Unguja Lodge

We had an amazing stay at this unique and unspoiled resort. Martin and his team were extremely friendly and made us feel so welcome and relaxed. The team made a special effort to celebrate our anniversary. In particular, the food was incredible especially the local fish. The snorkeling trip was unforgettable where we were taken to a sandbank and cooked an delicious BBQ. We felt like we saw the really Zanzibar and made a short walk to the local village. If you want an authentic trip where you can engage with local people this is the place.

Stayed for 4 magical nights with my 6 year old daughter. Martien and staff are a family and welcomed us with love and incredible hospitality. Out of a a 10-night Zanzibar trip in which we stayed in a couple of 5-star resorts as well as Unguja (TUI Blue Bahari and Park Hyatt), the food, atmosphere, service and pristine nature at Unguja was unmatched by the resorts. Several times we had the beach to ourselves, and we were NEVER hit up by local “guides” and beach boys (this is rampant in the resort areas and Stone Town). At night all you can hear is the ocean and animals (at the resorts there was less of that and more man-made noise). We really appreciated getting a different paper each night explaining various aspects of our surroundings. All our arrangements for excursions and transport were done by Martien and his amazing staff. We encountered Dik-Diks, Elephant Shrews, monkeys, hermit crabs, and a bat, all happily living in the lodge. My daughter got the full princess treatment from the staff and couldn’t be happier. I had to tell her not to chase the dik-diks! We really hope to come back one day. Thank you so much Martien and staff for welcoming us to Zanzibar in your unique style. The love was received and I hope you felt it from us too.

This lodge provided a lot of positives for our last few days in Zanzibar. Martin runs a tight shop with his employees who are very friendly and attentive. There were only a few other guests there so it was really quiet and relaxing. The rooms are very large and the views breathtaking. The chef is excellent and provided delicious choices at every meal. Martin arranged a walking tour of the village outside the resort which we found very interesting. He also arranged a boat, BBQ, and snorkeling trip which we enjoyed. It was fun watching the monkeys in the trees and living amongst nature. What was missing here were the little extras that would make this resort luxury. The faucets were pitted, the pool area towels need to be replaced with new ones, the room towels need an upgrade and the pillows on the chairs need a cleaning. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and the pros were more than the cons.

We had a great stay. There are a lot of things to like. The staff are very helpful (although things do sometimes get lost in translation). The food was consistently excellent. When one of our group has a birthday they provided a free cake and did a impromptu song and dance for her, which was a real highlight. The location right next to the beach and amongst the trees is stunning. The pool is good. The villas are very spacious. We loved watching the local wildlife: moneys, lizards, elephant shrews, dik diks and more. The monkeys seemed just as interested in us. We got very few insect bites. It is also small, quiet and secluded. We were the only people there for some of our stay. We liked that, other people might feel differently. On the minus side, it does feel a bit tired in places. Some of the seats in the dining area are broken, some of the fixtures in the rooms are corroded by the salt air and I got a shock off one of the light switches. And it is a bit of a drive from attractions such as Josani and Stonetown. However we felt the plusses far outweighed the minuses.

If you are looking for a rejuvenating break, quality time and meaningful authentic experience, Unguja lodge is the right choice for you. Every lodge has its own character and equipped with everything you need for a relaxing holiday. I stayed in a sea view lodge and the ocean view was simply priceless. Food and drink were of the highest quality too. A very own chef was cooking fresh fish every nigh and if you are like me a seafood/fish lovers, this is a place for you. Monkeys are frequent visitors and the bush around lodges is bustling with wildlife. Fabulous choice for scuba diving lovers too. An instructor on site is very friendly, helpful and knowledgable. Martie, who runs the lodge, has vast experience in hospitality and certainly knows how to look after his guests. Fabulous place, people, food and of course the ocean.

We had an amazing time at Unguja. It really is a laid back, seaside paradise. Diving/snorkeling facilities are on-sight: we just stepped out of our house, into our diving suit and onto the boat. 15mins later and we were in the water! Martien is an excellent host who took care of us during you’re stay. We admired his passion for the lodge and the fact that he makes an effort to keep everything as local and freshly made as possible. We loved our stay and definitely recommend Unguja to other travellers.