About this hotel
General information
The Residence Zanzibar is a villa-only resort: 66 villas, each with its own pool, spread through 32 hectares of palm forest and tropical gardens on the quiet south-west coast of Zanzibar, near the fishing village of Kizimkazi. The estate opens onto a white-sand beach roughly a mile long.
The interiors pair present-day comfort with the influences the island gathered over centuries of trade — Swahili, Omani, Indian and European. The grounds are large enough to be explored by bicycle, provided with every villa, or by buggy with a driver; among the gardens sit a small petting farm, a bird sanctuary and the kitchen plots that supply the restaurants. A beachfront pool, a 150-metre jetty, a garden spa and a kids' club make the resort work as well for couples as for families, and a personal butler is available on request.
Location
The resort lies on the south-west coast of Unguja, Zanzibar's main island, in the Kizimkazi area and close to Menai Bay, the island's largest marine protected area and a home to dolphins. Stone Town and Zanzibar's international airport are about 75 minutes away by road, and Kizimkazi village, the starting point for dolphin trips, about 20 minutes. Airport transfers are arranged by the resort.
Spa
The Spa occupies two hectares of tropical garden: six spacious treatment pavilions, each with a private garden, outdoor shower and relaxation area, plus a shared relaxation zone with a whirlpool, sauna and steam room. Treatments draw on plant and mineral products and on local herbs and spices. The 75-minute The Residence Signature (Balancing) massage works on the body's energy points, while Couples Connect, a 120-minute ritual for two, combines a scrub, a calming massage and a facial. A complimentary yoga class is held once a week.
Sports & leisure
Tides permitting, non-motorised water sports — catamaran sailing, kayaking and a marine walk — are free of charge from the Boat House, modelled on a traditional dhow, or straight from the jetty. Motorised outings cover diving, snorkelling, dolphin watching, a sandbank trip and a sunset dhow cruise. On land there are bocce and beach football, floodlit tennis courts and a fitness centre.
- Ocean Safari — a full day by dhow from Fumba across Menai Bay, looking for humpback and bottlenose dolphins, snorkelling, and exploring Kwale island and its mangroves
- Sandbank Escapes — the uninhabited islets of Pungwe and Kwale in the Menai Bay Conservation Area, with snorkelling and a seafood barbecue lunch on a sandbar
- Stone Town — a walking tour of the UNESCO-listed old town and its architecture of Arab, Persian, Indian, European and African traditions
- Changuu island — a 30-minute boat ride past the Stone Town skyline to a beach and a sanctuary of giant tortoises more than 150 years old
- Jozani Forest — Zanzibar's last native forest, home to the rare red colobus monkey, together with the nearby Zanzibar Butterfly Centre
- Island Spice & Herbs — a guided walk through spice and herb plantations with a herbalist, and a tasting of tropical fruit
- Seaweed Beauty — the seaweed farms of Paje and the workshop that turns the harvest into natural beauty products
- Cooking class — the resort's chef teaches Swahili dishes built around Zanzibar spices
For children
The kids' club, for ages 4 to 12, runs daily from 8am to 7.30pm in a spacious air-conditioned clubhouse, with games, cooking sessions, Swahili lessons and volleyball supervised by a professionally trained, multilingual team. The gardens hold a petting farm and a bird sanctuary, and a babysitting service is available.
Restaurants & bars
Cooking leans on Zanzibar's spices, and part of the produce comes daily from the resort's own kitchen gardens under its Earth Basket farm-to-table concept.
- The Dining Room — the main restaurant at the heart of the resort, overlooking the beach and ocean: breakfast, light lunches and, in the evening, international cooking with Omani and African flavours
- The Pavilion — a dinner restaurant in a light room with Middle Eastern touches, pairing fine cuts of meat with the catch of the day in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern style
- The Dining Room Bar — beside the pool, with views over the ocean and the sunset
- The Jetty — a 150-metre jetty that serves as a nautical club by day and a cocktail-and-canapé bar in the evening
- Beach or poolside lunch — salads, seafood, fritters and pasta brought to the sun lounger in a rattan basket
- Private dining — dinner in the villa by torchlight or a barbecue on the jetty at sunset
Swimming
The resort sits on a powdery white-sand beach about a mile long, lined with coconut palms. The shore follows the tides: low water uncovers sea flats full of marine life, while high tide is best for swimming, and a tide chart is kept at reception. The 45 × 15 m beachfront infinity pool has glass walls and a deck with shaded sun loungers and daybeds facing the ocean; ice cream and fruit skewers are handed round on the beach and by the pool.
Rooms
The 66 villas fall into six categories, from 34 Luxury Garden Pool Villas to a single Presidential Pool Villa, and blend contemporary style with the island's African, Omani and European heritage. Each has a deck with wicker chairs and a daybed and a private 1.2-metre-deep pool facing the garden, beach or ocean.
Air conditioning, ceiling fan, 40-inch satellite TV, telephone, free Wi-Fi, minibar, tea and coffee facilities (Nespresso machine on request), bottled water, safe, bath amenities, bathrobes and slippers, hairdryer, mosquito nets, in-villa check-in, daily housekeeping and turndown, 24-hour in-villa dining, bicycles and a butler on request.
Presidential Pool Villa
The resort's only villa of its kind, with a large master suite and a smaller second suite, each with an en-suite bathroom and outdoor shower, a very large living area with a dining room, and a vast deck with daybeds around a 35 m² pool facing the ocean. The size includes deck and pool; up to six guests, for example 5 adults and a child under 8.
Prestige Ocean Front Pool Villa
A one-bedroom villa on the shoreline with ocean views from every room, including the freestanding bath; sliding doors lead from the living room and bedroom to the deck and pool, and a hidden garden holds an outdoor shower. The size includes deck and pool; up to 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children under 8.
Luxury Ocean Front Pool Villa
A one-bedroom villa steps from the beach, with a canopied king-size bed, a living room opening onto a deck with pool, dining table, daybed and loungers, and a bathroom with double basins, freestanding bath, separate shower and an outdoor shower garden. The size includes deck and pool; up to 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children under 8.
Luxury Garden Pool Villa
The resort's most numerous villa, a one-bedroom set among gardens and tall coconut palms, with a canopied king-size bed, a living room opening onto the pool deck, and a bathroom with double basins, freestanding bath, separate shower and an outdoor shower garden. The size includes deck and pool; up to 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children under 8.
Frangipani Garden Pool Villa
A two-bedroom garden villa — a master with a canopied king-size bed and a second room with twin beds, both en suite with doors out to the pool — and a large living room opening onto the deck, pool and daybed. The size includes deck and pool; up to 5 adults and a child under 8.
Frangipani Ocean Front Pool Villa
A two-bedroom villa on the shore with an ocean panorama: a master with a canopied king-size bed and a second room with twin beds, both en suite with sliding doors to the pool, and a large living room leading out to the deck. The size includes deck and pool; up to 5 adults and a child under 8.
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.