About this hotel
General information
Zuri Zanzibar spreads across twelve hectares of tropical garden above Kendwa beach in the north of Zanzibar; the name is Swahili for “beautiful”. Its 56 bungalows, suites and villas are spaced out through the planting under tall African-style roofs, built with local materials and craftsmanship and furnished with a mix of contemporary pieces and African art. Roughly a quarter of the land is given over to the resort’s own spice garden, which guests can walk through on guided tours.
The resort is a Design Hotels member and holds EarthCheck certification for sustainable design: it draws water from its own wells and desalination plant, reuses treated water in the garden and cools its rooms with the Evening Breeze system, which uses a fraction of the energy of conventional air conditioning. Stays include breakfast and dinner, with all-inclusive available on request. Three restaurants, four bars, a spa, a water-sports centre and daily yoga make Zuri a self-contained beach retreat.
Location
The resort sits on Kendwa beach on the north-west coast of Unguja, about 50 km from Stone Town and Zanzibar’s international airport — around 90 minutes by car. Private transfers can be arranged.
Spa
MAUA Wellness by Healing Earth has three massage rooms, a beauty salon and a deck with a Jacuzzi and sunbeds. Treatments inspired by African traditions include massages, facials, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures and couples’ rituals.
Sports & leisure
There is a swimming pool, an indoor gym near reception and an outdoor “wild fitness” area set among the greenery for natural-movement training with or without weights. Yoga and meditation run daily, and the Wellbeing by Elements programme combines group and private sessions over one or several days. The Wimbi water-sports centre lends snorkelling sets, paddleboards and kayaks, and arranges PADI diving courses and dives around Mnemba Atoll, Hobie catamaran and traditional dhow sailing, sunset cruises along the Kendwa and Nungwi coasts, trips to Tumbatu island and deep-sea fishing. The resort also organises excursions to Stone Town and the spice farms, as well as day and multi-day safaris on mainland Tanzania.
For children
Children aged 4–12 have their own activity programme, and trained babysitters can look after them while parents are away on tours.
Restaurants & bars
The kitchens draw on European, African, Arabic and Indian influences, with the focus on Indian Ocean cooking.
- Upendo Restaurant — the main restaurant overlooking the resort, international cooking with African and Indian Ocean touches and live cooking; breakfast and dinner
- Peponi Bar — the bar beside the main restaurant, known for its gin selection
- Maisha — pool restaurant and bar with ocean views, Southern European and Indian Ocean fusion; a set dinner menu by reservation
- Bahari Grill and Bar — beach restaurant and bar for small bites, sugar-cane cocktails and smoothies at sunset
- Dhow Bar — a relaxed bar on the semi-private beach in front of the villas, for suite and villa guests
Dining by Design arranges private candlelit dinners around the resort and cooking lessons in the spice garden.
Swimming
Kendwa’s white-sand beach is barely touched by the tides, so swimming is possible all day, with coral reefs close to shore for snorkelling. Suite and villa guests use the semi-private beach in front of the villas, and the Ocean-Front Three Bedroom Luxury Villa has its own stretch of beach and a private pool.
Rooms
The 56 bungalows, suites and villas stand in the tropical garden a short walk from the ocean. Interiors pair contemporary furniture with local handcrafted details and African artwork, every unit has a generous terrace that works as an outdoor living room, and suites and villas come with butler service.
Each has Evening Breeze eco-friendly cooling, a 48-inch flat-screen TV with satellite channels, unlimited Wi-Fi, tea and coffee facilities, organic bath amenities, Zuri’s own drinking water, a tropical outdoor shower and a furnished garden terrace.
Bungalow
A free-standing bungalow facing the tropical garden, with a king or two single beds, a bathroom with indoor shower and an outdoor shower. The terrace has a seating area and a hammock; up to 2 adults.
Bungalow with Interconnecting Option
A garden-view bungalow that can be connected to its neighbour for families or friends, with a king or two single beds, an outdoor shower and a terrace with a hammock. Up to 2 adults per bungalow.
Jacuzzi Bungalow
A garden-view bungalow with a private Jacuzzi on the terrace alongside a hammock and seating; a king or two single beds, indoor and outdoor showers. Up to 2 adults.
Jacuzzi Suite
A suite set in the garden with a separate bedroom and living room, a king or twin beds, a bathtub and indoor and outdoor showers. The double-sized terrace has a private Jacuzzi; up to 3 adults with an extra sofa bed.
Ocean-Front Suite
A suite a step from the beach with uninterrupted Indian Ocean views, a separate bedroom and living room, a bathtub and an outdoor shower. The deck has a private Jacuzzi; up to 3 adults with an extra sofa bed.
Ocean-Front Three Bedroom Luxury Villa
A beachfront villa with its own stretch of beach, a 12-metre pool, a Jacuzzi and a Zen pond; three en-suite bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and an entertainment room with a pool table. Ocean and sunset views; up to 6 adults.
Ocean-Front Two Bedroom Villa
A beachfront villa facing the ocean and the sunset, with an open-air Jacuzzi on the terrace, two en-suite bedrooms (one king, one with two single beds), a living room and a kitchen corner. Up to 4 adults.
Garden Two Bedroom Villa
A villa in its own tropical garden with a Jacuzzi, a large terrace with a dining area, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a small library and an office corner; two bedrooms with king or twin beds and partial ocean views. Up to 4 adults.
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.