Essque Zalu Zanzibar

Wonderful Stay with Exceptional Staff at zalu Hotel (Zanzibar) We really enjoyed our stay at Zalu Hotel in Zanzibar. The absolute highlight was the staff — incredibly kind, attentive, and welcoming. They remembered our names and even our preferred seating areas, which made the experience feel very personal. Breakfasts were buffet-style and included, with lots of variety. There were chefs making eggs, crepes, and pancakes to order, along with cereals, breads, and other options. Dinner was also buffet-style, with a different theme each night (Swahili night, pasta bar, and other rotating menus). We found dinner to be a bit hit or miss depending on personal taste, but overall the quality was good. Nightly entertainment was another highlight — lively, fun, and something we really enjoyed, especially having great seats to watch the performances. In terms of value, pricing felt more in line with U.S. standards than budget travel (buffet dinners were around $40 USD per person plus tip), which seems fairly standard for Zanzibar overall. That said, the service, atmosphere, and experience made it a great stay, and we would definitely recommend it. Huge shoutout to all of the people who made this trip extra special! Moreen at the front desk, Juma with concierge service, and all of the wait staff - Mahmoud, Joffrey, Islam, Flora and the others!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exceptional Family Stay – Outstanding Value, Service & Food|We stayed at Essque Zalu Zanzibar (Long Beach) from 17th to 21st December as a family of three (two adults and a five-year-old child), and the experience was nothing short of excellent.||From the moment we arrived, the staff truly stood out. Warm, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely pleasant. Check-in was smooth, and everything from arrival to settling into the room was handled effortlessly.||The rooms are spacious and extremely well designed. Even the standard room felt luxurious, with ample living space, comfortable seating, walk-in closets, and a massive, well-appointed bathroom. It was more than sufficient for a family and never felt cramped.||One of the absolute highlights of our stay was the food. We opted for the half-board package (breakfast and dinner), and it exceeded expectations. Hats off to the chef and the entire F&B team.||The buffet offerings were phenomenal and changed daily, with a wide variety of cuisines and options. Whether you’re vegetarian or a meat eater, the choices were extensive and thoughtfully curated. Every day felt like a completely refreshed menu.||What impressed us most was the flexibility and hospitality. If something specific was missing or if our child wanted a simple dish like pasta, the team was quick to prepare it, included within the package and without any fuss. That level of accommodation makes a big difference, especially when traveling with children.||The resort itself is stunning. Beautiful views, a large and well-maintained pool, and a calm, premium resort atmosphere throughout. The kids’ club is a great addition for families. The shuttle service to Kendwa Beach Rocks is an excellent value add and allows guests to experience another beautiful beach location with ease.||For anyone planning to stay in Zanzibar for 4–7 days or longer, this hotel is an easy recommendation. At a price point of around $170–$180 per night with a half-board package, the value is outstanding. The overall comfort, service, food quality, and experience far exceeded expectations.||Highly recommended, especially for families looking for a relaxed, high-quality, and well-managed resort experience in Zanzibar.

We stayed at Essque Zalu Zanzibar for two nights and had a truly relaxing and memorable experience. The resort is beautifully designed, blending modern luxury with traditional African elements, and it feels very peaceful and private.||Our room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable, with a lovely view and thoughtful details throughout. Housekeeping was excellent, and everything was well maintained.||The staff were one of the highlights of our stay. Everyone was warm, friendly, and genuinely eager to help, which made us feel very welcome from the moment we arrived. Their hospitality really stood out.||The pool area was stunning and perfect for relaxing, and the overall atmosphere of the resort was calm and romantic. Breakfast was delicious with a good variety of options, and the quality of the food was consistently high.||Breakfast was a little crowded, but we ate nice omlets. ||Thank you.

From the moment we stepped inside the reception to the time we checked out, we had the most memorable stay. The whole resort was beautifully presented, clean, luxurious and peaceful. We booked the partial sea view room and it was fabulous from all the little details inside to the private verandah outside, perfect for relaxing whilst reading a book or watching the boats go by on the sea. The infinity pool was in pristine condition, the breakfast and dinner buffet had a great selection and the Jetty restaurant was convenient for lunch too. The service all round was exceptional, everyone was friendly, helpful and went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful experience. We will be recommending Essque Zalu Zanzibar to our friends and family and are looking forward to visiting again!

We visited in November for our honeymoon, opting for seafront suite and the all inclusive package. At check in, they tried to put us in their lowest class of rooms available, even when we had confirmation on our side. They said they could get it sorted out by Monday morning (it was saturday), leaving us in the wrong room for 2 nights. Worth noting that the resort was completely empty, they could’ve honoured our reservation. |We ended up having to wake up our travel agent abroad to speak on the phone with the booking manager (who offered to move us to the correct room for a fee…) |Ended up in the right room||The service staff was so nice! Went above and beyond to make our experience nice||When we were there the resort was empty so buffet restaurant became a set menu.. we had to complain to have more variety for lunch and dinner. All inclusive also doesn’t get you access to any alcohol except local beer and wine, and no access to the jetty restaurant. ||The pool could use some maintenance, it actually stained our swimsuits. Worth noting that the beach is impractical, my husband got stung by sea urchins when he tried to go in (shout out to the staff for a pool-side surgery that saved him)||Overall, the staff really made the stay better, but I would say this is not a 5 star all inclusive stay, and the managers seemed money hungry, unwilling to make our stay better

Nice concept needs renovation and to be more spic and span for a 5 star hotel rating. I am not a fan of the salt water pool but some people seemed to enjoy it. I loved the jetty and the bar service. The tree of life drink was delish!

This resort does not live up to a five-star standard and is closer to a three- to four-star property. While the location itself is nice, the hotel feels worn and clearly in need of proper renovation. Many areas show visible signs of ageing, from rusted outdoor furniture and poorly maintained wooden decking to details in the rooms that should have been addressed long ago. These are not minor cosmetic flaws but ongoing maintenance issues.|One major inconvenience during our stay was the frequent power cuts, which occurred easily 20 times a day. While electricity usually returned quickly, the constant interruptions were disruptive and unacceptable at this price level.|To be fair, once we raised our concerns, the management and staff were responsive and genuinely tried to improve the situation during our stay. We do appreciate this effort, and it is clear that the team is doing its best. However, guests come here to relax, not to identify problems or wait for fixes. At this level of pricing, the experience should be smooth from the moment you arrive.|Food was mixed. Breakfast was simple and acceptable but offered a limited selection. Lunch we tried only once and would not repeat it — it was extremely overpriced for the quality provided. Dinner, on the other hand, was better organised, with a wider variety of options and occasional themed evenings, which helped improve the overall dining experience.|New Year’s Eve was enjoyable, with plenty of food, entertainment, and a lovely fireworks display. The atmosphere was festive and well-managed. While the food was not gourmet, it met expectations for a large event, and credit is due to the team for creating a pleasant evening.|Personally, I prefer to receive the level of service and quality I have paid for upfront rather than seeing issues addressed reactively. While the staff and management are clearly trying, the resort as a whole is still far from what one would expect from a luxury destination.|My honest recommendation would be for the hotel to reposition itself as a strong four-star resort, align expectations accordingly, and focus on thorough refurbishment. Doing so would attract the right audience and prevent disappointment for guests expecting a true five-star experience.

We had a great stay at this hotel. Everything was very good—from the room to the facilities. The service was excellent, and the staff were friendly, helpful, and professional. A special mention to the food, which was excellent and very enjoyable. Thank you to the entire team for a wonderful stay.|Jämbo from Layla 😊