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The Residence Zanzibar

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2 bars/lounges, poolside bar - The Residence Zanzibar (Kizimkazi)
Front of property - The Residence Zanzibar (Kizimkazi)
Exterior - The Residence Zanzibar (Kizimkazi)
Terrace/patio - The Residence Zanzibar (Kizimkazi)
2 restaurants; breakfast, lunch, and dinner served - The Residence Zanzibar (Kizimkazi)
Luxury
5.0 star property
9.0

Wonderful

Private villas with ocean magic

Magnificent infinity pools overlook the ocean at this beachfront Zanzibar retreat. Two restaurants offer themed menus with live performances, while African bands entertain evenings. Guests can explore tropical gardens by bicycle or indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments.

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 6 of 6 rooms

View all photos for Luxury Garden Pool Villa

Luxury Garden Pool Villa | 1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Luxury Garden Pool Villa

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(13 reviews)
  • Garden view
  • 155 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Luxury Ocean Front Pool Villa

1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Luxury Ocean Front Pool Villa

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(6 reviews)
  • Ocean view
  • 155 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Prestige Ocean Front Pool Villa

Prestige Ocean Front Pool Villa | 1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Prestige Ocean Front Pool Villa

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(3 reviews)
  • Ocean view
  • 155 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Frangipani Garden Pool Villa

Frangipani Garden Pool Villa | 1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Frangipani Garden Pool Villa

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Garden view
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Frangipani Ocean Front Pool Villa

1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Frangipani Ocean Front Pool Villa

  • Ocean view
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Presidential Villa (Pool)

Presidential Villa (Pool) | 1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Presidential Villa (Pool)

  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

Located in Kizimkazi, The Residence Zanzibar is on the beach. Salaam Cave Aquarium is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Paje Beach and Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. Forodhani Gardens and Prison Island are two other places to visit that come recommended. Scuba diving and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ecotours and hiking/biking trails nearby. Visit our Kizimkazi travel guide
Map
Mchangamle, Kizimkazi

What's nearby

  • Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
    Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
    30 min drive - 17.5 miles
  • Jambiani Beach
    Jambiani Beach
    32 min drive - 19.1 miles
  • Mchangamble Beach
    5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Kizimkazi Beach
    17 min drive - 8.1 miles
  • Paje Beach
    39 min drive - 23.2 miles

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ)
    58 min drive

Restaurants

  • Aya Beach Restaurant
    15 min drive
  • fahari off the grid
    14 min drive
  • Mnana Lodge - Bar - Restaurant
    16 min drive
  • Frangipane Buffet Restaurant
    14 min walk
  • Kipepo Pool Bar
    14 min walk

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle at scheduled times and on request for a surcharge
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast
  • 2 bars/lounges
  • 2 coffee shops/cafes
  • 2 restaurants
  • A poolside bar
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • The Dining Room
  • The Pavilion

Things to do

  • Books
  • Evening entertainment
  • Free bicycle rentals
  • Free children's club
  • Full-service spa
  • Games
  • Gym
  • Hiking/biking trails
  • Horseback riding/rentals
  • Kayaking
  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor tennis court
  • Playground
  • Sauna
  • Snorkeling
  • Steam room
  • Table tennis
  • Yoga classes

Family friendly

  • Free children's club
  • In-room babysitting (surcharge)
  • Laundry facilities
  • Living room
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Private pool
  • Separate bedroom
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Supervised activities for children (surcharge)

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry facilities
  • Lockers
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • Computer station
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Garden
  • On the beach
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Body scrubs
  • Body wraps
  • Facials
  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Massage

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Accessible airport shuttle
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel

More

  • 66 buildings
  • Built in 2011
  • Reception hall
  • Renovated entire property - May 2025
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
  • Private pool

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Free bottled water
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Christmas Eve (December 24) Gala Dinner per adult: USD 190
  • Christmas Eve (December 24) Gala Dinner per child: USD 95 (from 3 to 12 years old)
  • New Year's Eve (December 31) Gala Dinner per adult: USD 190
  • New Year's Eve (December 31) Gala Dinner per child: USD 95 (from 3 to 12 years old)
  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 5.00 per person, per night
  • An effective city/local tax rate of 12.00 percent will be charged

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 95 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 4)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Frequently asked questions

Does The Residence Zanzibar have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is The Residence Zanzibar pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at The Residence Zanzibar?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at The Residence Zanzibar?

Check-out is at noon.

Does The Residence Zanzibar provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of USD 95 per vehicle applies.

Are there all-inclusive benefits at The Residence Zanzibar?

Some rate plans available at this hotel are all-inclusive.

Where is The Residence Zanzibar located?

Nestled on the beach, this Kizimkazi hotel is 5.8 mi (9.4 km) from Salaam Cave Aquarium and 18.4 mi (29.6 km) from Paje Beach.

