KENDWA · ZANZIBAR

Zuri Zanzibar

Zuri Zanzibar spreads across landscaped tropical gardens on the powdery north-west coast at Kendwa, where the swimming is among the best on the island year-round and the sunsets face straight out to sea. Fifty-six bungalows, suites, and villas are scattered through the greenery, each with stylish interiors and a private terrace, a few of them beachfront villas with their own stretch of sand. Design-forward in a way that sets it apart from Zanzibar's more conventional resorts, with a working garden feeding the kitchens, it is one of the island's most considered places to stay.

Why it's on the list

Kendwa solves the problem that affects much of Zanzibar's coast: here the beach is swimmable at all states of the tide, so the sea is always there for you. Zuri pairs that with genuine design sensibility, a relaxed barefoot-luxury feel, and a strong food offering built partly on its own garden. It is smaller and more characterful than the big beach resorts, the west-coast position delivers the island's best sunsets, and the whole place has an easy, stylish calm. For a beach stay with taste, it is a standout.

How to get there

Zuri is in Kendwa village on the north-west coast, about an hour by road from Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ), roughly 50 kilometres away; the resort arranges transfers. Its position pairs well with a few days in Stone Town or a mainland safari before settling in for the beach.

Nearest airport

Abeid Amani Karume International (ZNZ)

Drive time

~1 hour

Dining

On the property

Dining is across three venues. Upendo, the main restaurant, overlooks the resort and serves international cooking with a Swahili and Indian Ocean twist; the chic Maisha pool restaurant handles lighter daytime meals; and the Bahari Grill and Bar sits right on the beach for cocktails, fresh seafood, and sunset.

Nearby

Most guests dine at the resort, but Kendwa and neighbouring Nungwi, a short drive up the coast, have a lively cluster of beach bars and seafood restaurants for a change of scene, from casual sand-side grills to sunset cocktail spots.

What guests say

Guests rate Zuri highly for its design, its food, the swimmable Kendwa beach, and the sunsets, with the peaceful atmosphere and attentive service drawing consistent praise. The garden-to-table approach is a recurring favourite. The thing to be aware of is the nature of the location: Kendwa is a relaxed beach village rather than a polished resort enclave, which most guests count as part of the charm, and the resort's smaller scale means a calmer, more intimate stay than the large all-inclusives.

Summarised from guest reviews across TripAdvisor, Booking.com and published hotel reviews.

Good to know

Fifty-six bungalows, suites, and villas in tropical gardens on swimmable Kendwa beach, with a garden supplying the kitchens. Zanzibar's drier months, June to October and December to February, are best; avoid the long rains of March to May.

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