Testimonials

Paradise found

Zawadi is truly a special place - we recently stayed for 8 nights for part of our honeymoon and don't think we've ever experienced a hotel which has made us feel so relaxed and sheltered from the worries of normal life!

Evelyn and all her staff were amazingly thoughtful, kind and helpful, and we have to give shoutouts to the following (apologies for any typos!)

Reception: Desdery, Isaack and Walter

Restaurant: Iddy, Alli, Raza, Msegeyu, Hamad and Innocent, led by the wonderful Bernard

Not forgetting the amazing team of pool staff, gardeners, chefs, security guards and housekeepers who help make this place what it is. The food in particular was exemplary, adaptable to dietary needs and always delicious.

We went to Jozani forest, Stone Town and the nearby town of Paje during our stay. Whilst Zawadi is on the other side of the island from some of Zanzibar's historical and cultural highlights, the relaxing transfers arranged by the hotel made it worth the trip, and it is part of the hotel's charm to feel more remote and secluded from the bustle of island life.

Wishing you guys all the best, and we would love to return one day!

Kane and Emily x

09/06/2023

Source: Trip Advisor

Amazing service in paradise!!

The hotel is basically 12 villas which are beautifully appointed. The views are amazing and it is super relaxing. I agree with the other reviews - the team is amazing here. From Evelyn who runs the hotel to Bernard who runs the wait staff and to the pool attendants. Food was great and par for the course- too much food but you are on vacation. We loved our stay and really able to relax after gorilla trekking and several safaris. I cannot recommend this place enough.

168candisse

07/06/2023

Source: Trip Advisor

100% reccomend hotel zawadi! The best service, ppl, food, and breathtaking hotel Zawadi

My husband and I came for our honeymoon and wow our experience in zawadi. The property itself was stunning 5 star all around but what really made our experience unforgettable was the service, the staff was so nice and welcoming, the food (five courses meals every meal) spectacular! We would recommend this hotel to anyone looking to relax in paradise with incredible service, incredible food, and incredible ppl. We will definitely come back one day!

Jacklyn V

01/04/2023

Source: Trip Advisor

What a awesome place

Everyone at zawadi goes out of their way to make you feel at home with ???? faces.
The food quality was first class and the drinks selection was great. Only down side is after a holiday here you will need to go on a diet .. ????
Rooms are private and have all you expect from a first class facility.

NS Ke

01/04/2023

Source: Trip Advisor

Amazing holiday

We had an amazing holiday at Zawadi in January. It was the perfect place to relax after a few days on Safari in Kenya.

The hotel location, grounds, gardens and views were all stunning. Our villa was amazingly comfortable, spacious, quiet and private…just beautifully equipped and furnished.

Our food, drinks and meals were of the highest international quality ..always beautifully presented. And all the staff were friendly and welcoming. Right from the very first warm welcome, to the final fond goodbye, you felt that that the Zawadi team did everything possible to make our stay warm and welcoming.

We could not recommend this hotel more highly.

Karen and Mike

01/02/2023

Source: Trip Advisor

Heaven on earth!

We stayed at Zawadi at the end of our honeymoon and are so grateful to have ended on such a high - the location, food and ambience were all perfect, surpassed only by the wonderful team who will spend their day making sure you are as happy as can be! We feel very lucky to have encountered the Zawadi magic and are already planning our return! A special thank you to Evelyne, Bernard, Iddy and Ali who are truly outstanding.

Clare G

01/02/2023

Source: Trip Advisor

Lovely, exclusive, personalized

We spent the holiday at Zawadi during our December East African excursion. The five days there were perfect! It is really an amazing, relaxing place that puts you at ease.

The entire five days were spent relaxing in our well appointed, clean villa (Taa), watching Netflix in our hammock, and taking it easy! The villa was very large and clean and surrounded by beautiful gardens and cute surprises of monkeys on some days! Just lovely.

