Zanzi House — Hotel in Mkunazini

Dangerous place ! I contacted Zanzi House by WhatsApp in order to book a room with airport pick up since we were landing in Zanzibar late in the night. I thought it would be safer to book a taxi via our hotel rather than finding one randomly at the airport at night.

The taxi picked us up (two women in our 20’s) and gave us 2 unsealed bottles of water that looked like they were not totally full. We decided to put them in our bags and not drink them right away.

Once we arrived at Zanzi house, which is in a completely dark back alley, we found 3 sketchy men in the lobby. When they saw us arriving, they talked among themselves in Swahili before telling us that there was a problem, that our room was not available because the last person did not check out (why not tell me by WhatsApp in the morning ??). They told us that, instead of the room we booked, we would be staying in an apartment nearby.

It was 23:00 and our first time in Stone Town, we did not dare to leave and walk the streets with all our bags at night to find another hotel and so we reluctantly accepted to stay in the apartment aforementioned.

But the vibe was really weird. These three men were talking in Swahili looking at us and made us wait and wait and wait. They were saying that we were waiting for yet another guy to come with the apartment key.

While we were waiting, one of the men put himself in the door way, physically barring the exit. I had to push next to him and squeeze myself to get out back in the alleyway.

I asked him to tell me exactly where was this appartement. He told me that it was the first door of the alley on the right.

Finally, the other guy arrived. He, and one of the 3 initial guys, took our luggage and started to walk us toward the « apartment ». Except they turned left. And we started walking multiples sketchy alleys in the dead of night.

While following them, we realized the danger we were in when they tried to have us following them into yet another darker alley, this time, completely dark. I managed to flag a man who accepted to help us. We got our bags back from the two Zanzi house guys and managed to walk away from them, following the man who accompanied us to a safe hotel.

Once in our new hotel, we checked the bottles of water given by the taxi that the hotel sent us. The bottles were pierced ! A really tiny hole, syringe like. Probably why we were waiting for so long in the lobby…

Worst experience ever. I don’t know where all the nice reviews come from, we had the fear of a life time.

P.S. : during the chaotic situation I got robbed of a wallet looking little bag. Except it wasn’t my actual wallet. Enjoy the tampons and pads...

Our Stay was on the 27th Dec- 29th Dec 2022 Aesthetically pleasing!! Very clean feeling. White walls. Great art. Rooms. i. Clean white linen (However the mosquito nets were dusty🙁. The staff however was very willing to change them but the rainy weather did not allow.) Daily changes in Linen were done. ii. Working AC and Fan The bathroom was exceptionally clean! The shaver socket was functional. The water heating system was also functional. Water pressure was adequate but you had to give it a 30seconds headstart to catch up. Seamless check in and check out (we paid in cash) Breakfast was decent. Nothing exceptional. The controlled entry and exit ensured security( generally, stone town is VERY safe) ❗️ WARNING❗️ The hotel borders a church and a mosque. So there is bound to be noise during prayer time. It is also located in stone town so it is next to popular attraction sites and restaurants like Lukmaan and Seven Spice. (Seven spice is highly recommended as the former fills up during...

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Zanzi Hotel, and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I arrived, the staff made me feel like family, offering warm welcomes and excellent service throughout my stay. The hotel is beautifully designed, blending modern comfort with a touch of local charm, creating a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. My room was spacious, well-equipped, and spotless, with stunning views of the surrounding area.The amenities are fantastic, from the refreshing pool to the delicious on-site restaurant offering a variety of tasty dishes. What truly stood out was the attention to detail—every little aspect was thoughtfully arranged to ensure a memorable experience.Zanzi Hotel’s location is also perfect, offering easy access to nearby attractions, making it an ideal base for exploring. Whether you're visiting for business or leisure, I highly recommend Zanzi Hotel for a comfortable, relaxing, and...