beverage Supervisor. Exceptional hospitality starts with exceptional leadership, and that was evident in every interaction throughout our stay. The warmth, pride, attention to detail and genuine care shown by every member of the team doesn’t happen by chance it reflects the culture you’ve created. Every single person made us feel valued, welcomed and genuinely cared for, turning an exceptional hotel into an unforgettable experience. Luxury hotels can offer beautiful villas, spectacular views and outstanding food. What sets Ziwadi apart is something much harder to create it makes you feel completely at home while delivering world-class hospitality in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable. We leave with unforgettable memories, new friendships and enormous gratitude to everyone who made our stay so special. This wasn’t just a holiday; it was an experience we’ll remember for many years to come. Without question, Ziwadi has set the benchmark for luxury hospitality, and we cannot wait to return. Until next time, asante sana. Gavin.

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“The perfect place for our honeymoon”

Zawadi Zanzibar is an absolutely stunning resort and the perfect place to relax and unwind. You will not read 1000s of reviews for Zawadi since there are just twelve villas situated in their large beautiful grounds, so let me try to do it justice. We have been fortunate to stay in some incredible… more

Zawadi Zanzibar is an absolutely stunning resort and the perfect place to relax and unwind. You will not read 1000s of reviews for Zawadi since there are just twelve villas situated in their large beautiful grounds, so let me try to do it justice. We have been fortunate to stay in some incredible villas and hotels around the world but, wow, Zawadi is up there with the best of the best. I was absolutely blown away by our villa and its balcony with private plunge pool. The villas are incredible – huge, beautifully designed and feeling more like a luxurious home than a hotel room. Each one has a massive balcony with two incredibly comfortable sunbeds, chairs and a private plunge pool, all overlooking the most amazing turquoise ocean views. We could happily have spent hours there every day just relaxing and taking in the view and we mostly did because it was what we both needed after a hectic few months. The service was exceptional throughout our stay. Every member of staff was warm, friendly and genuinely welcoming. I'm terrible at remembering names but thankfully the name badges helped! Pema the manager greeted us on arrival, then we met Hidaya, Ally, Devis, Amani, Raza among others. All wonderful, friendly and funny. We also met Evelyn, the general manager and William, the talented chef. We loved the surprise evening sundowners delivered to our villa while we relaxed on the balcony before dinner. Little touches like this made our stay feel so special. At the same time we were also brought the menu to choose our evening meal, allowing the chef to freshly prepare our food for us each evening. The food was outstanding. We simply couldn't manage three full courses each day! But we tried in order to not miss out. Breakfast was wonderful, lunch was a four-course affair and dinner, served in the evening rest aurant, consisted of five beautifully prepared courses usually including a first bite and a soup. There was always plenty of freshly caught fish, along with lots of other delicious options. The wines were all delicious too. A decent and varying choice of red, rose and white wines from South Africa are included. . Afternoon tea was also on offer each day, although we didn't have room for it! The coffee was excellent too, and on some mornings we simply enjoyed a coffee or two either in the ocean restaurant or on our balcony before waiting until lunch to eat. Water (sparkling and still) with a free water bottle, tea, coffee, red and white wine, beer and soft drinks were all included in our room, and as we were celebrating our honeymoon we were delighted to be treated to sparkling wine as well. We barely touched the wine in the room as we had plenty with dinner plus a pre or post-dinner drink or cocktail. We both enjoyed a heavenly massage (full body and indian head) and there is also a pretty decent gym with treadmill, bike, cables, bench and dumbbells. The location is breathtaking, with beautiful gardens, an infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean and a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere throughout the resort. Zawadi also have a sustainable and eco-friendly farm on site, which you can visit, where they grow many of their own produce, promoting a farm to table experience. I feel I should also add a couple of points for anyone unfamiliar with tides or Zanzibar's geography! Firstly, the beach, like beaches all over the world, is tidal. The sea goes out... and then comes back in again a couple of times each day! Beautiful to watch and changes the view. Secondly, Zawadi is on the east coast of Unguja, so you'll be treated to spectacular sunrises rather than sunsets. Thank you to the whole team for making our stay so memorable. Zawadi was the perfect place to end our honeymoon, although it would have been an equally wonderful start. You don't need to go anywhere else, and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

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“A once in a lifetime experience”

We stayed at Zawadi to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I can quite honestly say it was it was one of the most beautiful hotel's and definitely the best service we have ever experienced. The place is stunning, we were lucky in that the resort was extremely quiet when we were there (at one … more

We stayed at Zawadi to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I can quite honestly say it was it was one of the most beautiful hotel's and definitely the best service we have ever experienced. The place is stunning, we were lucky in that the resort was extremely quiet when we were there (at one point we were the only couple). But I can't imagine it never feels busy. You have a lot of privacy and space. The food is exceptional. Just delicious. Fresh, tasty. They have their own gardens on site and much of the produce comes from there. A one off experience at the Zawadi, helped by a wonderful team including Hamadi (amazing cocktails), Amandi and Hidaya who looked after our every need. Shout outs to Rax, Devis, Rukia & Ally.

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