The staff was the best I’ve ever experienced! On day one, they knew our names and I felt like they knew me and what I liked and disliked! I never had to ask/want for anything. I credit this to the amazing staff led by Raaza! He was exceptional and so was his staff: Innocent, Iddy, Ali, Homad, and Noa and Evelyn from the front desk! Just lovely, consistent, considerate people who I will always remember ??

The food was so yummy and after having five courses and cocktails each day, I must say that the food was indeed fresh! I only gained a few pounds on the scale!

We also visited the farm, and was able to see the most cutest, friendly farm animals! Boy, I will miss Gilbert!

Zawadi is adult-only luxury, a place where you can totally zen out. It was a great break from the daily hustle! You can sit almost anywhere and catch the ocean breeze and spray! And while there isn’t a beach, it was always amazing to watch the tides and listen to the ocean waves during dinner.

stayed at seven different places (high-end) during my time in East Africa and Zawadi was one of the best for R&R, gourmet dining, personalized service, and luxury!

Lhughey1908

01/01/2023

Source: Trip Advisor

Best Life Experiences

Our staying at the hotel for three days was one of the best experiences. The reservation at the hotel is at top. The have good customers service and the entire employee. I love every meal we had in the hotel.

Olwendro l

01/11/2022

Source: Trip Advisor

Zawadi amazing honeymoon

Absolutely amazing. Beautiful views rooms and grounds with great fresh food and drinks. What really sets them apart is the attention to detail the staff provides you, from impromptu private dinners under the stars to hand delivering sunset cocktails and menu’s right to your room. Love this place.

Kate

01/11/2022

Source: Trip Advisor

No better place to spend a honeymoon, stunning villas, meticulously designed all with the most beautiful views of the ocean.

. The whole team are a credit to the top echelons of hospitality and the food is equally varied and wonderful. Highly Recommend if you are looking for an escape!

Michael Robinson

8 months ago

Source: Google My Business

I stayed at the Zawadi Hotel in Zanzibar for my 40th birthday in July and it was the most incredible experience!

The hotel property is intimate and luxurious - every corner you turn there is something more beautiful to view. Each room is a villa with a dip pool and hammock on a patio overlooking the Indian ocean. It’s really paradise.

I also love that they have a working farm complete with a garden and farm animals. (Talk about farm to table!) We asked for a tour and I had so much fun feeding the goats too; Gilbert was my favorite.

Evelyn, the hotel manager, made our stay so special and personal. She gave me a 40th birthday I will never forget!

Megan Ortagus

9 months ago

Source: Google My Business

Could not recommend Zawadi more highly!

An absolutely stunning resort with the friendliest staff. We wanted for absolutely nothing and felt like royalty the whole time. Beautiful facilities, lovely relaxed atmosphere and incredible food - perfection!!

Harriet Blakey

8 months ago

Source: Google My Business

An absolutely phenomenal week spent at Zawadi for the second leg of our honeymoon!

We spent a long time researching the very best hotels in Zanzibar and could not be more thrilled that we came across Zawadi.. it offered us everything we were looking for on our honeymoon and more.

The hotel itself is breathtakingly beautiful, spectacularly designed around nature / the ocean and landscaped to perfection. The attention to detail at Zawadi is outstanding and every inch of the resort is exquisite - understated elegance really is the best way to describe it! Once the gates to Zawadi open, you truly feel as though you are stepping into another world, one of total tranquillity, paradise and relaxation. The view on arrival quite literally rendered us speechless... fortunately the delightful drink and warm welcomes helped!

We were so surprised by how large each villa is, designed with stunning neutral colours and a captivating view of the Indian Ocean blues. Your personal deck is also equipped with a hammock, refreshing plunge pool and extremely comfortable sun loungers. If we could live in the Zawadi villas, we would! They are cleaned twice a day and the lovely cleaners lay out fresh flowers in pretty designs after every clean as a surprise for you to return "home" to. They even pull the netting across the bed whilst you are at dinner to make your bedroom super cosy for your return. We especially enjoyed the surprise bottle of champagne on arrival, fresh fruits, sweet treats and sun-downer drinks / snacks brought to our room every evening.

