Peace and relaxation.
On Zanzibar’s quiet and undiscovered West Coast.
Eleven pretty thatched cottages perched on a cliff above the Indian Ocean. The seven Sea View rooms and the family cottage look out towards Menai Bay, while the three Baobab rooms are built in the shadow of a giant baobab tree. Though they don’t have the sea view or the cooling sea breezes, they’re air-conditioned in the bedrooms and have their own private plunge pools which more than make up for it! Each room has its own private baraza (sitting area) and a mezzanine level with a second double bed (ideal for snorers, or so we’re told...)
Zanzibari food has a heavy focus on coconut, fish and the spices that are grown on the island, and the chef at Unguja makes the most of these. However, if these aren’t your bag, just give us some advance warning, as he’s a man who rises well to a challenge. There’s a pool at the lodge (with a shallow end for tiddlers), a PADI dive centre, and wi-fi in the bar alongside some scrumptious fruit cocktails. Owners Ralph and Elies live on site, which ensures all of the facilities remain up to scratch!
This is really a place for pottering, but if you must be active, there are certainly a few things to do. There is an offshore marine park here, so snorkeling is a must. If your trip doesn’t take you into Stone Town, we’d definitely recommend it as a day trip from Unguja, and a tour of the spice plantations is another highlight of the island. Dolphin lovers will find a trip to nearby Kizimkazi particularly rewarding, though you need to start early, to beat the crowds, and swim fast to keep up with the dolphins.
As with much of Zanzibar, at high tide the beach is almost covered by water, but there’s a pretty pool for these few short hours.
