Travelers find oceanfront serenity with turquoise water views at this Zanzibar retreat, where spa treatments complement snorkeling and horseback riding adventures
The Residence Zanzibar offers ocean views and island hospitality. Guests enjoy massages, yoga, and white sand beaches with sun loungers. The property features two coffee shops, a garden, free in-room WiFi, and babysitting services for parents seeking private time.
Reviews
9.09.0 out of 10
Wonderful
Popular amenities
Breakfast included
Parking included
Free WiFi
The current price is NT$14,436
NT$14,436
NT$17,066 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 18 - Mar 19
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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 hiking/biking trails and ecotours nearby. Visit our Kizimkazi travel guide
Mchangamle, Kizimkazi
What's nearby
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
30 min drive - 28.2 km
Jambiani Beach
32 min drive - 30.7 km
Mchangamble Beach
5 min walk - 0.5 km
Kizimkazi Beach
17 min drive - 13.0 km
Paje Beach
39 min drive - 37.4 km
Getting around
Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ)
58 min drive
Restaurants
fahari off the grid
14 min drive
Dining room, The Residence
11 min walk
Aya Beach Restaurant
15 min drive
Mnana Lodge - Bar - Restaurant
16 min drive
Pavilion Restaurant
11 min walk
About this property
The Residence Zanzibar
Luxury family-friendly hotel renovated in 2025 and located near Salaam Cave Aquarium
A free breakfast buffet, a poolside bar, and a terrace are just a few of the amenities provided at The Residence Zanzibar. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location, beachfront dining, and sun loungers. Treat yourself to a body wrap, a massage, or a manicure/pedicure at the onsite spa. At the two on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and ocean views. Yoga classes are offered at the gym; other things to do include snorkeling, hiking/biking, and horseback riding. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities such as 2 coffee shops/cafes and a garden.
You'll also find perks like:
An outdoor pool along with sun loungers and pool umbrellas
Free self parking
Free bicycle rentals, an outdoor tennis court, and a roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
Supervised childcare (surcharge), a front-desk safe, and a computer station
Guest reviews give top marks for the helpful staff
Room features
All 66 rooms have comforts such as 24-hour room service and private pools, in addition to perks like fireplaces and furnished patios.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
Separate tubs/showers, free toiletries, and hair dryers
Flat-screen TVs with satellite channels
Separate sitting areas, childcare services, and coffee/tea makers
All inclusive details
All-inclusive room rates at The Residence Zanzibar are available. These rates are higher because they include onsite food and beverages in the room rate (some restrictions may apply).
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); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, 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
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
Property is also known as
Residence Zanzibar
Residence Zanzibar Hotel
Residence Zanzibar Hotel Kizimkazi
Residence Zanzibar Kizimkazi
Zanzibar Residence
The Residence Zanzibar Hotel Kizimkazi
The Residence Zanzibar Kizimkazi
The Residence Zanzibar Hotel
The Residence Zanzibar Kizimkazi
The Residence Zanzibar Hotel Kizimkazi
Frequently asked questions
Does The Residence Zanzibar have a pool?
Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.
How much does it cost to stay at The Residence Zanzibar?
As of 2026/3/17, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Residence Zanzibar on 2026/3/18 start from NT$14,436, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
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.
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Reviews
The Residence Zanzibar Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
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.
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 😃
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Mitul
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Asma
2023/11/13
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.
Asma
Verified
8/10 Good
Marek
2024/2/16
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Amazing! Travel also to Tanzania to visit safari.
I stayed 9 nights (Feb 24) in Residence Zanzibar together with my 3 daughters (13, 17, 20y.) to have "onetime" holiday that included also safari in Tanzania. Hotel is situated approx. 90min far from an airport, surrounded by a tropical garden. Hotel offers only villas with private pools. We stayed at Frangipani villa, which easily accomodates 4 almost adult persons. Villa is very large (3 rooms, 2 bathrooms) pleasant, private pool very spacious. One may say, that a furniture is a little bit outdated, but we are in Africa and even though I am quite demanding - it was not a problem. In the middle of the resort, there is "master pool", there are also equipped gym, tennis court and other sport facilities. Food is absolutely excellent. During dinners they served local foods, seafood, grill, pasta - the offer is very varied and very tasty. Hide and low tide can be uncomfortable for someone, because it is almost impossible to swim directly at the beach, but it can be easily solved by various activities like snorkelling with dolphins, starfish, sandbank etc. They will take to by boat 10min from the hotel to the ocean and you can swim as much as you can. Definitely visit Stone town! Unbelievable city including arabic, afric, european elements. Prison island is not so interesting. And finally - if you have a time and energy, go to Tanzania to visit national parks. Even only for 2 days as we did it. The country is safe, people very nice and heplful and you may have unforgettable holiday
Overall, my wife and I had a nice stay for our honeymoon. However, there were several issues, especially given the $600 per night cost.
Pros
(1) Hotel is scenic: beach, villas and pools are nice
(2) Service is good; staff is very polite
(3) Food is good with a variety of options
Cons
(1) Logistics are poorly handled
Issue A:
We had two separate bookings. At check-in, staff said we would have to move villas between them because they would be giving us a bigger villa. They said they would call us around noon on move day.
At noon, no one called. I called around 12:30, and was told someone would call me back. No one did. I called again around 12:50, and again was told someone would call me back. Someone called and said we would no longer need to move rooms..
Issue B:
Day before leaving, we scheduled a car to take us at 10am to Stone Town, and from Stone Town to the airport. Staff said someone would come to our villa at 9:45am to collect bags.
Staff completely forgot. Nobody came to get our bags until we called. And when we got to the lobby to check out and take our car, they informed us they forgot to book a car. They weren't able to get a replacement until 10:46am. Hilariously, the outside cab they arranged was $40, whereas originally they were charging us $95 for their own service. And the cab that came to take us didn't have much gas so wasn't able to turn on AC until we filled up.
(2) WiFi was very spotty there was a power outage
(3) Rooms are finicky / noisy
Some positives:
Was clean and the rooms were amazing. The rooms are very big, and you have your own private pool (well our room had this not sure if all rooms do) and we even got to see monkey's whilst we were there which was awesome.
Food at the buffet was okay - wasn't amazing, but wasn't horrible either. It was decent. Staff were really lovely too, however they are not as friendly as staff at a different hotel we stayed at in Zanzibar.
Some negatives:
I booked a couples massage at the spa. The spa was very visually pretty and staff were friendly and were able to accommodate to quite last minute bookings. However the massage services was poor. There was no relaxing music playing, the therapists were whispering between themselves during the massage. At one point the massage just paused although the therapist was there sitting next to me. I'm not sure if she fell asleep or what had happened. It was worth twenty dollars but I paid one hundred and fourty dollars per person, and so I was quite disappointed with the massage. The actual massage itself was poor, no techniques were used and I think staff here need training.
Also, my sister found a snake in her shower. There are two showers, one inside and one that is outside but still apart of your room. The snake she saw was in the outside one. She raised this with the reception and it took 1 hour for anyone to come, at that point she had no idea where it went. Staff said snakes are rare and so we were even more worried.