Zuri Zanzibar

Designed to offer tropical comforts and cosiness, Zuri’s bungalows are furnished with a blend of contemporary and local furniture, and African décor. Each bungalow consists of an en suite double bedroom, which can be configured as a king or twins, with a small lounge area and desk, an indoor and outdoor shower, and a private terrace perfect for soaking up some sun. Some bungalows are connected together, ideal for families and close friends. Additionally, there are a small number of bungalows that have their very own Jacuzzi leading down from the terrace. All bungalows include the following amenities: WIFI, air conditioning, flat screen TVs, tea and coffee facilities, a safe, hairdryer and minibar.

These exclusive suites combine top quality luxury with the simplicity of nature’s beauty. Surrounded by tropical gardens, Zuri’s suites are made up of a spacious double en suite bedroom, an outdoor tropical shower, separate living area, an extensive terrace with steps leading down to a private Jacuzzi. Amenities in the suites include: WIFI, air conditioning, flat screen TVs, tea and coffee facilities, a safe, hairdryer and minibar. Guests staying in one of Zuri’s suites will also receive a complimentary yoga class, access to their semi-private VIP beach, and complimentary Spice Garden tour.

Set along the oceanfront are Zuri’s 3 luxury villas. Both 2 bedroom villas are a great choice for families and close groups, consisting of double rooms with their own en suites, a shared living room and kitchen corner, and extensive outdoor terrace with seating and sun loungers. Zuri’s third, 3 bedroom villa is their most luxurious accommodation with its own private beach, infinity pool and Jacuzzi, spacious living area, kitchen, dining area, entertainment room and outdoor terrace.

Amenities in the villas include: WIFI, room service, air conditioning, flat screen TVs, tea and coffee facilities, a safe, hairdryer and minibar. Guests staying in one of Zuri’s villas will also receive a complimentary yoga class, access to their semi-private VIP beach, Villa Host service, and a complimentary Spice Garden tour.

Zuri offers a creative blend of African, European, Arabic and Indian cuisines, as well as a range of stunning locations to enjoy your delicious dishes. Their main restaurant, Upendo Restaurant, overlooks the whole resort and its laidback Zanzibar style makes it the ideal venue for breakfasts and dinners. Guests can enjoy beautiful ocean views and the unique fusion of southern European and Indian Ocean cuisine all day in Zuri’s pool restaurant and bar, Maisha. Meanwhile their beach restaurant and bar offers finger foods and snacks, where guests can relax and watch the beach’s gorgeous sunset, as well as original Zuri cocktails, aperitifs, and smoothies.

Wimbi Water Sports Centre features a great selection of activities and is the perfect chance to explore the Indian Ocean. Why not dive or snorkel along some of the island’s most vibrant reefs, or sail on the azure waters in a traditional Dhow? Or you could rent a kayak or paddle board and explore the beautiful bays. Fishing and island hopping trips can also be arranged at the Centre for a great hands on experience.

Zanzibar has a wonderfully rich cultural heritage and history, influenced by East African, Indian and Islamic cultures. Discover the island’s historic heart in a cultural tour of the UNESCO Heritage site of Stone Town or learn how Zanzibar earned its name the ‘Spice Island’ in a visit a spice farm. There you can learn more about the plants growing, how they’re cultivated and used, and the role of spice growing in Zanzibar’s history.

You could also plan a trip to Prison Island, now home to old giant tortoises, and explore its dark past – combining Prison Island and Stone Town make for a fantastic well rounded historical tour! Zanzibar also has lots of great activities and outings for families and groups such as horse riding, a trip to Mnarani Aquarium or Nungwi Zoo, and even swimming with friendly whale sharks.

Zuri’s neighbouring communities are not very affluent areas and many people still live without many basic amenities and essentials. Zuri encourage their guests to positively impact these communities by packing a few extra bits in their luggage if they have space. Helpful items include: books in English, educational toys and games, clothing and shoes, first aid kits, toiletries, and handicraft tools and materials.

In the past educational and vocational opportunities have been limited in Kendwa village, meaning that jobs in the tourism sector were filled by non-locals. Zuri has always strived to be inclusive and have a positive impact on local communities. In 2015 they started up a tourism training project in Kendwa with the Jambiani Tourism Training Institute (JTTI) so that young people could be equipped with the skills needed to join the tourism industry and help provide their communities with financial stability.

Hotels are a great platform to both show and provide guests with high quality local products. In a number of ‘product creation’ partnerships, Zuri works together with enterprises from Zanzibar and develops products used by the hotel and its guests. Buying locally enables local employment and business opportunities. One of their partners, CHAKO, makes products from recycled materials and teaches local artisans and craft workers how to expand their skills to incorporate recycling.

Another of their partners is Mwani Zanzibar, a socially responsible business that allows female seaweed farmers to improve their social and financial standing. The hotel offers organic bathroom products made by Mwani, which guests can also purchase from the gift shop.

Zanzibar is still lacking waste management infrastructure, meaning too much waste ends up polluting the environment. Sustainable and safe waste management is one of Zuri’s most important community initiatives, so in 2016 they started the ‘Keep Kendwa Clean’ project with waste management company, Zanrec. Together they’ve placed waste collection points all around the local village, including a new ‘Beach Clean Up Station’ right next to the resort. This has helped greatly reduce the amount of waste that reaches the environment and allowed for waste to be managed responsibly.

Zuri is committed to promoting a prosperous future for Kendwa and its people, and has made a number of contributions to help local communities. Education of the next generation is the foundation of empowering a community so Zuri supports the Kilindi primary and secondary school so young people can reach their potential and have access to more opportunities. They have also joined the community efforts to build wells in the village and providing electricity to the primary school. Without wells with clean water close by, women and girls were required to walk miles to collect water, which meant they lost time they could put towards their education or work.