La Base Beach Hotel

My boyfriend and I stayed for 2 weeks and had an amazing time. Maria was a welcoming host and helped whenever we asked about getting around or tourist attractions. Our room was cleaned daily, and the food was really tasty. The bar is right on the beach, with a market nearby. It’s affordable accommodation with plenty to do close by.

The rooms are simple, but very clean, with air conditioning and good WiFi. We had the occasional signal dropout, though that seems to be a wider issue across Zanzibar. It’s about a 2-minute walk to the beach and the beachfront restaurant, where breakfast is served. Service was good, and the beach is beautiful with sun loungers available. Roberta made my wife and me feel comfortable from the start. She was easy to reach and quick to help with any questions or problems, and she arranged recommendations, airport transfers, tours, and taxis. Everything we needed was taken care of. An excellent place to stay in Kiwengwa.

Maria, the host, is originally from Italy and was absolutely lovely. Nothing seemed too much trouble, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The accommodation is very high quality. The beach was the best I visited in Zanzibar: white sand, no rubbish, and the sea doesn’t retreat miles from shore as it does elsewhere on the island, so you can always go for a dip. The rooms are set back from the private beach access, which means putting on shoes for the 90-second walk back. Still, Kikwengwa is ideal for a relaxing break on an unspoiled stretch of paradise. You can walk along the coast to other hotels, guest houses, bars, restaurants, and activity centres for food and drinks or to meet expats, locals, and tourists.

We only went to La BASE for a meal, and it wasn’t a good experience compared with other Zanzibar restaurants, including local ones. The portions were quite small. The bruschetta, for example, could have been made properly instead of being a bowl of chopped tomatoes with three pieces of toast on the side. We definitely won’t eat there again.