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

The Residence Zanzibar Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

9.4

Cleanliness

8.2

Location

9.2

Staff & service

9.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 148 out of 210 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 37 out of 210 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 11 out of 210 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 210 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 10 out of 210 reviews

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very nice villas. Friendly staff. Facilities Nice and Calm atmosphere. Low tides dominated the day time but we know this before coming. Two of us Got sick from ice cream with travellers diarréa as a consequece, staff shoul have better hygiene routines.
Stayed 8 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nathalie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Residence was the perfect spot to celebrate my 40th birthday. The deluxe garden view with the private pool was exact atmosphere my husband and I were looking for. The hotel is extremely clean and they even offer room cleanings twice a day. And we also loved the different themed dinner options each night along side with a live band performance! The staff make you feel at home and apart of the family. Nico always greeted us with a warm smile and helped us capture precious moments. The location is a little far from main attractions but I promise it’s worth it. Thank you to all the staff that made our visit to Zanzibar so special!♥️
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Room was immaculate with private pool and ocean front.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Helen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We have been to The Residence several times before and have really enjoyed it and so were very keen to return this time. It was just approaching the rainy season and so it was rather quiet with the majority of the guests already going home but, on the whole, we still had good weather with only rain once during the day. All of the staff were, as always, so friendly and helpful from the warm welcome at reception when we arrived to the staff in the restaurants, Hellen, Farida, Sulesh, to name but a few to the driver of the buggy taking you anywhere around the resort and from your villa to the restaurants. Bicycles were provided at each villa and were in good condition. The villas are set in beautiful surroundings and have their own private plunge pools which are regularly checked for water quality and the main pool is wonderful for swimming or just cooling down from the heat. All in all, we had a wonderful visit again.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Tahmina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful resort, great for relaxing. Ideal for honeymoons and celebrating anniversaries. Loved the facilities and staff.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff were very polite and friendly The rooms are very good
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect stay

Amazing stay in the Residence! Employees are very kind, the rooms are very luxurious, ans the a perfect service! I travel a lot and it is one of my favorite hôtel I will come back very soon for sure 😃
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jorge

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful place. Great staff. Delicious food
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

One week stay

Fabulous stay. Beautiful, relaxing and quiet resort. Particularily enjoyed the kindness of all staff. Will probably be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gloria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Top notch customer service!! Well kept property. We enjoyed our honeymoon here!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fantastic stay. Great service

Simply put fantastic. We stayed in on of the Villas close to the beach with own small pool. Highly recommend
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gerald

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A great location for a quiet get away. The spa treatments and wellness was fabulous. The dining options were always good and of high quality. Staff are friendly and helpful. Recommend the all-inclusive package as options are plentiful and much better than most resorts in Zanzibar.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Julie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was stunning and spotlessly clean. We chose a Garden room as we love wildlife and we were not disappointed. We saw dik diks, elephant shews, monkeys, lots of sunbirds, African Golden-Weavers, Helmeted Guineafowl and loads of other birds around the hotel grounds. They offer Yoga classes every day and Pilates twice a week. I attended one of these most days and would highly recommend. The teacher gave clean instructions and was very encouraging when I lost my balance trying a new pose. The Pilates was particularly good, I hadn't done Pilates before and it was more of a workout than the yoga. For dinner you have a choice of buffet at the main restaurant or Al la carte at the The Pavilion. The Pavilion menu only had a few options per menu but they have 3 menus and change every other day. The buffet food was nice with lots of options and there is live entertainment every night. The Pavilion is a quieter more romantic option but you have to book in advance. All the staff were really friendly and helpful. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was the fact a very large family were there for our last few days and took over a lot of the resort. The main pool lost its previous tranquillity as the all the children played there and the music from the private event in Pavilion restaurant was very loud in our Villa. 
Stayed 9 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Ubaid

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful property, with a nice layout. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the only issue we faced was complete power failure on the first day and Internet going off and on.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kerry Lee

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Highly recommend

Fabulous trip! The residence is gorgeous. The food was delicious and the service was great, everyone is super friendly and welcoming. We found the hotel day trips on the pricey side. There are other local options so all good.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elena

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect quality time in perfect place

Perfect Residence. Luxury amenities. Pool area, dinning villas stunning. Staff , every person very pleasant, smiling and ready to help, please you in any possible way. Food is good. Entertainment at dinner time with african bands, dancing. Nice music.extremly clean pool, bathrooms, all common area..Me and my housban enjoyed our stay. Thank you Residence.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stuart

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our room was perfect, we had booked Luxury Garden Suite, which exceeded our expectations, we particularly like the privacy it afforded and actually were pleased to have not booked a Beach Villa. The main swimming pool does need a face lift, there are numerous tiles missing and also the entry to the pool is rather unsafe it would be much better to just have a step rather than the slanted tiles
Stayed 15 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

TASNEEM

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A truly magical holiday with great attentive staff, Nitin and his team really looked after us. The resort is set in a very natural surrounding and there is lots of opportunity to catch the wildlife in action (including cheeky monkeys!). Pool was great for long swims, fitness centre was very well equipped. The food was immaculate! Both the lunch and dinner menu amazed us every time we dined. Evening entertainment was very entertaining! I recommend you go for all inclusive, full board or at a minimal half board.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Estella

