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Pongwe Bay Resort

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A beach with a thatched umbrella, two chairs, and a pier in the background. - Pongwe Bay Resort (Pongwe)
Creator video
A dining area with a table set for two, a coffee maker, and a kettle on the right side. - Pongwe Bay Resort (Pongwe)
A wooden swing set with ropes and a hanging basket in a sandy outdoor area with a wooden fence and palm trees in the background. - Pongwe Bay Resort (Pongwe)
A room with a bed, a green sofa, and a window with curtains. - Pongwe Bay Resort (Pongwe)
Luxury
4.5 star property
9.2

Wonderful

Luxury family-friendly hotel by the sea

Consider a stay at Pongwe Bay Resort and take advantage of a poolside bar, a free daily manager's reception, and a terrace. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a private beach, beachfront dining, and beach massages. Indulge in reflexology, a body treatment, and aromatherapy at the onsite spa. At the two on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, kids' meals, and local and international cuisine. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and beach volleyball. In addition to 2 coffee shops/cafes and a garden, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

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Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

View all photos for Junior Suite

A bedroom with a canopy bed, a desk with a mirror, and a bedside table with a lamp.

Junior Suite

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 45 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Junior Suite, Beach View

A room with a bed under a canopy, a mirror on the wall, and framed pictures.

Junior Suite, Beach View

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • Garden view
  • 44 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Suite (Master)

A bedroom with a canopy bed, a sofa, and a patterned rug.

Suite (Master)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sea view
  • 60 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Family Suite, Garden View

A bedroom with a canopy bed, a sitting area with a patterned rug, and a view of the outdoors through large windows.

Family Suite, Garden View

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Garden view
  • 85 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Family Suite, Beachfront

A room with a bed, a nightstand, a mirror, and a window with curtains.

Family Suite, Beachfront

  • Beach view
  • 85 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 King Beds

About the neighborhood

Located in Pongwe, Pongwe Bay Resort is on a private beach. Beit el-Sahel (Palace Museum) and House of Wonders are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Mtoni Palace Ruins and Livingstone's House. Traveling with kids? Consider Kidichi Spice Farm and Siso Spice Farm. Scuba diving, boat tours, and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with horse riding nearby. Visit our Pongwe travel guide
Map
10 Pongwe Road, Pongwe, Unguja North Region, 0581

What's nearby

  • A boat on a calm sea at sunset with clouds in the sky.
    Kiwengwa Beach
    8 min drive - 5.1 miles
  • A sandy beach with three wooden boats and lush green vegetation.
    Muyuni Beach
    28 min drive - 14.1 miles
  • A historical building with a sign reading "East Africa Slave Trade Exhibit".
    Slave Market
    54 min drive - 25.3 miles
  • A calm sea at sunset with several boats and a large ship in the distance.
    Shangani Beach
    55 min drive - 25.5 miles
  • Pongwe Beach
    5 min walk - 0.3 miles

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ)
    76 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Yoga Bar Zanzibar
    11 min drive
  • pool bar @ blue bay
    11 min drive
  • The Club at Pongwe Bay Resort
    4 min walk
  • Zanzibar Rock Resort Restaurant
    4 min walk
  • African Dan
    7 min drive

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  • Pool
  • Spa
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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • 2 bars/lounges
  • 2 coffee shops/cafes
  • 2 restaurants
  • A poolside bar
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Free daily manager's reception
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • Bahari Lounge
  • The Club
  • The Club

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Beach volleyball
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Canoeing
  • Cooking classes
  • Evening entertainment
  • Free beach club
  • Full-service spa
  • Games
  • Gym
  • Kayaking
  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • TV in common areas
  • Water sports equipment

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Baby toys
  • Children's games
  • High chair
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Soundproofed rooms

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • 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
  • Wedding services

Outdoors

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels
  • Beach umbrellas
  • Garden
  • On a private beach
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Aromatherapy
  • Ayurvedic treatments
  • Body scrubs
  • Deep-tissue massages
  • Detox wraps
  • Facials
  • Hot stone massages
  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Reflexology
  • Spa open select days
  • Sports massages
  • Swedish massages
  • Thai massages

