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The Residence Zanzibar

5.0 star property
5-star beachfront hotel near Salaam Cave Aquarium

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Photo gallery for The Residence Zanzibar

2 bars/lounges, poolside bar
Front of property
Prestige Ocean Front Pool Villa
2 restaurants, breakfast served
Terrace/patio

Reviews

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • All-inclusive
  • Gym

Explore the area

View in a map
Mchangamle, Kizimkazi
  • Place, Mchangamble Beach
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Forodhani Gardens
  • Place, Paje Beach
    ‪39 min drive‬
  • Airport, Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)
    ‪73 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Luxury Garden Pool Villa

Luxury Garden Pool Villa

Luxury Garden Pool Villa

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
(13 reviews)
  • 155 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Luxury Ocean Front Pool Villa

1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Luxury Ocean Front Pool Villa

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(5 reviews)
  • 155 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Prestige Ocean Front Pool Villa

Prestige Ocean Front Pool Villa

Prestige Ocean Front Pool Villa

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(3 reviews)
  • 155 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Frangipani Garden Pool Villa

Luxury Villa

Frangipani Garden Pool Villa

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Frangipani Ocean Front Pool Villa

1 bedroom, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Frangipani Ocean Front Pool Villa

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Presidential Villa (Pool)

Presidential Villa (Pool)

Presidential Villa (Pool)

  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

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About the area

Kizimkazi

On the beach.You'll be within 6 miles (10 km) of Salaam Cave Aquarium and 20 miles (32 km) of Paje Beach. Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park and Forodhani Gardens are also in the region.

What's nearby

  • Mchangamble Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Kizimkazi Beach - 17 min drive - 13.0 km
  • Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park - 30 min drive - 28.2 km
  • Jambiani Beach - 32 min drive - 30.7 km
  • Paje Beach - 39 min drive - 37.4 km

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dining room, The Residence - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Mnana Lodge - Bar - Restaurant - ‬16 min drive
  • ‪Pavilion Restaurant - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Kipepo Pool Bar - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Aya Beach Restaurant - ‬15 min drive

About this property

The Residence Zanzibar

5-star beachfront hotel near Salaam Cave Aquarium
Some rates at The Residence Zanzibar are all-inclusive. These rates include onsite meals and beverages, and may include taxes and gratuities. Additional charges may apply for meals at some restaurants, special dinners and dishes, certain beverages, and other amenities.

Enjoy the umbrellas and sun loungers for a relaxing day at the beach. Pamper yourself with a treatment at the full-service spa and enjoy amenities at The Residence Zanzibar like a complimentary children's club and an outdoor pool.

Free breakfast is served. There are 2 restaurants and 2 coffee shops/cafes, as well as a snack bar/deli. You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, which include 2 bars/lounges and a poolside bar. A computer station is on site and WiFi is free in public spaces. This luxury hotel also offers outdoor tennis courts, a steam room, and a fitness center. Free self parking is available. A complete renovation of The Residence Zanzibar was completed in May 2025.

This 5-star Kizimkazi hotel is smoke free.

  • 66 guestrooms or units
  • 66 buildings
  • 2 dining venues
  • 2 bars or lounges
  • 2 coffee shops
  • Meeting rooms
  • Built in 2011
  • Buffet breakfast (free)
  • Deli
  • Kid's club (free)
  • Supervised childcare (surcharge)
  • Childcare (surcharge)
  • Beach lounge chairs
  • Towels for the beach
  • Umbrellas for the beach
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Umbrellas for the pool
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Wedding services available
  • Library
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gift shop
  • Beauty salon
  • Computer for guest use
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • Bellhop
  • No smoking on site
  • Lockers available
  • Bar by the pool
The Residence Zanzibar offers 66 air-conditioned accommodations with private pools and fireplaces. Rooms open to furnished patios. Accommodations offer separate sitting areas. Flat-screen televisions come with satellite channels. Guests can make use of the in-room coffee/tea makers and minibars. Bathrooms include separate bathtubs and showers, slippers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks, safes, and phones. Additionally, rooms include complimentary bottled water and ceiling fans. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily.

Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa. Services include facials, body wraps, body scrubs, and body treatments.

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Property amenities

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)

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • 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

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

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

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with satellite channels
  • Private pool

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Separate bathtub and shower
  • Slippers
  • Towels provided

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

  • No pets 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

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • 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've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 95 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 4)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. 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. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Cash is not accepted. For guests' safety, the property includes a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

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

The Residence Zanzibar Reviews

Reviews

9.0

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 142 out of 202 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 35 out of 202 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 11 out of 202 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 202 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 10 out of 202 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Alison

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Be cautious and cynical

Some wonderful hospitality staff and spacious rooms. However lots of issues: Cockroach in room Room wasn’t serviced every day Poor a la carte experience with long delays and very limited menu inc a lack of vegetarian options A real lack of integrity with some of the front of house staff. One of who said that the hotel was fully booked so couldn’t provide a complimentary upgrade (there were rooms available on their website that night) - my status indicated that I should be offered an upgrade at VIP properties. They then vociferously claimed that they had never agreed to that with hotel.com They did however offer 20% off food and drink. On check out this was not honoured and i was told that this would never have been offered. Exorbitant prices on some of the food and drink… $33 for a double gin and tonic and €10 for a bowl of chips that had come from a freezer bag. Be cautious booking this hotel… some strengths but the mis truths left a very sour taste in my mouth upon leaving. At over £500 per room per night this shouldn’t be the case
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service

Not Solo Traveler Friendly

For a solo traveler I wouldn’t recommend this place. The staff were not very accommodating & not friendly. They wanted to charge me double for any excursions because I was a solo traveler. Which was very odd & no one could explain why. I ended up leaving after one night after feeling dismissed by the staff. The property is beautiful although no one was on the beach not sure why.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Guilherme

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

10/10 Excellent

Mitul, London

Travelled with partner, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ahmed

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Ronald

Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shabbir

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Mujtaba

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tahmina

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful resort, great for relaxing. Ideal for honeymoons and celebrating anniversaries. Loved the facilities and staff.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Halit

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mateo

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Rolf

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gloria

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Top notch customer service!! Well kept property. We enjoyed our honeymoon here!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stuart, BATTLE

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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
Stayed 15 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Courtney

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

4 star experience for 5 star price

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.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

A charming property

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!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anne

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

One week stay

Fabulous stay. Beautiful, relaxing and quiet resort. Particularily enjoyed the kindness of all staff. Will probably be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anne

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

Perfect stay

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 😃
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Connor

2/10 Terrible

Fuat

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anjan

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Ubaid

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gerald

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nishi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024