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Really nice hotel, stayed in a one bedroom villa and it was beautiful and clean, food choices were good also but could have more options. Pavilion restaurant was really nice. The place is really big and because they are all villas it sometimes feel like there’s not many people around, when in fact they are sold out. Would stay here again only downside is the location, the road conditions are not the best on some areas, and nothing around the resort so you are forced to only eat and stay on the villa. However it’s not too far from some of the activities.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Shabbir

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Our stay at your incredible resort was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed not as guests, but as family—and that warmth remained with us throughout our stay. The facilities were outstanding, but what truly made our experience unforgettable was the team behind it all. We extend our deepest gratitude to Ahmed, the Front Office Manager, along with Benjamin, Edson, Rakesh, and every single member of your amazing team. Your kindness, professionalism, and genuine care went far beyond our expectations. You made us feel at home in every way. This resort has now become our home in Zanzibar, and we look forward to returning again and again. Asante sana and may God bless you all abundantly. Amen. Until we meet again—see you soon!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nazma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff were amazing. It felt like a family environment. I was quite emotional after I left. The managers and staff did everything possible to make my stay perfect. Benjamin, kitchen staff and housekeeping and all cleaners helped me out a-lot during my stay. This was a dreamy luxurious stay. I was even given complimentary treats on my arrival. I booked the Ocean view prestige Villa and it was a great decision. You have bikes at the villa which you can use to explore around the resort and gardens. The spa is extremely amazing. I loved my therapist Anna she was brilliant. Highly reccomend.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Courtney

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

4 star experience for 5 star price

Beautiful grounds, especially oceanfront villas with pools. Large villa that's nicely furnished, however not really at the 5 star level with mould growing on lampshades etc. The ocean is beautiful but be aware there is a lot of seaweed on beach which is not pleasant for swimming. Food at buffet is just ok. Mixed service with front desk staff (servers and cleaners very friendly and helpful), big difference from welcome at check in to rushed check out. There are 1-2 golf carts that can transport you around property but may have a long wait or they may forget to pick you up (though they did arrive early when it was time to check out...). Overall slightly disappointed with experience compared to price.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

A charming property

We had an unforgettable stay at The Residence and can’t wait to return—especially our three kids, who are already asking when we’ll be back! The hotel’s beautiful gardens were a highlight; we enjoyed walking through them every day instead of using golf carts. The staff were always friendly and eager to help, making us feel right at home. The two restaurants offered excellent food with daily themed menus and live performances, ensuring a fresh and enjoyable dining experience. The complimentary watersport activities were fantastic, with the boat house crew leading fun and informative sessions. Our beach-facing luxury villa was spacious, well-decorated, and offered great privacy, especially with its private pool although the kids also enjoyed swimming and playing with other kids in the main overflow pool. The monkeys occasionally made an appearance around the villa but kept their distance, adding a fun touch. The beach, while a bit seaweedy at low tide, was perfect after 1 pm. The tour guides were professional and made exploring the area a breeze. Overall, we had a fantastic time and look forward to returning soon!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Asma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The room was large and beautiful sea view and outdoor private pool. Please note not fully private pool. The bathroom was nice but lots of bugs. When I mentioned it to the hotel they came to spray with bug spray (including indoor with kids). Highly venomous snake in outdoor shower - could very easily come in as there was a glass sliding door between indoor and outdoor shower which has a large gap. Took security 1 hour to come to remove snake, it disappeared by the time they arrived. Stayed elsewhere in zanzibar and did not have as many bugs inside. Food not great. Very basic. Was ok but I wouldn’t stay here again. Lovely experience with monkeys though and enjoyed the pool. The beach isn’t proper sand so uncomfortable to walk on and water not clear because of this. Staff were nice.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mitul

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is an amazing property to stay in Zanzibar. We were upgraded to the frangipani villa which was spacious and well appointed. The private pool was great. The main swimming pool is huge and doesn’t get too crowded. The food options at the main dining room were good with a lot of vegetarian options for breakfast and dinner. Beverage options are nice and reasonably priced. The complimentary fruits at mid morning and ice cream at mid afternoon around the pool area are a great touch. The staff is polite and extremely helpful. We had to see the onsite doctor as one of us wasn’t feeling too well one day. The staff promptly arranged for the doctor to arrive who was extremely helpful and thoughtful in his advice which we highly appreciated. The doctor didn’t charge us for his visit and medication even when we asked if he was sure. As has been discussed previously in other reviews, most beaches in Zanzibar have big tidal ranges and at low tide, the sea retreats by a lot. We didn’t swim on the beach for that reason and there’s also a lot of sea weed that the staff tries to clean every day. Nevertheless, the main and private swimming pools more than made up for it. There are a lot of monkeys around the resort and the staff warn you at the outset to keep the doors closed. It is advice that must be heeded to. The resort is family friendly. That’s great if you have kids of your own but if you don’t, it can feel a bit like school nursery during breakfast / dinner time.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025