Zanzibar House
3.5 star property

Beachfront bed & breakfast with relaxing spa services
your current months are May, 2024 and June, 2024.
May 2024
June 2024

Zanzibar House

Photo gallery for Zanzibar House

Triple Room, Garden View | View from room
Exterior
Minibar, in-room safe, individually furnished, desk
Business centre
Lobby sitting area

Overview of Zanzibar House

Reviews
9.0

Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • PoolPoolPool
  • On private beach
  • SpaSpaSpa
  • Hot tubHot tubHot tub
  • Parking includedParking includedParking included
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
The price is AU$236
Price available on 26/4/2024

Explore the area

Map
Matemwe, Matemwe
  • Popular LocationMuyuni Beach9 min walk
  • Popular LocationPwani Mchangani Beach5 min drive
  • Popular LocationMnemba Island23 min drive
  • AirportZanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)71 min drive
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Room options

Economy Room, 1 Queen Bed, Garden View

Highlights

Furnished balcony
Individually furnished
Air conditioning
TV
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
Hairdryer
Bathrobes
  • 16 sq m
  • Sleeps 1
  • 1 Queen Bed

Triple Room, Garden View

Highlights

Furnished balcony
Individually furnished
Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
TV
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
Hairdryer
  • 32 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

Double Room, Ocean View

Highlights

Furnished balcony
Individually furnished
Air conditioning
Free cots/infant beds
TV
Separate bedroom
Ceiling fan
Hairdryer
  • 25 sq m
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Similar properties

About the area

Matemwe

Located in Matemwe, Zanzibar House is in a rural area and on a private beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Kiwengwa Beach and Mnemba Island. Nungwi Natural Aquarium and Mnarani Natural Aquarium are also worth visiting. Take the opportunity to explore the area for outdoor excitement like hiking/biking trails.

What's nearby

  • Muyuni Beach - 9 min walk
  • Pwani Mchangani Beach - 5 min drive
  • Kigomani Beach - 11 min drive
  • Mapenzi Beach - 14 min drive
  • Mnemba Island - 23 min drive

Getting around

  • Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.) - 71 min drive

Restaurants

  • Spice Restaurant - 11 min drive
  • Mohammed’s restaurant - 9 min drive
  • The Green & Grill - 8 min drive
  • The Jetty - 11 min drive
  • Villa Kiva Garden Restaurant - 7 min drive

About this property

Zanzibar House

Bed & breakfast by the ocean
You can look forward to a poolside bar, a terrace and a coffee shop/cafe at Zanzibar House. This bed & breakfast is a great place to bask in the sun with a private beach, beachfront dining and beach massages. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna or hot tub, and indulge in aromatherapy, a body scrub or a massage. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enjoy on-site activities, such as snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing. In addition to a garden and an arcade/games room, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
You'll also find perks such as:
  • An outdoor pool with sunloungers
  • Free self-parking
  • Bike hire, a round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge) and multilingual staff
  • Tour/ticket information, beach towels and concierge services
Room features
All rooms are individually furnished, and offer comforts such as furnished balconies and air conditioning, as well as thoughtful touches such as free WiFi and safes.
Extra amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with showers and free toiletries
  • TVs with satellite channels
  • Electric kettles, ceiling fans and daily housekeeping

Languages

English, French, Italian, Swahili

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour return airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Cruise terminal shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Bicycle rentals
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Fishing
  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • Sauna
  • Scuba diving
  • Snorkelling
  • Spa tub

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Multilingual staff
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • Business centre
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Garden
  • On a private beach
  • Pool loungers
  • Terrace

Spa

  • Aromatherapy
  • Body scrubs
  • Manicures/pedicures

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only

More

  • 2 floors
  • Building
  • Built in 2012
  • Smoke-free property
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels

Entertainment

  • TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Limited room service
  • Minibar

Outdoor space

  • Furnished balcony

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Individual furnishings
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the cruise terminal, ferry terminal and airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
There is no front desk at this property
The host will greet guests on arrival
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
For more details, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Renovations and closures

The property is closed between 20 April and 30 June.

Access methods

Host will greet you

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 70.0 per night.

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 90 per vehicle (return)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 70.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve rollaway/extra beds
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Property is also known as

Zanzibar House
Zanzibar House B&B
Zanzibar House Matemwe
Zanzibar House B&B Matemwe
Zanzibar House Matemwe
Zanzibar House Bed & breakfast
Zanzibar House Bed & breakfast Matemwe

Frequently asked questions

Does Zanzibar House have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

How much does it cost to stay at Zanzibar House?

As of 20 Apr 2024, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Zanzibar House on 26 Apr 2024 start from AU$235.56, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is Zanzibar House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Zanzibar House?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Zanzibar House?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Zanzibar House?

Checkout is at 11 AM.

