ACCOMMODATION
Zawadi is very much a boutique hotel designed mainly with couples in mind. The nine Ocean Front Villas cover a generous 100 sqm each including a spacious living area with floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a private sunbathing deck and far-reaching ocean views. The décor has been kept intentionally simple using muted, pale tones to offset the natural vibrancy of the turquoise sea, powdery beach and bright tropical flowers. A beautiful, generous bed forms the centrepiece of the room looking directly out over the Indian Ocean.
FOOD & DRINK
As you would expect of a small, high-end kitchen, Zawadi’s chefs make the most of the abundant seafood and locally-grown spices for which Zanzibar is famous. Dishes are beautifully presented but with a focus on fresh, natural ingredients meaning they are not only delicious but also healthy.
Breakfast and dinner are served in the light and airy Driftwood Dining Room, housed under a cooling thatched roof and offset by the resort’s ubiquitous sea views. Lunch and snacks are available throughout the day in the cute Mswakini Beach Bar while sunset cocktails can be enjoyed in the Mali Lounge & Bar.
FACILITIES
The formula here is quite simple. Zawadi is a boutique beach resort, set on a low cliff with charming gardens, a secluded beach and outdoor pool. Guests can arrive and simply relax in an Indian Ocean paradise.
Thai and Balinese massage therapists will deliver a soothing treatment either in your room or on your private deck. If you feel the need for some exercise a ‘nature gym’ has been created including 900m jogging trail, chin up bars, benches, monkey bars and a special set of weights. Wind your way through the tropical vegetation before taking the winding staircase down to the beach for a refreshing dip in the ocean.
Zawadi’s sister properties, Baraza and Breezes, offer further facilities including an extensive spa, water sports club and tennis courts and a free shuttle service is available to guests in order to make use of these.
OUT & ABOUT
Snorkelling and diving are of course popular activities and there is a nearby PADI dive school at which the resort can make bookings on your behalf. Jozani Forest, with its endangered red colobus monkeys is just a short drive away, as is the peaceful and enchanting Mangrove Forest.
If you are not staying in Stone Town during your holiday then it is worth making a half day trip there to see the Sultan’s Palace, House of Wonders and other historic sites. It is just a 45-minute drive from Zawadi and a lovely way to round off an afternoon visit would be to go for a drink on the terrace of the Zanzibar Serena Inn, from where you can watch the local fishing dhows return home just before sunset.
INSIDERS VIEWPOINT
- Zawadi’s beach really is something of a rare find on Zanzibar. Being an almost entirely enclosed cove, guests tend to have it all to themselves for large parts of the day
NOTA BENE
- Wi-Fi is available in the public areas but not in the villas.
