Marafiki Beach Hotel & Spa

We stayed in the villa, which is set apart from the main property, about 430 metres back from the beach. The walk down is easy. It’s a lovely place to stay: bright, new, comfortable, clean and secure, with a great pool. You can cook for yourself there. We loved every bit of it and you won’t be disappointed.

We loved our four nights here, though it really wasn’t long enough. The beach is beautiful and right there, and the hotel grounds and rooms are lovely. The staff were warm and welcoming, and we ate at the separate bar and restaurant every night because the food was so good and the team there were AMAZING. A couple of evenings had live music, which was lovely. We’d definitely stay here again if we return to Zanzibar.

I had a room just beside the pool, only a few steps from the beach. The restaurant was wonderful, especially the chapati and gazpacho. The staff were incredibly kind and helpful, and I had one of my most memorable holidays here. I took a boat trip about ten minutes away to snorkel with dolphins and saw such a variety of marine life. Also, there’s a cute cat on duty around the property.

The peaceful pool area, lovely room, restaurant and beach bar all made for a really enjoyable stay at Marafiki Hotel. The people looking after guests were smiling, caring and a big part of what made it special. I do have one frustrating experience to mention. We booked an airport pickup for our 4 AM arrival and confirmed it twice, but nobody came. We told the European manager, but got no apology or explanation, and nobody seemed to look into what happened. We took a taxi instead, which was straightforward and has a fixed fare to Matemwe. I'd suggest future visitors use an airport taxi rather than rely on the hotel's transfer, since ours wasn't dependable.