Does Zanzibar House provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle. A fee of USD 90 per vehicle applies.

Where is Zanzibar House located?

Nestled on the beach, this Matemwe bed & breakfast is within 3 mi (5 km) of Muyuni Beach, Pwani Mchangani Beach and Mapenzi Beach. Kiwengwa Beach and Kigomani Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Zanzibar House Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 40 out of 64 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 18 out of 64 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 64 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 64 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 64 reviews" "

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

6.0/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Unfortunately our experience was not as nice as we had hoped. As two women in their 20s and 30s we felt that we were at times treated as children. We were informed by a male staff member that we were “not allowed” to eat breakfast at the table overlooking the ocean, even though the owner specifically informed us of this option the day prior (likely because he did not want to walk the extra distance.) Our ‘Garden View’ room was a view of the parked vehicles in front of the hotel. The room also lacked any storage space or shelves for suitcases and belongings, leaving our 4 bags blocking the door due to lack of any space. Breakfast had no fresh coffee, only instant, and ended abruptly—when I returned on the hour to refill my tea, I was told breakfast ended and the female staff would not bring back the tea kettle for hot water. I informed the owner I was gluten free on arrival, but no arrangements were made. This meant my breakfast options were limited to a fruit cup and eggs. Sauna/hammam must be requested in advance, as we were told it was “off”. The staff did not offer to turn on when we asked about it. In conclusion, beautiful hotel but not a beautiful experience.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2021

2/10 Terrible

MA, Canada

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
This is the worst hotel experience we have had after travelling for many years across many continents. The management is poor. The owner could often be overheard berating and yelling at his staff in front of hotel guests. When issues such as a broken pool filter, slow wifi, or power outages came up, his response was to shrug and say, “This is Africa, what can you expect?” The menu at the hotel restaurant is a set menu consisting of seafood and meat dishes. As vegetarians, we found it difficult to eat here and ended up going to a hotel down the beach (Mandhari Villa - highly recommend) for dinners. We booked a “garden view” room and it was up a set up steep stairs on top of the guard house at the entrance to the hotel, completely separated from the main hotel building. Our privacy was not maintained and we had a knock on our door from housekeeping at 9pm despite not calling them for anything. There are multiple cats on the property that seem to be pets of the owners, and they wander through the lobby/restaurant/pool area at all times. The towels were not changed daily despite us having to pay an extra surcharge for a second person. This led us to wonder what the extra charge was going towards. The restaurant and pool staff however are very nice and attentive. They are working under poor management conditions and still keep a smile on their faces. All in all we would absolutely never recommend this hotel to any family or friends.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful place; nice and helpful owners, tasty food. The beach is peaceful...but fyi, has serious tides and seaweed. But there are a few lovely spots to float around at. It is an easy day trip to other more swim-happy beaches and about an hour to Stonetown. This is a place to go an relax. But options through hotel or beach dudes are plentiful if you want activities.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

Caitlin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Our host Maximo was great! Food was spectacular. Service was decent.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018

8/10 Good

Becca

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful, well-decorated property. Relaxing atmosphere with plenty of lounge chairs, daybeds and tables on a beautiful beach. The four-course dinners were leisurely and tasty. The staff was very welcoming.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017

8/10 Good

Kira

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely
My stay was pleasant from arrival till departure. Everyone was nice and accommodating. Thank you and Happy Holidays. To anyone out there looking for “a feel at home” this is the place to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2017

10/10 Excellent

Loren

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The best hotel we stayed in in Zanzibar
We stayed in 5 hotels while making our way around Zanzibar and really enjoyed 4 of them. Of the 4, this one really was the best, a cut above in every respect -- fantastic atmosphere, gorgeous property, great management and staff. As you drive down the horrible dirt road that leads from the highway to the property, you'll think you must have made a wrong turn. But you haven't -- keep going.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2017

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
My "Zanzibar House" in Matemwe
The whole place is amazing. Unlike the 50+room hotels this is a smaller establishment which adds to the peaceful beach front atmosphere. It's in a great location to go south for a day trip to the spice farms, caves, or fishing communities. Or go North to Membe Island for diving/ snorkling or Nungwi for a big party. Extremely warm artistic decor and the food was fantastic.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2017

10/10 Excellent

The Travel Guru, Los Angeles

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A Hidden Gem
Zanzibar House is an exceptional place and a beautiful experience. Georgia treated me like family from the moment I arrived. The location is inspirational, meditative and a place to disconnect from the stresses of the world. Thank you.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2017

10/10 Excellent

agata

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stay in Zanzibar house
We had lovely time in Zanzibar House. The place is clean and nicely decorated. Owners are amazing. Everyday we were spoilt by great Italian food. Staff are friendly and helpful.We had very memorable experience. Highly recommended!