HAKUNA MATATA and other Jambiani, Tanzania Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

This is by far, the best hotel/resort in Jambiani. It is excellent value for money. Your first impression when you arrive is that the complex is like a small botanical garden. Immaculate sandy paths connect every part of the complex and there is really no need for shoes. Hakuna Matata is the pace of life here. The hotel is run by a colourful collection of Rastafarians who make you feel very welcome. Please be patient and ask for things about 1-2 hours before you need them. If you want dinner at night, you need to tell them at lunchtime so they can prepare.

Rooms are large and comfortable. Large comfortable beds have huge mosquito nets and a ceiling fan. There is plenty of closet space. Bathrooms have hot showers, are clean and basic. Leave shoes outside to keep sand out.

The restaurant is very open and overlooks the beach. Breakfast is included and is excellent. Dinner offers very good food in a relaxed environment.

The beach bar is massive and offers games and a book library. They can make any drink you want and have ice-cold beers. Music plays continuously, mostly Reggae, but they take requests or will play your own CD if you ask. Next to the bar is a hammock and several sun beds. On some nights they build a fire on the beach.

The complex is walled in except for the beach. Security is provided by 8 dogs that are let out between midnight and 6am.

Unique Qualities: The whole complex is a photo opportunity. At night you can walk the beach and see more stars than you will probably ever see anywhere in the world. There is virtually no light pollution and the view at night is incredible. You do not need a torch to walk around at night because they are so bright.

Staff can organise excursions across the island to places like Jozani Forrest, but you have to bargain for prices!

The hotel is owned by Zion Jumba who will organise transfers from the airport, just email him.

*** OPEN DURING THE RAINY SEASON ***

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255 747 439034 or+255 747 43900
Address: P.O. Box 2589, Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania
Directions: Located in the north of the village
Website: http://www.mountzion-zanzibar.com/
Other Contact: znzmountzion@hotmail.com

EXCELLENT. This hotel is so picturesque, I created this additional tip just to post more pictures. Please see the main tip for details.


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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter

I didn't name this place, it just des not have a name. No one was around when I was walking near here, so I could not see inside. Behind the gates are 2 nice enough looking houses on the beach in the southern end of the village. Several guidebooks mention a ‘No Named’ Guesthouse and I think this is the place. If it is, then it is known for being clean, basic, cheap and having 3 rooms available. Never know. If you want more detail you will have to ring them on either: +255 (0) 747 415 064 or +255 (0) 0747 843 021. Omit the (0) when dialling form outside Tanzania.

Unique Qualities: Nice quiet location on the beach.

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Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Address: JAMBIANI
Directions: Southern end of the Village just south of SheHe Bungalows

Pakachi means border in local Jambiani / Paje dialect. This is the first location you come to when you arrive in Jambiani. It is owned by Mr. Saleh Hamza and has friendly staff. The bar and restaurant are built on a large coral rock and has a fantastic view of the beach and the Indian Ocean. You can drink and eat and really enjoy the natural beauty of Jambiani.

The beach really starts here and extends for 3 miles to the south.

The restaurant offers a wide range of freshly made food and everything on the menu is available, even during the rainy season. It is an excellent place to eat in the evening. The food is fresh, delicious and well priced. The bar is well stocked and the beer is served ice cold. Even if you do not stay here, have at least one meal here. It is a great experience.

Unique Qualities: The hotel rooms are in gardens on the opposite side of the road.

Excursions and transfers can be arranged by the hotel.

*** OPEN DURING THE RAINY SEASON ***

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255 (0) 747423331
Address: Pakachi Beach Hotel, Jambiani, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Directions: The farthest point north in Jambiani
Website: http://www.pakachi.com/index.htm
Other Contact: pakachi@hotmail.com

The Casa Del Mar is a nice small hotel in the middle of the Village and borders several other hotels. It does have lots of great reviews, but I am afraid I did not stay here. I did, however, find them one very hot day as I walked down the beach. They have a circular and open sided restaurant that is very close to the beach and offers some great views of the Indian Ocean. They do not serve alcohol, but the cokes are ice cold and the staff were very friendly and professional. The hotel certainly looked up to a high standard and they keep their beach and sandy paths cleaned.

Even if you do not stay here, I would recommend at least one evening meal here, just for the atmosphere.

*** CASA DEL MAR IS OPEN IN THE RAINY SEASON ***

Unique Qualities:
Casa Del Mar is a nice small hotel in the middle of the Village and borders several other hotels. It does have lots of great reviews, but I am afraid I did not stay here. I did, however, find them one very hot day as I walked down the beach. They have a circular and open sided restaurant that is very close to the beach and offers some great views of the Indian Ocean. They do not serve alcohol, but the cokes are ice cold and the staff were very friendly and professional. The hotel certainly looked up to a high standard and they keep their beach and sandy paths cleaned.

