Independent hotels in East Coast Zanzibar, Tanzania

"A good guest house. Lovely people. It's nearby Paje beach, which as great dinning options. I enjoyed the pool as well"

"We loved our stay at the Samawa living hotel. Great room rooms, loved the outdoor shower, good food in the restaurants and they had a great band for the Sunday night barbecue dinner. The staff was very helpful and friendly. We highly recommend it and we’ll stay there again if we return to Zanzibar."

"My husband and I split our time in Zanzibar between two places. Our first stay was a the KonoKono resort and in the over water villas. It was absolutely fabulous and honestly the nicest hotel room/villa we have ever experienced. We felt totally spoilt by the hotel and well looked after for our stay. The food was delicious! I have a severe allergy to garlic and gluten and they catered to my needs so I didn’t feel like I was missing out. The room was stunning with a gorgeous view from the balcony. The cleanliness was impeccable. The bed was huge and so comfortable too and we slept very well during our stay. The floating breakfast was so decadent and really fun. We also loved the Tanzanian food night - fish masala curry was to die for! The resort is also extremely close to The Rock Restaurant which is an incredible experience. Charles was absolutely fantastic. He is a real credit to the team at the hotel. Jackson and Rosemary took great care of us during our stay too. Thank you so much! Points to consider… The road on the way up to the hotel was extremely bumpy but it would not deter us from returning. It’s just not ideal if you are planning to do lots of trips in and out. Personally, if you are staying in the water villas I think I better system should be in place for transporting bags (like a buggy or something similar) the walk was lovely but quite long if you are carrying things. "

"The hotel was wonderful. A safe place with delicious food and the people are so lovely. Clean and got everything you need. My only thing would be to make sure there is an all inclusive coconut rum. "

"Had the most wonderful time at Melia Zanzibar, full of the kindest people who made our trip spectacular. The food menu at the beach club is great, as the jetty restaurant. Breakfast is delicious too! "

"It was right on the beach! Great staff! Rooms are great but #9 was right by kitchen, so avoid that room."

"Amazing hotel and staff! My every need was met and there was always a staff member close by who was willing to help. We arrived early and our rooms were not ready, they took our bags from us and allowed us to get ready in the change rooms. We went to our excursion and came back to find our luggage in our rooms! They even offered late check out for us! Ahmed is the best bartender ever! Made the best drinks and always had a smile on his face! Too many amazing staff to call out. I will miss Lux Marijani and the memories I had made over that week! The only down side I would say is the location is a bit far from stone town and other excursions around Zanzibar. However, the remote location makes for relaxation, quiet and great beaches! Expect a minimum of 1.5 hours each way to commute into the city areas like Stone Town. Other than that, for what you get in quality and celebrity treatment, the distance is the minimum of your worries! The staff literally cater to your every need! One other story, I came back from an excursion and needed dental floss. A staff member was prepared to call a pharmacy to get someone to deliver it to my room. I declined because it wasn’t necessary but just goes to demonstrate how serious they take guest satisfaction! Loved this place and will miss it tremendously. "

"Absolutely loved our stay at Toa Hotel and Spa! The service was exceptional, with staff who truly go above and beyond. I wish I can give it a 10 star for their service! The rooms are stunning, with private pools and direct beach access. We enjoyed the delicious food made with love, and the beach dinners were unforgettable, complete with an amazing show under the stars. The pools are beautiful, and the whole property feels peaceful and luxurious. If you’re coming to Zanzibar, this is the place to stay. Highly recommended!"

"This place is AMAZING! If you want a luxurious stay with good food and kind people go! I enjoyed every minute of my stay here and I would gladly stay here again and again. I went for my birthday and it was the best experience of my life."