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Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel

Property class: 2

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Photo gallery for Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel

A hammock chair with red checkered cushions in a shaded outdoor area with a building labeled "SAHLI COFFEE" in the background. - Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel (Nungwi)
A coffee shop interior with a counter, shelves, a television, and a sign that reads "SWAHILI COFFEE". - Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel (Nungwi)
A multi-story building with balconies, a staircase, and surrounding greenery. - Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel (Nungwi)
A single bed with a wooden frame and a canopy, a bedside table with a lamp, and a white sink. - Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel (Nungwi)
A kitchen with hanging pots, a stove, and a sign that reads "JIKONI KITCHEN". - Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel (Nungwi)
Near Nungwi Beach, Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel provides free continental breakfast, a garden, and dry cleaning/laundry services. Active travelers can enjoy cycling at this hostel. In addition to a bar, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Bar

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Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 2 of 2 rooms

View all photos for Economy Double Room, 2 Double Beds

A hotel room with a large bed, a bedside table with a lamp, a window with curtains, and a small table with a pink towel.

Economy Double Room, 2 Double Beds

  • Garden view
  • 10 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Economy Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm

A dormitory-style room with bunk beds and mosquito netting.

Economy Shared Dormitory, Mixed Dorm

  • Garden view
  • Sleeps 1
  • 10 Large Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Located in Nungwi, Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel is near the beach. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Nungwi Beach and Kendwa Beach. Baraka Natural Aquarium and Nungwi Mnarani Aquarium are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding. Visit our Nungwi travel guide
View more Hostels in Nungwi
Map
Zanzibar, Nungwi, Unguja Kaskazini

What's nearby

  • A beach with clear turquoise water and two boats anchored near the shore.
    Nungwi Beach
    17 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • A calm sea at sunset with a boat and a pier on the right.
    Kendwa Beach
    6 min drive - 1.9 miles
  • Zanzibar Horse Club
    17 min walk - 0.9 miles
  • Nungwi Mnarani Aquarium
    3 min drive - 1.4 miles
  • Baraka Natural Aquarium
    4 min drive - 1.4 miles

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ)
    89 min drive

Restaurants

  • Tam Tam Restaurant
    16 min walk
  • Promenade Main Restaurant
    4 min drive
  • M&J Cafe
    17 min walk
  • Che Bar Zanzibar
    16 min walk
  • Zava Restaurant
    3 min drive

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  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available daily
  • A bar/lounge

Things to do

  • Bicycle rentals

Family friendly

  • In-room kitchenette
  • Laundry facilities

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (limited availability)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

More

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Mosquito nets

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • LCD TV with satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Kitchenette

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 1 PM
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out available
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets stay free

Children and extra beds

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

Important information

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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit

Frequently asked questions

Is Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel?

Check-in begins at 1 PM.

What time is check-out at Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel?

Check-out is at noon.

Where is Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel located?

Situated near the beach, this hostel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Zanzibar Horse Club, Nungwi Beach, and Kendwa Beach. Baraka Natural Aquarium and Nungwi Mnarani Aquarium are also within 2 mi (3 km).

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

Homeland Swahili Lodge - Hostel Reviews

8.0

Very Good

7.8

Cleanliness

7.4

Location

8.2

Staff & service

7.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 18 out of 34 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 34 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 34 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 34 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
Rooms were modern and clean, staff service was okay - English was limited. Located in the main town about 20 min walk from the beach, but plenty of restaurants close by. Would stay again
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

