Karibu Maisha Lodge

The pool is lovely, there's lots of space, a yoga area, and a small, quiet beach nearby. The rooms are a good size and nicely designed. Those positives made us extend our stay, even though it wasn't ideal and changing places for just four days seemed like a hassle. We had serious problems with insects and animals in the room: a spider, cockroach, mice, and giant ants. The power went out several times a day, so the fan stopped at night and the room became extremely hot. There was no mosquito net. Tap and shower water tasted salty, and the pressure often disappeared, especially during power cuts. Service was also difficult. Reception often had nobody who spoke English, and staff there seemed annoyed by requests. The English-speaking employees were friendly but couldn't make decisions. The owner was rarely available, and it took three days to get answers or decisions. When we gave feedback at checkout, staff rejected it and said we were wrong, which left us feeling bad about leaving. Breakfast was basic: a pancake and two dry slices of bread with nothing to spread on them. After I asked, I got a nearly empty jar of peanut butter. Dinner cost 20-30k, compared with around 15-20k at nearby places. A liter of water was 5k, about 2 USD, even though they refill from a 20-liter container that costs 6k at the shop, where 1.5-liter bottles cost 1k. Since the tap water is salty, we couldn't purify it ourselves. The lodge is 2km from the main town, so it felt like they were taking advantage of guests who weren't likely to walk there and draining their wallets. Prices are listed in USD, but paying cash in USD brought a 5% fee. It was the first time I'd been charged extra for cash dollars in Zanzibar. I saw the owner a few times, but she was busy doing yoga or having dinner with friends, and I didn't want to interrupt to speak with her. A few fixes would help: add mosquito nets, set fairer water prices when tap water isn't fresh, and reconsider restaurant prices. For budget accommodation, the food prices felt like those of a four-star hotel. If I'm paying 100 USD a night, I'd expect expensive food and drinks, but not 25 USD. It doesn't line up. Staff should also be able to reach the owner when guests ask, or have authority to make decisions if she doesn't want to handle daily operations.

We had hoped for a better stay. The room itself was spacious and nice, and the garden was lovely and well cared for. The pool, yoga shala, and cozy seating spots were good to have. Still, I hope the animals on the property get better care, because some of them didn't look well. There was only very salty tap water. Other than the complimentary water when we arrived, drinking water cost 3000 tsh per liter, and nobody made that clear. It seemed expensive with no fresh tap water and shops a long way off. Since we had a bike, we bought a 20l canister at the village shop for 6000 tsh and gave the rest to other guests. Hot water didn't work, even though it had been offered. The room fuses kept blowing. An employee seemed to be keeping an eye on it, but we still ended up showering in the dark several times, and the fan stopped during the night. Getting help was often hard. The host was difficult to find, questions and requests weren't followed up, and there wasn't much room for feedback, even when we tried on our last day. Most of the local staff didn't speak English and often seemed annoyed when we asked for things, which didn't feel welcoming. Restaurant service seemed to still be finding its feet, and the prices were too high for us, so we didn't eat there. We extended our stay directly with the property to avoid booking.com fees. That's common courtesy at places I've stayed, but they wouldn't offer a discount until we asked to speak with the owner. Bring TSH with you. Cash USD and card payments both carry an extra 5% fee, which felt odd since the prices are quoted in USD. On our first day, Maggie seemed almost surprised that we wanted to pay in shillings instead. They also charged a few cents more than the agreed price, which felt like an attempt to get a little extra at checkout.

It's in the middle of nowhere, and the prices are like a fancy hotel even though it's more of a local place. The food wasn't good, and it's sad to see that the animals, though lovely, don't seem to be properly cared for.

When I come back to Kazimkazi, this is where I'll stay. It's comfortable, relaxed, and everyone is so friendly. Even the cats and dogs are lovely. If you want a peaceful, chilled-out stay with all the comfort, this is the place.