Villa Orchid Beach Guest House

The garden is beautiful, and if you're lucky you might spot the local Monkey sitting in a tree and eating flowers. The whole place is cared for so thoughtfully, and it was exceptionally clean everywhere, not just in the rooms. I was welcomed by Tim and Dexter (the dog) and felt at home from the start. I came from London and needed a little time to adjust to the slower pace, so Villa Orchid was ideal for that. I stayed for a month in January as a solo traveller. I usually research a lot and feel skeptical about places with perfect scores and glowing reviews, but in this case they were all right. Villa Orchid is spacious and relaxing, run by Tim, Tanya and Anwar. The BBQ, outdoor kitchen and hammocks made it feel like a home away from home, and it's a nice place to meet people. I didn't expect to get so attached to it. Tim is a wonderful host, always willing to go the extra mile for guests, and someone you can talk and hang out with for hours. He's made something special here, and I'll be back as soon as I can. Thanks Tim and the Villa Orchid gang.

Tim & Tanya are fun, welcoming hosts, and they make you feel at home with hardly any effort. The house is great for relaxing or getting work done, with comfortable beds and a well-equipped shared kitchen. The internet was reliable at 4-5Mbps. The whole place is spotless, thanks to the staff doing such a good job. It ticks all the boxes!

The ocean is just around the corner, with cafes nearby for lunch or dinner, and Paje is an easy 20-minute walk along the coast. The villa's owner can suggest island activities and places for a good meal or a fun time. I loved the gardens, how clean everything was, and the wonderful people working there. I had a great time in Zanzibar, with Villa Orchid being a big part of it. I'd love to return, and hope that dream comes true!

The location is a little out of the way, which made it quiet and private. The beach is only 50 meters away through a passage, and there are several good restaurants within a five-minute walk. Paje is about 20 minutes on foot, six minutes by car or eight by bus. Transport ranges from $0.20 for a bus to $4 for a tourist taxi, depending on what you prefer. The next shop is in Paje, though there are little stores along the way. We stayed for three weeks and Tim and Tatti welcomed us like family. They clearly cared about us having a good time on Zanzibar. The house is warm, cozy, nicely decorated and very clean. Room service was done well whenever you needed or preferred it. Laundry was professional and fairly priced, a relief after our laundry problems elsewhere in Tanzania. The shared kitchen has what you need, plus free water, oil, basic spices, coffee and milk. WiFi is currently 5mbit, not huge but among the best on Zanzibar, and very stable, which matters for calls. The weather wasn't great during our stay, but we still had a great time. Thank you for having us.