Jambiani Beachfront Villa, Zanzibar

Tropical Villa on the Beach

Our personal review (visited 2012)

A few minutes drive through Jambiani local village brings you to the front gate of this tropical villa. A warm welcome by all the staff kick-started our stay in the most positive manner. The personality and character behind the running of the villa is a joyful character called Kim, who apparently owns one of the best local restaurants on the island.

We entered the house leaving our shoes at the front door according to Zanzibari House manner, and walked into this bright spacious open plan kitchen, living and dining area. The simplicity and tropical atmosphere created by the owners immediately placed us at ease. The villa is situated right beside the local village and the furniture used has been made and hand crafted by them.

The kitchen, spacious and well equipped, has a large bar counter made of local coral stone and the bar stools of local wood. The furniture of the dining area has been designed to match with the kitchen portraying bright african colourful art, which is reflected around the living area.

Once we walked out onto the veranda we found the hidden secret of this tropical villa. The incredibly sparkling white beach and the bright turquoise ocean that lay beyond the front garden, which is the beach!

For additional privacy or a siesta, there is a stone built lounge area under the Makuti roof that provides shade, a cool breeze and a spectacular view.

The bedrooms are simple but neat, solid beds with mosquito nets and ceiling fans. Each bedroom has it's en-suite bathroom that is stylish in dark cement washed walls and solid wood. 3 bedrooms have double beds, 1 bedroom has 2 single beds.

This tropical villa is ideal for families or groups of friends who wish to enjoy the real feeling of being in Zanzibar, mixing with the locals from the village, relax by the beach and explore the island on their own.

NOTE: A pool is being built in the garden and the outdoor lounge area is extended to provide additional comfort to the guests. The new features shall be ready by July 2013.

Kim, the property manager mentioned in the beginning of this review, challanged us to try his traditional African restaurant, so we curiously followed his invitation. We were prepared for the worst because we had never heard of the restaurant before. The simple setting stood in contradiction to Kim's description of the food, which was full of superlatives. "I make the best fish-samosas" he said, continuing "but actually all of our dishes are great" and thus we followed his suggestion to try a bit of everything. It is hard to believe, but at Kim's Restaurant we really had some of the best traditional African food we have ever tasted and YES, his Samosas are the best! If you are in the area, this restaurant is definitely a MUST!