The "privacy coconut" really made me chuckle but was such a nice touch to request some privacy in your villa when needed! Waking up each day to the view from our villa honestly felt like a dream - sparkling blue ocean, swaying palm trees and the most beautiful pink flowers I have ever seen (it's currently my phone screen-saver and will be for a long time!)

The food at Zawadi is honestly exceptional - also varied and plentiful! Each meal was delicious and so skilfully presented, as were the cocktails available at any time of day! You are offered a menu to choose from for lunch and dinner.

The hotel is very private, with only 12 villas it never felt too busy and we welcomed the peace and quiet to unwind and relax. The complementary daily snorkelling trips were a really nice touch and we also enjoyed exploring the charming farm behind the hotel! The animals were all so sweet and friendly.

Finally, I could not write such a glowing review without mentioning the exceptional Zawadi team. They truly are some of the most wonderful people that we have ever met.

A special thank you to Evelyne, the fabulous General Manager, who is BEYOND lovely and bent over backwards every day to ensure that we were having the most incredible stay. She was always around to answer our many questions and her enthusiasm, friendly personality and pure love for her job are testament to what an incredible team she has created. She organised everything for us perfectly and we very much enjoyed our daily conversations, as well as her admirable stories about her time in Zanzibar!

A huge, huge thank you to the rest of the Zawadi team for your hard work, heartwarming smiles and genuine passion that you throw into your roles each and every day. Thank you to Noel for making us feel so well looked after, as well as to Ali, Iddy, Raza, Innocent, Hamad and Chef William for making our stay SO incredibly memorable. We loved getting to know you all and it's honestly thanks to you that Zawadi really sparkles!

Overall, we couldn't fault Zawadi in the slightest. If you are looking for an intimate, luxury, boutique hotel that is absolute paradise on earth, then please just book it! The reviews and the photos speak for themselves, it is just PERFECT in every possible way.

Thank you to our Zawadi family for one of the best weeks of our lives. You have given us memories that we will cherish for life.

Lucy & Chris - London, UK

Lucy Dinwiddie

8 months ago

Source: Google My Business

My wife and I spent five amazing days at Zawadi after a week on Safari, and it was the perfect ending to our trip in Tanzania.

The hotel grounds were immaculate, with beautiful foliage and views of the sea from everywhere. The villas had amazing patio space that perfect for relaxing all day. The pool and beach areas were stunning and had ample space. Food and drinks were excellent throughout our stay.

However, the best part of our stay was the incredible staff and their hospitality. Every interaction with the staff was so welcoming. We enjoyed our talks with the staff during our meals and lounging by the pool bar. Iddy, Charles, Raza and Ali were always offering us delicious food and drinks any time of day, not to mention the great conversation and laughs. The friendly staff helped to make our stay so memorable. I can't recommend Zawadi and the team there highly enough and hope we can make it back soon.

Colin Brown

A year ago

Source: Google My Business

Luxury hotel in south east coast of Zanzibar.

The best experience in the island. Warm atmosphere, excellent team member, tasty food, private beach and plenty of water activities. For sure, strongly recommended. Evelyn, the manager, of great help in making the experience even more awesome.

Raul Cordoba

10 months ago

Source: Google My Business

I stayed there for 10 days for my honeymoon and I can only say that everything was perfect.

Perfect to the point that when visiting other place for foods and drinks none could hold a candle to the zawadi, it's location, the friendliness of the staff or the overall quality.

Can't recommend more, we'll be back

Laurent Katz

Source: Google My Business

Zawadi is my favorite destination in Zanzibar.

Fantastic accommodations, food and service. Evelyn, the manager greeted us with a warm and friendly welcome and everyone on her team followed her lead. The beach was the perfect spot for all the activities they offer as well as a place to explore the low tide pools filled with starfish and other creatures. The food was both creative and exceptional in presentation. The accommodations were private and the plunge pool the perfect please to chill and watch the tide come and go. If you don't renew your vows at The Palms, do it here.