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Handrails in stairways (39 inches high)
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Well-lit path to entrance

More

  • 2 floors
  • At least 80% organic food
  • Comprehensive food waste policy
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Local culture and ecosystem education
  • Locally sourced food prioritized
  • Locally-owned and organized tours and activities
  • Mosquito nets
  • Some LED lighting used
  • Traditional architecture
  • Vegan dining options
  • Vegetarian dining options

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Electric kettle
  • Limited room service
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Laptop workspace
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms
  • Water-efficient showers

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Contactless check-in available
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

The property charges 5 percent for credit card payments
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 48 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
If you are planning to arrive after 5:30 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
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

Property payment types

  • Mastercard
  • Visa

Important information

Fees

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

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 5.00 per person, per night

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

Optional extras

  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 5 percent

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 and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, 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
Pool access available from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Guests under 16 years old are not allowed in the spa

Frequently asked questions

Does Pongwe Bay Resort have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool. Pool access is from 7:00 AM–7:00 PM.

Is Pongwe Bay Resort 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 Pongwe Bay Resort?

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM. A fee applies for early check-in (subject to availability). Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at Pongwe Bay Resort?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM. Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability).

Does Pongwe Bay Resort provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle.

Are there all-inclusive benefits at Pongwe Bay Resort?

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

Where is Pongwe Bay Resort located?

This Pongwe hotel is on the beach, 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Pongwe Beach, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Kiwengwa Beach and Uroa Beach. Marumbi Beach and Mapenzi Beach are also within 9 mi (15 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

Pongwe Bay Resort Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

9.4

Cleanliness

8.6

Location

9.4

Staff & service

9.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 69 out of 101 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 26 out of 101 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 101 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 101 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 101 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was large and very clean. The staff were very helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I particularly appreciated the friendliness of the staff and the food. The hotel is very quiet and the view is splendid.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Wonderfull place ! Clean and quiet.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved our stay at Pongwe Bay Resort. The beach is beautiful, the gardens are so beautiful and the staff is amazing. The east side of the island is so calm and quite which was exactly what we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location, clean and green resort, friendly staff. I only missed a TV in the room.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had an amazing stay at this hotel in Zanzibar and would highly recommend it, especially for families or anyone looking for a relaxed break rather than the more touristy feel of some of the other beaches and resorts. The hotel is beautifully located close to the beach, with each room being very spacious and easily accessible. The breakfast buffet is vast and really good with crepes and omelettes made to order! We especially enjoyed the Masai dancing and the Italian-themed seafood barbecue held right on the beach. The staff were extremely attentive and genuinely made us feel well looked after. The nightly turn-down service, including having the mosquito nets sprayed each evening meant we were not plagued by mosquitoes each night - the staff paid attention to the little details, and nothing ever seemed too much trouble. There is also a tourist company located on site, which made organising day trips very easy. Taxis are readily available, and it is only around a 20-minute ride to Kiwengwa where you will find another fabulous beach and plenty of restaurants to explore. What really stood out for us, though, was the atmosphere. Rather than feeling like we were simply staying in a hotel, we felt as though we were being welcomed into a family. The warmth and friendliness of everyone made it feel like a true home away from home. A huge thank you to Santosh, Suzan, Charles and Frank for making our stay so special and for making it feel like home away from home.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent

It was excellent vacation, the staff was very friendly and helpful. Everything was good, the room was very clean. Be sure we will return
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Gorgeous hotel, super relaxing, delicious pool. Staff super nice and helpful. Activities on certain days. Be aware of tide changes but that's across all the island.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Pole pole