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

Don't book

This stay was the worst part about my trip to Zanzibar. I had to book it last minute because my original hotel reservation was randomly cancelled. I did not want to stay in a hostel, but it was my only option, and it was worse than I imagined. I have stayed in plenty of hostels in other countries, but this one was unimaginable. The water did not run - the electricity went out - the host did not know I was coming and took a mattress out of the room I stayed in. There were not enough sheets or any toilet paper, and an animal on property barked all night long and threw itself against the door to be let out, but no one did. The host even had people sleeping under steps, and the internet did not work. I left after one night when I had paid for two, and the hotel denied my request for a refund, even though the conditions were horrendous. Save yourself the annoyance - don't book Homeland Swahili Lodge.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Un lodge tres simple bien local. Pas cher. Sympathique patron qui arrange ses clients et les conseille. On se sent
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The person in charge was very convenient ! I recommend
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Booking said it was full and as a solo traveler was looking forward to meeting other travelers. When I showed up, I was the only person in the place. The owner aka "Crazy Man" told me everyone was at the beach and gave me a ride there, which was very kind When I returned to the hotel he said that I was the only one staying. I offered to pay for one day and asked for a refund for the other two days. The owner aka "Crazy Man" agreed but was drunk and had spent all the money I paid in the short time I was at the beach. He said, "you can give people gold and diamonds and they are still not happy", which I found very offensive. He was supposed to stop by the next day after getting money from new guest but never did. You win some and you lose some. I usually dont write reviews but there are much better places for a bit more on the beach. Silver lining is he helped me find a new place.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The owner was very nice and friendly. George who works here is the best guy on earth and the most helpful ever. We got also free transfers to the beach. We only had a negative experience with a taxi driver Shege, who is hired by the owner. He was unpleasant and tried to benefit from us. Do not buy from him anything as he charges much more than you can get on the beach.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very good value for money! The hostel is 20 minutes walking from the beach but they will drive you every day at every hour to and from the beach and every other spot in the village. Breakfast is excellent and every evening you can dine at the hostel with the other guests The rooms are nice and clean and there is a common area where you can relax on the hammock . In this area wifi is available and free (not in the rooms). It's the perfect place for backpackers and travellers.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very good value for money! The hostel is 20 minutes from the beach but the owner, Babli, will drive you every day at every hour to and from the beach and every other spot in the village. Breakfast is excellent and every evening you can dine at the hostel with the other guests, dinner is was only 10000 tzs and delicious every time! The rooms are nice and clean and there is a common area where you can relax on the hammock . In this area wifi is free (not in the rooms), it's not alway working 100% but you can just ask Babli and he will fix it right away.
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is amazing. Also the breakfast is the best in Tanzania. Great location. Bably, the owner is so friendly and very attentive with the guest. I went for 4 days and I spend 10 days
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
If you want a 5* waiter’d accommodation were by you get called sir and are treated like royalty then you are not right for this place. It’s not the place isn’t right for you because the atmosphere, the concept and the uniqueness of the lodge is right for anyone with an open heart and mind. I stayed for one night as a stop gap and met some fantastic people from around the world. Shared experiences and generally had a good relax and laugh. The owner - bubbly/crazy man lives up to his man in every sense but does it with a pure heart of gold and is only concerned with you and being happy- however that is. If you want to remind yourself what travelling really is and how to interact with different cultures of people then homelands Swahili lodge is definitely the place to go. It is an experience like none other
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place with a wonderful host!

I had a great stay at Swahili lodge. The owner is an amazing person, very friendly and wants you to have a good stay. The breakfast is amazing and you get big portions that keeps you full until the late afternoon. The only bad thing was the location. It's about a 20-30 min walk to the beach. However the owner drove us there and picked us up every time free of charge. I really enjoyed my stay here, it felt very genuine and welcoming.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019
Verified review

8/10 Good

c'etait notre second séjour au swahili lodge ..nous aimons sa situation dans le village ..à l'ecart des hotels à touristes . la disponibilité de son chef : mister crazy ..la possibilité d'y croiser des gens
Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This was one of my hostel stays in all africa!! Staff was amazing! Free breakfast was best I’ve had, free taxi to beaches and night life, free laundry services l, and great welcoming facilities. I hope everyone chooses to stay here. Local family man running a great business.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
-Delicious breakfast -nice common area with hammocks -really nice & funny host -perfect price performance ratio -definitely come back to this place when in nungwi
Stayed 7 nights in Jan 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Meilleur auberge de nungwi

Cette auberge est génial, les gérants sont tellement gentil. Je recommande fortement
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2019
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Trevligt ställe, ägaren Crazy man gör allt för att man ska trivas, den fria Wi-Fi är som på hela ön.. ibland
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2018
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

リゾート地のゲストハウス

オーナー？支配人？が現地の人なのですが１人何役もこなしながら忙しそうに働いています。冗談を言ったりと面白い人なのですが働き者で優しい人です。何かあるとすぐに対応してくれます。金銭面の扱いもきちんとしており、ぼったくるなどのことはないです。信頼できます。 ビーチから少し離れてますが、行きたいときはすぐにオーナーが連れて行ってくれます。宿自体は特に広くないです。最低限の清潔感はあります。 全体的に価格に対して満足です。
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019
Verified review

8/10 Good

Backpackers only

For backpackers
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
faite attention pas de wifi, arnaque pour les tarifs des excursions
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2018
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

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

Only for adventurous people

Reality is worse than the pictures. The place seemed filthy, we had a cockroach in the bed. Workers tried to be friendly but they were hangovered or high. Upper floor appartments suffered from street noise. Mold on tue pillows.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent in Nungwi

We liked a lot this place, friendly, clean, very good for backpackers. Miamo Mansouri and his collegues are incredibly kind. The place is not in front of the beach but they are very kind and can take you to the beach by car. Breakfast is superbe and Crazy man can help you to organize trips. We met nice people who were guests here. We shall come back in few days.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2018
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Quiet and welcoming. Good value for money. Excellent breakfasts. About fifteen minutes walk to the beach.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The lodge is in good location, Mansour the manager of the lodge is very helpful and make your stay special, great breakfast and service. 5 stars for that place
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025