zLife Hostel

The location is convenient, but that was the only positive part of our stay at ZLife in Stone Town on 29 December. The room was cramped, with barely enough space to move around, and felt claustrophobic at night. It was already extremely hot, and the fan barely moved any air. With frequent power outages, the room became unbearable, like a heat trap. In Zanzibar’s climate, working cooling is essential. The bathroom was unhygienic too. The toilet seat lid was broken and wouldn’t stay up, making it unpleasant to use. Cleanliness and basic maintenance were clearly lacking, which isn’t acceptable for guest accommodation. Poor ventilation, intense heat, cramped space and poor hygiene outweighed the convenient location. The property needs urgent attention to cleanliness, maintenance and ventilation. Until these problems are addressed, I wouldn’t recommend staying here, particularly during hot seasons or power outages.

The eggplant sauté gets top marks. Breakfast is modest, but it’s all made with heart and feels homey. It’s an inexpensive hotel with a magnificent authentic interior, and Manager Abubakar is the embodiment of intelligence and good manners.

Being able to walk everywhere from this ideal spot near Fordhani Gardens was great. The service was good, and the staff helped us with the problems we had and with finding things to do. The main drawback was the shower water running all over the bathroom and a door that didn’t quite shut properly. Otherwise, it was a great stay, and the AC worked, which was a plus.

The room had plenty of space and a fan, and I liked having breakfast outside in the sunshine. I stayed just one night after arriving in Zanzibar, and the staff were so friendly and welcoming.