Samaki Lodge

The staff were amazing, and we looked forward to every meal because the food was so good. I stayed here years ago and still think of it as my favourite holiday. For a few days, we were the only people at the resort, which made it lovely. The pool was great, and the rooms were amazing back then too.

The ocean views at “Samaki Lodge & Spa”in Zanzibar made the stay feel magical. What stood out just as much was how warmly everyone treated us, from the receptionists to the manager. They made us feel like family and went out of their way to make the stay memorable. It seems suited to either a romantic trip or a family holiday, with hospitality that goes beyond what you’d expect.

Breakfast was great, though the lunch and dinner menus are limited. The rooms are in great condition, the pool is amazing, and the place is very clean and neat. Samaki’s staff are friendly and go out of their way to look after guests. It’s a great lodge, and I highly recommend it.

The only real plus for me was the staff. The hotel sits somewhere quiet with a nice beach view, but the beach was quite dirty, so I ended up sticking to the pool. On arrival, I had to pay the taxes straight away, 49 euros or 56 dollars for my seven nights. There was also a 5 dollar towel deposit. The spa massage pricing was a hassle too: the boss gave the amount in euros, then asked for dollars, with a 3% credit card fee. My professional laptop screen was completely destroyed while I’d left it in my room. There was no visible impact, but I was told nothing could be done. The housekeeper said it wasn’t her, and my room wasn’t cleaned the next day. I wondered if that was to punish me. I would’ve at least liked an apology or a free drink, but apparently a tourist is just a tourist. It felt like everything else was about making sure tourists paid a high price. This place could be nice, but it turned my trip into a nightmare. I don’t recommend it.