*** CASA DEL MAR IS OPEN IN THE RAINY SEASON ***

Please note the fantastic pictures are with the kind permission of the nice people who own Casa Del Mar Hotel!

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 00255 - 777 455 446
Address: Jambiani Village - East Coast
Directions: Jambiani Village - East CoastMiddle of the village. Full address is P.O. Box 4146
Zanzibar
United Republic of Tanzania
Website: http://www.casa-delmar-zanzibar.com/index.php?
Other Contact: info@casa-delmar-zanzibar.com

Want luxury in Jambiani? This is as close as you are going to get. The question is - do you want luxury in a simple village paradise? Do you want a pool? If the answer is yes - then Sau Inn is for you.

Located in the centre of the village, they do everything here. In fact, they have the only swimming pool in the area. They have small, but nice gardens enclosed within the walls of the compound. There are 35 self-contained, bungalow-type rooms, each one having their own hot water heater and air-conditioning. They have a large, sea view restaurant and bar. It offers seafood, continental and Zanzibar dishes. Some people say the food is great and others describe it as poor. Must depend on who is in the kitchen. Their rooms look basic on all websites you can book, so I guess you are paying for the pool.

Unique Qualities: The Sau Inn is a centre for Diving, deep-sea fishing (2 boats) and has internet facilities. The on-site dive shop offers open water dives with modern scuba equipment.

Unique Qualities: They list their amenities as:

* Telephone and fax
* Email services
* Beach volleyball
* Dive shop
* Windsurfing
* Swimming pool
* Deep-sea fishing trips
* Visa, Traveller's Cheques accepted (charges will apply)
* Safety deposit box

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Directions: Their e-mail account is stopped at present for non-payment. You can book through different websites like here:
http://www.africatravelresource.com/africa/E/zanzibar/accommodation/Z/Z09/03/ZSAU/zi09-02-sauinn-intro.htm
Website: Various booking sites
Website: http://www.sauinndivers.net/

Kimte is an interesting and small hotel. It actually has 2 parts on either side of the road. On the beach is a really relaxing bar with fantastic vies of the ocean. Also, next to it is a room that is actually like a tree house. Their website shows pictures of this whilst it was being built. My photo shows the completed article.

The staff are friendly and they have another bar and restaurant just across the road.

They have 7 rooms with hot showers for $45. Dorm room accommodation is $10 with breakfast and doubles (sharing) at $20.

Unique Qualities: They also have a small outdoor gift shop. Even if you are not staying here, stop in for a cold beer on the beach.

*** OPEN DURING THE RAINY SEASON ***

Unique Qualities: parison: about average
Prices: US$20-40 » Currency Converter
Phone:
Address: Website:
Other Contact:

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255 (0) 24 224 0212
Address: PO Box 3200 Jambiani, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Directions: At the southern end of the village
Website: http://www.ucpzone.com/kimte/index.html
Other Contact: kimte@lycos.com

Why do they call it She He? I have no idea. This set of bungalows and its annex sit right on the southern beach of the village of Jambiani. When I say right on the beach, it looks like a huge wave would wash it away – it is so close to the tide. It does not have the gardens that Mount Zion does, but its rooms and reception area looked very nice. It is right next door to another hotel with good facilities. Shehe (different spelling abound) claims to be the first guesthouse to be built in Jambiani. They offer single, double and triple rooms at ok prices.

Unique Qualities:
All rooms are equipped with:

• A ‘balcony’ facing the beach
• Beds with mosquito nets
• Fans
• Small refrigerator
• Hot water
• Breakfast included

They do some meals.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 00 255747843622
Address: JAMBIANI VILLAGE (SOUTH)
Website: http://www.shehebungalows.co.uk/
Other Contact: shehebungalows@hotmail.com

This place on the beach seems to be open by someone in Germany. That would explain why their website is based in Germany and priced in Euros. Several VT and Travel Advisor members have reviewed the Blue Oyster and were happy with the hotel. Some have described it as more of a guest house. They offer 3 types of rooms: The buildings and décor look great, they are known to have an excellent restaurant and their location is right on the beach. You are only a few steps from the surf. All rooms have hot water. They also offer telephone and laundry facilities. The Blue Oyster is one of the few hotels in Zanzibar that will take Visa Cards and Travellers Cheques (charges for the cheques). You also have access to a safety deposit box. I did walk past the Blue Oyster several times and had a good look round, but it was closed when I visited Jambiani (rainy season).


*** CLOSED DURING THE RAINY SEASON ***

Unique Qualities:
• Roof-top restaurant
• Right on the beach
• Modern décor
• Renowned restaurant

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Theme: Pension/Guesthouse
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: +255(0)24-2240163
Address: PO BOX 007, JAMBIANI, EAST COAST
Website: http://www.zanzibar.de/eng_index.htm
Other Contact: Mob.: +255(0)748-432911