Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zuri Zanzibar
A design-led village of thatched bungalows on Kendwa's sunset-facing sand
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Zuri occupies a low headland and beach at Kendwa on Zanzibar's north-west coast, laid out as a village of thatched bungalows and villas scattered through eight hectares of tropical garden. It belongs to the Design Hotels group, and the aesthetic is deliberate: Swahili and Zanzibari craft - carved doors, woven palm, coral stone - handled with a contemporary, pared-back eye.
Kendwa's advantage over much of the island is tidal. On the east coast the sea retreats hundreds of metres twice a day; here the water stays swimmable, and the beach faces west, so sunsets happen in front of you rather than behind. That combination makes it a straightforward beach stay rather than a tide-table negotiation.
There are two restaurants, a beach bar, a spa in the gardens, a dive centre and a pool. Stone Town is around an hour away for the spice markets and the old Omani quarter, and boat trips run out to Mnemba atoll and the northern reefs for snorkelling and diving.
At a glance
What to expect
- 55 villas and bungalows
- Swimming pool and beach bar
- Spa in tropical gardens
- Dive and watersports centre
- Two restaurants
- Yoga and fitness
- Sunset-facing beach
- Stone Town excursions
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