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Zawadi Hotel is a romantic, adults-only retreat perched on a clifftop along Zanzibar’s serene southeast coast, offering sweeping views of the Indian Ocean and direct beach access. Intimate and refined, it combines relaxed beach living with understated luxury, making it an idyllic choice for couples and honeymooners.
Part of the prestigious Zanzibar Collection, Zawadi exudes coastal elegance with a minimalist aesthetic and a focus on privacy and tranquillity. The property embraces the natural beauty of its surroundings, with swaying palms, powdery sands, and turquoise waters forming a dramatic backdrop to the experience. With attentive service, a laid-back ambience, and thoughtful design, Zawadi offers a refined escape with a deeply personal touch.
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A closer look at the accommodation, atmosphere and setting.
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Accommodation
The hotel features just nine spacious ocean-view villas, each positioned for maximum privacy and panoramic vistas. Decorated in soft, neutral tones with driftwood furnishings and contemporary Swahili accents, the villas feel light, airy, and serene. Each includes a large bedroom, an open-plan lounge, a private terrace, and an outdoor plunge pool, creating the perfect setting for quiet relaxation and uninterrupted views of the sea.
Food & drink
Dining at Zawadi is a highlight of the stay, with a focus on fresh seafood, local produce, and a fusion of international and Zanzibari flavours. Meals are served in the open-air restaurant or on guests’ private terraces, offering a mix of casual beachside lunches and more refined candlelit dinners. The kitchen is flexible and happy to cater to individual tastes, dietary requirements, or spontaneous cravings.
What to do
While Zawadi encourages relaxation, there is no shortage of activities. Guests can snorkel directly from the beach, explore the reef at low tide, or enjoy complimentary access to diving and water sports facilities at a nearby sister property. For those looking to discover more of the island, excursions to Stone Town, spice farms, or the Jozani Forest can be arranged. Alternatively, the peace and privacy of Zawadi make it just as appealing to do absolutely nothing at all.
Planning your stay
The islands’ beaches differ markedly by coast and tide. We weigh hotel atmosphere, room privacy, swimming conditions and onward flights, especially after an active safari.
Zanzibar and Pemba offer different kinds of stay. Fanjove is also in this coastal collection as a southern island alternative, outside the archipelago itself.
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Compare a few alternatives, or open the full regional guide to see every property in this part of Tanzania.
Zanzibar Archipelago
LUX* Marijani Zanzibar is a refined beachfront retreat set along the pristine sands of Zanzibar’s northeastern coast in Pwani Mchangani. Combining the charm of Swahili architecture with LUX*’s signature laid-back luxury, the resort offers a fresh, contemporary escape with a focus on wellness, relaxation, and barefoot elegance by the Indian Ocean.
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Zanzibar Archipelago
Located on Pemba Island, situated off the eastern coast of Tanzania and north of Zanzibar, The Aiyana's surroundings are lush and green with Manta Beach within walking distance and Vumawimbi Beach close by. The Aiyana sits at the very north of the island within the vicinity of the Ngezi Forest Reserve.
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Zanzibar Archipelago
Fundu Lagoon is an exclusive, barefoot-luxury beach retreat set on the remote southwest coast of Pemba Island, part of Tanzania’s Zanzibar Archipelago. Accessible only by boat, the lodge is tucked between dense tropical forest and a pristine stretch of white-sand beach, offering a secluded and intimate escape with exceptional diving, crystal-clear waters and a wonderfully untouched island atmosphere.
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We will explain how it compares with the alternatives and whether it fits your preferred dates, route and pace.
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