Unguja Lodge

Hotel · Kusini

Unguja Lodge

Hotel · Kusini

Kizimkazi street 1, Kizimkazi Mkunguni, Tanzania

Highlights

Beachfront bungalows, excellent food, personalized service, local wildlife

Kizimkazi street 1, Kizimkazi Mkunguni, Tanzania Get directions

ungujalodge.com

@iescape

Unguja Lodge, Kizimkazi, Zanzibar - Explore & Book

"If your idea of heaven is living virtually outdoors amongst nature, with the bush on one side and the sea on the other, then Unguja Lodge is for you. Opened by Dutch couple Ralph and Elies, the lodge's intimate feel ensures a much more personal experience than Zanzibar's other hotels. Attracting a mix of thirty-something couples and young families, we enjoyed sociable snorkelling and diving trips, and chatting over delicious dinners (which are included in the rates). Relaxation and luxury are high on the agenda - evident from the bougainvillea-fringed swimming pool to the12 thatched, architect-designed villas, each with tons of space. However, it is not for those who equate quality with room service, a champagne-filled minibar and a flat-screen TV. Its blissful element stems from the fact that the hotel, on the southern tip of the island, feels completely cut off from the world. (In fact, we ended up so relaxed that, on our last day, we slept in way past check-out time!). Excellent local activities include village tours and dolphin spotting; day trips to offshore islands can also be organised. Highs The hands-on owners create a friendly, laid-back atmosphere Strong local identity - staff are mainly local with links to the neighbouring village, Kizimkazi We loved being far from the tourist strips and closer to nature - we spotted monkeys and dolphins on our stay On site PADI dive centre with access to largely unexplored sites Large funky rooms with sweeping curved white walls, loos with a view, and lots of Zanzibari character Lows During high tide, the adjacent beach all but disappears It's not cheap - but note that rates include an excellent dinner Mosquitoes can be ferocious - take lots of repellent Open-plan villas mean less privacy The road from Kizimkazi is bumpy" - Rachel Hamada

https://www.i-escape.com/unguja-lodge

View Postcard for Unguja Lodge

JerzeeeyGirl

Google

We were excited to stay at the Lodge based on glowing reviews and photos—only to learn the photos were over a decade old and didn’t reflect current conditions.||The service was truly five-star. Martin and his team went above and beyond, and the food was excellent—especially the made-to-order breakfasts. The restaurant was lovely and well-maintained. ||But, they were out of things near the end of our stay and they didn't have some alcohol that was disappointing.||The outdoor sitting area and pool were also very nice and clean. You could see close up the pool needed a good paint job. There was a lot of rain and there was always staff available to cover everything up to keep everything dry. They were doing the best that they can despite the conditions of the resort.||Unfortunately, the huts were a different story. They were in poor condition and undergoing renovations that should have warranted a full closure. Black dust (allegedly from nearby trees) dropped onto our beds, the showers were rusted and felt like something out of a gas station, and while the toilets were clean, the bathrooms felt dirty overall. Upholstery was worn, pillows had holes, and the outdoor area was either overgrown or dead.||The beach—something I was most looking forward to post-safari—was completely eroded and unusable. A former sandy area on a hill as part of the property was torn down and under construction.||This was meant to be the relaxing end to an otherwise incredible trip, and it was a major disappointment. Hopefully renovations bring it back to its former glory, but until then—stay away.|The rather than zero was because of Martin and his staff (I don't think he and some of the staff are there anymore) and the food. |

carolynna2022

Google

We had an amazing stay at this unique and unspoiled resort. Martin and his team were extremely friendly and made us feel so welcome and relaxed. The team made a special effort to celebrate our anniversary. In particular, the food was incredible especially the local fish. The snorkeling trip was unforgettable where we were taken to a sandbank and cooked an delicious BBQ. We felt like we saw the really Zanzibar and made a short walk to the local village. If you want an authentic trip where you can engage with local people this is the place.

Robert Jones

Google

Unguja Lodge is a great hotel in a very tranquil and picturesque position on the coast. The sunsets were exceptional. It has rustic charm and the service was excellent. The rooms are very spacious and well appointed. The hotel is undertaking some quiet refurbishment behind the scenes. The food was delicious. It’s a little off the beaten track, but well worth a detour.

AndyBInWiltshire

Google

We had a great stay. There are a lot of things to like. The staff are very helpful (although things do sometimes get lost in translation). The food was consistently excellent. When one of our group has a birthday they provided a free cake and did a impromptu song and dance for her, which was a real highlight. The location right next to the beach and amongst the trees is stunning. The pool is good. The villas are very spacious. We loved watching the local wildlife: moneys, lizards, elephant shrews, dik diks and more. The monkeys seemed just as interested in us. We got very few insect bites.||It is also small, quiet and secluded. We were the only people there for some of our stay. We liked that, other people might feel differently.||On the minus side, it does feel a bit tired in places. Some of the seats in the dining area are broken, some of the fixtures in the rooms are corroded by the salt air and I got a shock off one of the light switches. And it is a bit of a drive from attractions such as Josani and Stonetown. However we felt the plusses far outweighed the minuses.

S4698KLmargaretw

Google

The Unguja Lodge was an oasis of luxury and comfort - just what we were seeking after a safari. Martin and his staff went out of their way to make the visit comfortable. The chef prepared fabulous meals! Each lodge was nicely appointed and quite clean. Fabulous sunsets!!

LeighannZ

Google

This lodge provided a lot of positives for our last few days in Zanzibar. Martin runs a tight shop with his employees who are very friendly and attentive. There were only a few other guests there so it was really quiet and relaxing. The rooms are very large and the views breathtaking. The chef is excellent and provided delicious choices at every meal. ||Martin arranged a walking tour of the village outside the resort which we found very interesting. He also arranged a boat, BBQ, and snorkeling trip which we enjoyed. It was fun watching the monkeys in the trees and living amongst nature.||What was missing here were the little extras that would make this resort luxury. The faucets were pitted, the pool area towels need to be replaced with new ones, the room towels need an upgrade and the pillows on the chairs need a cleaning.||Overall, we enjoyed our stay and the pros were more than the cons.

RonA595

Google

Stayed for 4 magical nights with my 6 year old daughter. Martien and staff are a family and welcomed us with love and incredible hospitality. Out of a a 10-night Zanzibar trip in which we stayed in a couple of 5-star resorts as well as Unguja (TUI Blue Bahari and Park Hyatt), the food, atmosphere, service and pristine nature at Unguja was unmatched by the resorts. Several times we had the beach to ourselves, and we were NEVER hit up by local “guides” and beach boys (this is rampant in the resort areas and Stone Town). At night all you can hear is the ocean and animals (at the resorts there was less of that and more man-made noise). We really appreciated getting a different paper each night explaining various aspects of our surroundings. All our arrangements for excursions and transport were done by Martien and his amazing staff. We encountered Dik-Diks, Elephant Shrews, monkeys, hermit crabs, and a bat, all happily living in the lodge. My daughter got the full princess treatment from the staff and couldn’t be happier. I had to tell her not to chase the dik-diks! We really hope to come back one day. Thank you so much Martien and staff for welcoming us to Zanzibar in your unique style. The love was received and I hope you felt it from us too.

C3599BXpamt

Google

Beautiful landscape.staff extraordinarily responsive.food fabululous.truly a paradise||Loved my hut...loved the snorkling