About this hotel
General information
Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa is a small garden estate set along Paje beach on Zanzibar's south-east coast. There are just 19 villas and three Cinnamon rooms, and each villa sits on its own landscaped plot, so the place stays quiet and spacious even when full. It is run by the family that owns it and is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
Wooden furniture and carvings are made by the resort's own artisans, who blend traditional techniques with contemporary design, and two antique Zanzibari doors stand in the Doors to Zanzibar restaurant. Every villa and room runs on solar power with battery storage, drinking water is produced on site and single-use plastic bottles have given way to glass. The gardens supply fruit, vegetables and herbs to the kitchen, while in the lagoon out front local women tend seaweed farms as they have for generations. Breakfast and dinner are included in the stay.
Location
The resort sits directly on Paje beach, about a kilometre from Paje village on the south-east coast of Unguja. Zanzibar's international airport is around 40 km away, roughly an hour by road; the resort arranges private car transfers and, on request, a helicopter hop of about 15 minutes over the lagoon. Short flights connect Zanzibar with Arusha and the Serengeti, which makes the beach an easy follow-on to a safari.
Spa
The Senses Spa has two treatment rooms, a hammam, an infrared sauna, a hot tub and a hair and nail salon. Treatments draw on the island's nature and use oils and ingredients grown or sourced on Zanzibar, offered as solo rituals or for couples. Alongside is a gym with Technogym equipment and personal programmes on request, and an open-air platform on the sand hosts sunrise yoga and guided meditation.
Sports & leisure
Paje is one of the island's leading kitesurfing spots, and an IKO-certified centre on site teaches kitesurfing, wing foiling and e-foiling. Included for guests:
- crystal kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, snorkelling gear and Hobie Cat sailing (with a sailing permit, or with a skipper);
- a tennis court, a padel court, the gym, e-bikes and beach volleyball;
- weekly yoga, a garden tour, a walking Swahili lesson and a Swahili cooking class;
- a guided walk across the lagoon flats at low tide and a visit to the nearby centre where seaweed farmed in the lagoon is turned into cosmetics;
- a weekly open-air cinema on the rooftop, a games lounge with pool and chess, and stargazing through a telescope.
At extra cost the resort arranges lagoon trips in a traditional outrigger canoe, a day along the southern coast by dhow, a traditional sailing boat, with stops on sandbanks, sunset cruises, diving with a PADI partner centre, and outings to UNESCO-listed Stone Town, the Chumbe Island marine reserve and Jozani Forest with its red colobus monkeys, as well as horse riding and scenic helicopter flights.
For children
Children have a play corner with table football, painting, games and puzzles, a playground and a paddling pool; child-minding can be arranged on request.
Restaurants & bars
The kitchen works from the resort's own gardens, the catch that local fishermen land on the beach each morning and seasonal produce from island farmers.
- Doors to Zanzibar — the main restaurant, in a high-ceilinged room under a mother-of-pearl chandelier or on an intimate terrace; a daily changing set menu or à la carte at dinner
- Beach Restaurant — on the sand facing the ocean: sunrise breakfasts, then grilled seafood and meat, salads and smoothies through the day
- Lounge Bar — next to the main restaurant, with a pool table and a library
- Kite Bar — a relaxed daytime beach bar for drinks and light bites
- Sunset Bar — a rooftop bar with cocktails, shisha and views of the evening sky
In-villa dining runs around the clock, and on request the team sets up floating breakfasts in villa pools, beach or rooftop dinners, picnics and private barbecues; the chef also leads cooking classes.
Swimming
The resort opens straight onto the white sand of Paje beach, with sunbeds, towels and beach cabanas; there are no motorised water sports. The shallow lagoon in front follows the rhythm of the tides. On the grounds are a main pool and a children's pool, and most villas and several rooms have their own pool or hot tub.
Pets
Pets are welcome with the resort's prior approval.
Rooms
Nineteen villas, from one to five bedrooms, and three Cinnamon rooms are set in the gardens; individual en-suite bedrooms in the two- and five-bedroom villas are also sold as Deluxe rooms. Villa guests have a butler, and all accommodation runs on solar power.
Every villa and room has air conditioning, a ceiling fan and mosquito net, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, a hairdryer, a laptop safe, tea and coffee facilities and a mini-fridge.
Garden Villa with Hot Tub
A garden-view villa with a king-size bed (twins on request), an indoor bathroom with a bathtub and an outdoor shower. The private terrace and garden hold its own hot tub; up to 2 guests.
Garden Villa with Pool
A garden villa with a king-size bed, an indoor bathroom with a bathtub and an outdoor shower. Its private plot has a terrace and its own pool; up to 2 guests.
Garden Two-Bedroom Villa
Two separate single-storey pavilions, each with its own entrance, a king-size bedroom and a bathroom with a bathtub and outdoor shower. They share a private pool, a hot tub and a garden terrace; up to 4 guests.
Beachfront One-Bedroom Villa
A front-row villa with its own beach entrance, a 55 m² king-size bedroom, a living room opening onto a large terrace and a private pool. An outdoor bathtub and shower sit in the garden, and a rooftop terrace looks over the ocean; up to 2 adults.
Family Two-Bedroom Villa
Two king-size bedrooms with their own bathrooms, a living room and a large terrace. The garden has a private pool and an outdoor bathtub and shower; up to 4 guests.
Garden Luxury Five-Bedroom Villa
Some 100 m from the beach, with five bedrooms and four bathrooms, a large living and dining lounge, a fully equipped kitchen and a home cinema. A private pool, a garden hot tub and a second on the rooftop terrace; up to 10 adults.
Deluxe Room
An adults-only room on the ground or upper floor of the five-bedroom villa, with a king-size bed (twins on request), a rain-shower bathroom and a terrace or balcony. The villa's entrance, garden, living room and hot tub are shared with the neighbouring rooms; up to 2 adults.
Deluxe Room with Shared Pool
An adults-only room on one floor of a two-bedroom villa, with a king-size bed, a rain-shower bathroom and a terrace or balcony over the garden. The villa's entrance, garden, living room and pool are shared with one other room; up to 2 adults.
Deluxe Room with Hot Tub
An adults-only room on the top floor of the five-bedroom villa, with a king-size bed and a bathroom with rain shower and bathtub. Its private rooftop terrace has its own hot tub; up to 2 guests.
Deluxe Family Room with Private Pool
A family room in the five-bedroom villa with its own entrance, two bedrooms (one king-size, one with two singles) and a shared bathroom. A large private plunge pool lies alongside; for 2 adults and 2 children.
Cinnamon Double Room
A room with its own entrance, a king-size bed, a rain-shower bathroom and a terrace overlooking a private garden with a hot tub; up to 2 guests.
Cinnamon Quadruple Room
A room with its own entrance and two sleeping areas, one with a king-size bed and one with two singles, a rain-shower bathroom and a terrace; the private garden has its own hot tub. For 2 adults and 2 children.
Cinnamon Family Room
Two bedrooms (one king-size, one with two singles), each with its own bathroom, plus a cosy lounge. The private terrace opens onto a garden with a hot tub; for 2 adults and 2 children.
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.