Unguja Lodge

Stayed for 4 magical nights with my 6 year old daughter. Martien and staff are a family and welcomed us with love and incredible hospitality. Out of a a 10-night Zanzibar trip in which we stayed in a couple of 5-star resorts as well as Unguja (TUI Blue Bahari and Park Hyatt), the food, atmosphere, service and pristine nature at Unguja was unmatched by the resorts. Several times we had the beach to ourselves, and we were NEVER hit up by local “guides” and beach boys (this is rampant in the resort areas and Stone Town). At night all you can hear is the ocean and animals (at the resorts there was less of that and more man-made noise). We really appreciated getting a different paper each night explaining various aspects of our surroundings. All our arrangements for excursions and transport were done by Martien and his amazing staff. We encountered Dik-Diks, Elephant Shrews, monkeys, hermit crabs, and a bat, all happily living in the lodge. My daughter got the full princess treatment from the staff and couldn’t be happier. I had to tell her not to chase the dik-diks! We really hope to come back one day. Thank you so much Martien and staff for welcoming us to Zanzibar in your unique style. The love was received and I hope you felt it from us too.

The Unguja Lodge was an oasis of luxury and comfort - just what we were seeking after a safari. Martin and his staff went out of their way to make the visit comfortable. The chef prepared fabulous meals! Each lodge was nicely appointed and quite clean. Fabulous sunsets!!

We had a great stay. There are a lot of things to like. The staff are very helpful (although things do sometimes get lost in translation). The food was consistently excellent. When one of our group has a birthday they provided a free cake and did a impromptu song and dance for her, which was a real highlight. The location right next to the beach and amongst the trees is stunning. The pool is good. The villas are very spacious. We loved watching the local wildlife: moneys, lizards, elephant shrews, dik diks and more. The monkeys seemed just as interested in us. We got very few insect bites. It is also small, quiet and secluded. We were the only people there for some of our stay. We liked that, other people might feel differently. On the minus side, it does feel a bit tired in places. Some of the seats in the dining area are broken, some of the fixtures in the rooms are corroded by the salt air and I got a shock off one of the light switches. And it is a bit of a drive from attractions such as Josani and Stonetown. However we felt the plusses far outweighed the minuses.

Our time at the lodge was relaxing and peaceful.  We visited between seasons so we six were the only guests which meant we recieved very personalized attention.  I can't really comment on the value since it was part of our tour package; however the drink prices are reasonable.  While the accommodations are spacious, comfortable and spotless, the food prepared by the team of chefs is truly outstanding.  You are offered a wide variety of choices at each meal. Ie.  seafood, fish, meat or vegetarian for the main course. Once you have reached sensory overload from exotic Stonetown, Unguja Lodge is the place to recharge yourself.  But don't forget to visit the nearby village and interact with the locals.  They enjoy sharing a conversation and welcoming you.  The people are beautiful and the children delightful.

We had a wonderful one-week stay at Unguja lodge in January 2023. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive. We had many laughs practicing our Swahili. They made us a special romantic meal served next to the ocean for our last night, complete with our names weaved from palm leaves. The hardest part of our stay was deciding between the many great options for each course of each meal. The food was always fresh and delicious! Fresh donuts and fruit to start off breakfast- you can’t go wrong. And there was always a seafood and fish option for dinner to showcase the local catch of the day, as well as a meat and vegetarian option. The location was wonderful and we were able to swim at almost any time of day. The tides just changed the water levels. The pool was always clean and inviting. We loved watching the local fishermen going out in their sailboats each day.

We had an amazing time at Unguja. It really is a laid back, seaside paradise. Diving/snorkeling facilities are on-sight: we just stepped out of our house, into our diving suit and onto the boat. 15mins later and we were in the water! Martien is an excellent host who took care of us during you’re stay. We admired his passion for the lodge and the fact that he makes an effort to keep everything as local and freshly made as possible. We loved our stay and definitely recommend Unguja to other travellers.