Gene Taylor

A year ago

Source: Google My Business

Everything about Zawadi is outstanding.

The setting of the hotel in the natural beauty of Zanzibar is breathtaking.

Manager Evelyn and every staff person is friendly, gracious, and beyond accommodating.

The hotel is beautiful, clean, comfortable, and well maintained. The food is delicious and local entertainers were all fabulous.

Donna Wooldridge

1 year ago

Source: Google My Business

Zawadi...

What an amazing place! After the hot sticky journey there, you are greeted in the reception area with a drink and the most amazing view through the middle of the complex, over the infinity pool, and across the beautiful turquoise sea. From then on Evelyn, Tammi and the whole team treat you like royalty and enable you to really relax into the Zanzibar pace of life.

The rooms are incredible, like huge temples of luxury. The food is exquisite, using the finest ingredients and putting a fine dining spin on traditional local dishes, and if nothing on the menu takes your fancy, just ask the waiting staff for something else, and you will always be told no problem, or "Hakuna matata".

You can enjoy snorkeling around the reef for free, or go diving, or get a massage, all of which are well worth the effort. But if you truly want to relax and do nothing, you won't be disappointed. The staff are truly amazing and really know how to get you feeling relaxed. I won't name names because they were honestly all brilliant, and I wouldn't want to leave anyone out. and not just the waiting staff, but the gardeners who gave us a tour around the farm, the cleaners, and the maintenance staff as well.

I know this is a long review but Zawadi has worked hard to earn it, and I hope we will be back 'home' one day!

Joe Harkins

Source: Google My Business

We stayed here as part of our honeymoon for a week after spending a week on safari in Tanzania and loved it.

The rooms are extremely spacious and very private and there's plenty of areas around the resort to chill outside of the room. It's very quiet and relaxing - tends to be mainly couples so it's perfect for a honeymoon or romantic getaway. What made it extra special for us was the staff, special shout out to Iddi, Ali and Raza who made it even more difficult to leave at the end of our stay.

It was a perfect end to our honeymoon and we enjoyed every second of it so thank you to the Zawadi team!

Hannah Francois

3 year ago

Source: Google My Business

My husband and I stayed at Zawadi Hotel for 4 nights in January at the end of our Honeymoon.

The place is so beautiful and intimate, and the staff is excellent and attentive. The villas themselves are enormous, with huge bathrooms and a private deck area that faces the ocean with a plunge pool. When you walk onto the beach you can go directly into the water and essentially enter a coral reef filled with marine life. At dinner, they had entertainment 2 of the four nights, and also provided us with our own romantic dinner outside one of the nights. While there are pre-set menus for the meals (due to the small size of the place) you can ask for pretty much anything you like. If you are in Eastern Africa, we definitely recommend a few nights here.

Sarah Vakili

4 year ago

Source: Google My Business

Pure bliss. Luxury doesn't get much better than this.

From the start to the end, I didn't want to leave this place. The views of the beach were stunning, the rooms extra large and comfortable, and the food was to die for.

Johnny C

2 year ago

Source: Google My Business

Can I put 6 stars? Best hotel around.

Food is amazing, staff are attentive and fun. We were a dive group and with Everlyne in charge everything went better than could be expected. Love this place will be back.

Seminole Scuba

Source: Google My Business

Treated like royalty, everything far exceeded all our expectations.

I would highly recommend this hotel

Phil Beaumont

4 year ago

Source: Google My Business

We spent 5 dream days at Zawadi for our honeymoon.

The entire Zawadi team was very attentive to us, very welcoming and professional. The hotel is beautiful, very well maintained and designed so that you don't need anything. The view is incredible, we never get tired of it. The food is delicious and the chef and his teams leave you little touches that make all the difference. All the little details make this hotel the perfect and idyllic place for a vacation. We look forward to returning to this haven of peace.

Gabrielle Fourgous Perrin

1 year ago

Source: Google My Business