About this hotel
General information
The Palms is an intimate, adults-only retreat on Bwejuu Beach, on the south-east coast of Zanzibar. With only seven villas, each with its own plunge pool, it feels closer to a private estate than a hotel; guests are welcome from the age of 16, and the whole resort can also be taken for a wedding or a private gathering.
The architecture is a considered take on Swahili tradition: villas and pavilions carry ornament carved into the plaster by island craftsmen, and the Zanzibari furniture is handmade by local woodcarvers. In the evenings Swahili dancers and singers perform alongside a taarab ensemble, and the library holds books on the island's wildlife, birds and marine life, the spice trade, its cooking and folklore. Stays are all-inclusive, covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, house wines, beer and spirits; Wi-Fi is free throughout and reception is open around the clock.
Location
The resort sits directly on Bwejuu Beach, on a little-developed stretch of Unguja's south-east coast dotted with fishing villages, beside the other hotels of the same family collection. Jozani Forest lies on the road in from the airport, and Kizimkazi, known for its dolphins, is a short drive away. Zanzibar's international airport, about 6 km south of Stone Town, is roughly an hour by road; the hotel arranges a meet-and-greet and transfers on request.
Spa
Guests use Frangipani Spa, which sits at Baraza, the neighbouring resort of the same collection. It is dressed in Swahili style with brass, candlelight and the scent of spice, and has a lap pool, indoor and outdoor relaxation rooms, a gym and a tennis court. Therapists from Thailand, Bali and India work with natural skincare and local spiced essential oils, offering Thai massage among a range of massage techniques and treatments, a signature bathing ritual for two and yoga sessions.
Sports & leisure
The Water Club, a few metres from the beach, has certified instructors teaching kitesurfing, windsurfing and sailing, with Hobie Cats available for lessons, self-charter or guided trips with a skipper. There are sea kayaks, a two-and-a-half-hour guided snorkelling trip to the coral gardens with all gear included, and a free guided reef safari across the flats at low tide. The Rising Sun dive centre is a PADI Five-Star Gold Palm and RAID-certified centre catering for first-timers and experienced divers alike.
- dhow (a traditional Swahili sailing boat) trips along the coast to the mangroves, with hand-line fishing and the catch cooked for dinner if wished;
- Swahili cooking masterclasses with the chef, Swahili lessons under the palms, palm-leaf hat weaving and games of bao with local masters;
- beach walks, birdwatching, and volleyball and football on the sand;
- excursions to UNESCO-listed Stone Town, to the spice farms and to Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, home of the red colobus monkey.
Restaurants & bars
The menu changes daily and draws on local produce and Zanzibar's cooking, where Arab, Indian, Persian, Asian and Swahili influences meet, with a short selection of continental dishes alongside; the kitchen caters for dietary requirements. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, afternoon tea, coffee, juices, house wines, beer and spirits are all included, and room service is available in the villas.
Swimming
The resort opens straight onto the white sand of Bwejuu Beach. A coral reef running along the coast shelters a calm lagoon for swimming and snorkelling; the shore is tidal, with tide times shifting through the seasons. There is a pool in the grounds with towels provided, and every villa has its own plunge pool on the terrace.
Rooms
The resort has seven villas of more than 140 m², all facing the Indian Ocean. Interiors are in coffee and cream tones, with dark polished floors, light caramel curtains and furniture carved by local craftsmen.
Every villa has a living room, a dressing room, a bathroom with bath and shower, air conditioning, satellite TV, DVD player, telephone, safe, minibar, tea and coffee facilities, Wi-Fi, and a large furnished terrace with a four-poster Zanzibar bed and a private plunge pool.
Palms Ocean View Villa
An ocean-view villa for up to four: a master bedroom with a king-size bed, a living room, a dressing room and a second room with a king-size bed and its own en-suite bathroom. The large terrace, with a silk-draped four-poster bed, leads to a sunken midnight-blue plunge pool.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.