Unguja Lodge

Our time at the lodge was relaxing and peaceful.  We visited between seasons so we six were the only guests which meant we recieved very personalized attention.  I can't really comment on the value since it was part of our tour package; however the drink prices are reasonable.  While the accommodations are spacious, comfortable and spotless, the food prepared by the team of chefs is truly outstanding.  You are offered a wide variety of choices at each meal. Ie.  seafood, fish, meat or vegetarian for the main course. Once you have reached sensory overload from exotic Stonetown, Unguja Lodge is the place to recharge yourself.  But don't forget to visit the nearby village and interact with the locals.  They enjoy sharing a conversation and welcoming you.  The people are beautiful and the children delightful.

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.

Nice if you like solitude and being in nature, and don't mind "rustic". Big open air villas surrounded by trees (even a few baobabs), which are frequent by monkeys (including red colobus). Not so nice if you are used to excellence and attention to detail in everything. Resort is in need of TLC at a minimum or renovation at a maximum to make it worth the price. All of the cushions are either worn out or torn with the cotton pocking out or zippers not closing... I would not recommend booking any trips with them either, as all we had were mediocre at best. Not sure about diving, but would not recommend snorkeling unless you have your own equipment. My snorkel had to be cleared every 2 minutes. Our snorkel guide could barely swim, and the boat we were on had no basic safety equipment. The coral was nice but fish population is almost all gone due to overfishing. There was a fish trap on the bottom of our snorkeling area. Lots of trash along the shore. Our boat caught a fish line in the engine, and almost got into the exposed rocks during cleanup...Everyone working there was nice and trying to please us. Overall, wish we had better memories of the Zanzibar island.

We had a wonderful one-week stay at Unguja lodge in January 2023. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive. We had many laughs practicing our Swahili. They made us a special romantic meal served next to the ocean for our last night, complete with our names weaved from palm leaves. The hardest part of our stay was deciding between the many great options for each course of each meal. The food was always fresh and delicious! Fresh donuts and fruit to start off breakfast- you can’t go wrong. And there was always a seafood and fish option for dinner to showcase the local catch of the day, as well as a meat and vegetarian option. The location was wonderful and we were able to swim at almost any time of day. The tides just changed the water levels. The pool was always clean and inviting. We loved watching the local fishermen going out in their sailboats each day.

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.

Me and my husband stayed for 4 days, and how did we enjoy.... it really is a heavenly place, in the middle of beautiful nature with amazing people. As we are divers, I especially want to say something about the diving (and snorkeling) (in other reviews you can read what a wonderful place it is (AND IT REALLY IS TRUE!) so I will focus on the diving because I couldn't read a lot about it in the reviews). JUST GO DIVING WITH THEM ! :-) Our experience here really was amazing.... A really nice range of wonderful dive spots: a mix of spots closeby or further away, shallow dives or deep dives, normal boat dive or drift dive, day dive or night dive,... Wether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, it doens't matter ! You will surely enjoy the diving soooooo much. People helped us carriyng our material, helping us in and out of the boat,... Another really important thing: very very good material. They really invest in good quality, and they take care of it. The ywork with a very good dive guide, really pluspoint because a lot depends on the dive guide. He also immediately felt how we loved diving. I can only be positive about him. After diving, our dinner was served and we could enjoy a nice drink with heavenly food (oeehhhh I loved the curries...........) with the sounds of nature around us... I won't sum up everyting we saw, but I can assure you it was so amazing. I felt likt swimming in an aquarium. And the nightdive: WAUW, just book it. About the snorkeling: really lovely. In zanzibar, not so many places are possible to go snorkeling but here you can. And you will enjoy because you can see very nice things! (off course, we went diving a lot so only went snorkeling 2 times) I surely want to go back ;) Last thing I wnat to tell you: how nice it was when cute friendly monkeys were playing a few meters away from us while enjoying a lovely drink, at the moment we arrived :) we couldn't have a more beautfiful welcome together with a wonderful welcoming from the hosts. And this amazing feeling kept going on. The personal approuch from the hosts made us feel very special, and really makes it worth staying here (together with so many other reasons!)

This was our second visit to this boutique hotel, the first was not too long after it opened. Some aspects of the lodge are looking a bit tired, but hardly surprising after the pandemic. Matters are in hand though, and I am confident that these minor issues will be dealt with very soon. Nothing has really changed the area is heavily wooded and full of wildlife, we had good views of the local dik diks, and the unusual elephant shrews, plus many frogs and lizards. The surrendering trees are full of birds and there is always something to see. We stayed once again in seaview villa number 7, and it was as spectacular as ever. A huge comfortable bed enclosed with insect nets, although we did not need to use the net. The sea views are spectacular and there is nothing better than sitting on the viewing platform with a cup of coffee in the morning. Where Unguja truly stands out is in the quality of the staff, who without exception are friendly, polite and very enthusiastic. Nothing is too much trouble for them. On our last night they gave us a candlelit dinner overlooking the sea, then the entire staff came down to sing and dance around us to say goodbye. A new service is a massage in your room. I had been suffering from a sore back for weeks, but the firm massage I was given totally cured it and it really was one of the best massages I have ever had. Do not miss it. We so enjoyed being back at our special place and we will certainly make every effort to get back as soon as we can. It really is an oasis of peace and quiet and just the way to unwind after a safari.

The place is great for a retreat. The lodges are spaceful, with air and view, very unique. In addition, I especially enjoyed the service from the Manager Martin: I had told him I was arriving late and couple sandwiches were waiting at my room so that I wouldn't go to bed with an empty stomach. And I asked him to organize for me a fishing party which he did fantastically and for a very reasonable price. I went early morning an hour out from the coast fishing Tuna with good and experienced guys. We caught 2 big ones which was memorable for me. In two nights I felt I had a week break. Wonderful experience. And the double floor lodge would allow a good stay for a small family.

Absolutely stunning boutique hotel, with individual chalets, some with private sun terrace. Tiny deer and elephant shrews in the grounds, if you are lucky, and if you want to arrange any trips to the rest of the island, the manager will sort it all out for you. Private white sand beach, swimming pool, restaurant, and dive school on site. Perfect for honeymooners, couples and families, with friendly and helpful staff team. We are already costing out flights for a return trip.