The atmosphere was grear and all the staff was friedly, excellent. 👍👍👍👍👍
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A great resort. It's very, very beautiful. The architecture, the barefoot concept, the rooms, the beautiful sea view, all the friendly staff. I really liked everything. All the employees were always in a good mood, everyone tried to fulfill almost every wish of me and my daughter. Everyone was always nice, friendly, accommodating, funny, helpful. I really enjoyed it and had a wonderful holiday.
Stayed 13 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was our first experience staying on Pongwe beach. The beach isn't comparable to what one gets at Nungwi or similar. It is quite rocky and the tide stays receeded most of the day. The resort was sparsely occupied and therefore very quiet and peaceful apart from Wednesday night when there was loud music until past 3AM at an adjacent property. The service staff were terrrific and catered for every need of ours without complaint or delay. Upendo, Abdallah, Leila and their teams were excellent with their service. The spa on the site is middling and could be much better in terms of the setup, ambiance and hygiene. One peculiar annoyance was that the resort leaves ALL their outdoor lights on at night including the half a kilometre long pier which causes unnecessary light polution which totally washes out the otherwise spectacular skies of East Coast Zanzibar. Even The Club, which is the restaurant on the pier, keeps all its inside lights on all night! That is a waste of power for an island that struggles with its power supply. Food was OK at the resort and we mostly ate at a local shack called Shashas Restaurant a kilometre down the beach. They were reasonably priced but be prepared to pay tourist prices for all food and drinks on this coast.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a great stay at Pongwe Bay Resort! As soon as we arrived we felt taken care of and comfortable. We got to Zanzibar quite late but when we arrived we were welcomed with cool hand towels, our luggage was carried to our room for us, and our bed had beautiful hibiscus flowers laid on it. It was the perfect relaxing getaway! Prices were really reasonable, AC in the room was strong, and they arranged airport transfers for us which was convenient. WiFi was a bit of an issue- we had to go to the front desk in the morning most days and ask for the new password as they had to keep resetting it due to poor connection. The WiFi didn't seem to work in our room either so when we sent messages we had to go the main communal areas. Another small concern was when we wanted to explore the beach during low tide, as there were quite a few locals who would come up to us and try to take us on "tours" to find sea creatures or monkeys etc. They were always friendly and listened once we said we were not interested, but we felt bad always turning them all down. I didn't think it would be an issue since the resort has a "private beach," but we didn't like being followed around so it kept us close to the resort pool most days. Other than that though, we had an excellent time and would be back! :)
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The resort is quiet and an escape to relax and renew.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
From beginning to end, they were most welcoming and hospitable. Fantastic hotel.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Perfect holiday
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was fabulous love every moment of it
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was fabulous 👌 love it
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I enjoyed my stay. The staff were courteous and professional. Attentive and were approachable. I enjoyed the atmosphere. The bed was uncomfortable but everything else was wonderful
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A well run hotel in a traditional style with comfortable facilities and great staff. Excellent food. Quiet area near a local village with only a few other hotels and bars around. Nice bay with a walkable beach but limited for swimming due to the tides. Highly recommended for a relaxing quiet holiday. No TV's in room but some nice entertainment in the Restaurant on several evenings per week.
Stayed 13 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Worst hotel i have seen in zanzibar Not clean Very old No water in the room Extremely expensive pricses
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My wife and I spent eight nights in August and enjoyed our stay at the resort. Our bungalow was very comfortable, and if you're looking for a quiet location where you can walk without sandals directly onto the beach, this is the place. The resort does not have fridges or TVs in the rooms to add to the laidback experience. The staff was very professional and assisted us with offsite trips, shopping areas, and arranging transportation. There are two restaurants; both are very good, but our favorite was the one situated on a pier overlooking the water.  Located on the east side of the island, low tide occurs every six hours, meaning you can't swim but can safely walk out almost a mile. The resort has sunbeds on the beach and next to the beautiful pool.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Traumhaft ruhige kleine Anlage mit so ca. 35 Zimmer. Sauber, wunderschöne Gartenanlage und gemütliche Bereiche
Stayed 11 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Un séjour de rêve à Pongwe Bay Resort ! Un personnel aux petits soins et un cadre magnifique !
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wir haben uns hier sehr wohl gefühlt! Besonders gut fanden wir, dass das Hotel sehr authentisch und landestypisch war. Der Ort Pongwe ist wenig touristisch, es gibt keine Auswahl an Restaurants oder Geschäften im Ort.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Wahnsinnig schönes Ambiente!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025