Hekaya Zanzibar — Hotel in Unguja

Ohhhh my beloved Hekaya!!! Godfrey and his entire staff SAVED my milestone 50th birthday trip celebrations!!! {and they didn't know my reason for travel} I originally had booked accommodations at the Baladin just a few steps away that turned out to be devastatingly disappointing! * You can check out THAT review on Trip Advisor! And I had to quickly find other accommodations. As I frantically looked for lodging with the same views and immediate availability, I was heavenly guided to Hekaya!|Godfrey, both Johns and the remaining staff{so sorry I didn't get everyone's names} were Chef's kiss!🤌🏿❣️❣️❣️|From the moment I arrived, I was treated with respect!! I was offered a delicious welcome drink and a refreshing cold towel! Godfrey checked me in and went over everything in detail! When I asked about the room, he advised me it was on the first level and when he saw my hesitation he quickly acknowledged that as a solo traveler I would feel safer on the top level and he changed it! |Ohhhhh, WHAT a ROOM! SUITE❣️❣️❣️😍 I stayed in the Peku Peku. It's a private entrance w an inside security latch off of the restaurant. The balcony has direct views of the ocean that took my breath away! It also has a dining table for two! For those sexy, intimate dinners or blissful breakfasts! And a separate lounge area to read, journal, daydream, or pinch yourself to make sure it's all REAL! And once you receive service from John {Restaurant Host/Bartender extraordinaire and his staff}, you will DEFINITELY pinch yourself! The suite is huge! Enough for me and my overpacked three piece luggage to sprawl out! The bathroom was just as spacious with a great shower w hot water and superb pressure. I would say the only downside was having to flush several times.||Breakfast here was amazing! Every morning, I woke up to a set table, and John and/or his staff, ready to take my order and bring fresh delicious fruits, pastries l, etc.||The grounds are stunningly beautiful and a perfect backdrop to create amazing content! Thanks to John, the proud and rightfully so gardner/groundskeeper. The swimming pool was just as clear as the ocean, and the pool bathroom was IMMACULATE with rolled individual towels to dry your hands! I LOVE IT HERE❣️||I can go on and on about my stay at Hekaya, I actually didn't want to leave! I low-key want to gate keep this GEM of a hotel, but they deserve ALL THE FLOWERS!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, Godfrey, and staff for your excellence in...

This is a wonderful little gem in a magical spot. We only had two nights in this fantastic hotel but could have stayed much longer. This hotel is located in a quiet, only recently developed area on the north east coast. There are only five rooms so you do feel like it is your own little villa. The rooms are amazing, large and comfortable, with a great a/c and fans. The beds are fantastic, ours slept four. The bathroom are large and it had a great shower. There are no mosquito nets, they spray your room each night to keep away bugs (not sure how I feel about that). Each room has a balcony with a view of the ocean, the water is clear and turquoise, there are hammocks and chairs. The beach right in front of the hotel is fantastic for swimming, the water is so warm it is like bath water. The tide does go way out but usually comes back in at some point in the day so you can swim. It is fun to walk out when the tide is out. The food here is very good, the menu has a good selection with specials of local cuisine each night. They serve breakfast and lunch in a second level resturant with a view of the sea but they serve dinner in a quiet peaceful area near the pool. The pool is small but nice. The staff are fantastic, kind and warm. The gardens of the hotel are really nice, we were given a short garden tour by the man in charge of it which was nice. This hotel has issues with regular electricity, it cuts often in the day but they have a generator that mostly corrects the issue but it can't operate 24 hours a day so there were times when we had to electricty or running water but you are in such a peaceful state there that it did not bother us. There isn't a town close by or much to do if you want activities, it is a sedluded place to relax and enjoy the incredible setting. The famous bar/restaruant located on a rock island is about a five minute walk away and there are other restaurants and bars, some with music and more touristy a short distance along the beach. You can arrange day trips and boat trips from there. We loved our time here and did not want to leave. Highly recommended if you want peace, serentiy, quiet and beauty, to soak up the magic of Zanzibar. There are some locals, often kids who would come and swim with us, it was nice to interact with them. We ended up giving them our swim masks when we left since...

We have just returned from a 14 night stay at Hekaya. This hotel is a well-kept secret. At times we felt like we were staying in a private villa with our own pool as it was so peaceful and the staff are so discreet. Be warned, the location is very quiet and the village is very small so if you are looking for loads of restaurants and shops to wander around, this probably is not the place for you. This said, we went and did the usual excursions which were organised through the hotel and then happily came back to our slice of paradise. ||Our bedroom was spacious and spotlessly clean, as was the bathroom. The shower always had hot water and pressure. Rooms also have a kettle with complimentary tea / coffee and we had asked about a fridge and one was supplied to our room as soon as we arrived. Nice touches like providing sun hats just added to the overall experience. ||We ate at the hotel most nights and the daily menu was not repeated once during our stay. For breakfast we had a variety of tropical fruits and juices, eggs, yoghurt, pastries and often a plate of local dishes (doughnuts, vegetables etc). Overall we felt the food was very good as were the drinks. I have special dietary requirements and the hotel went above and beyond in trying to accommodate my needs, even managing to somehow source gluten-free pasta for me and soya milk! ||Apart from the tranquility of Hekaya and the beautiful beach / sea, the staff are also what sets this hotel apart. Everyone is so friendly and polite and they bend over backwards to help you. Special mention to;||John (bar and restaurant)|Diswa (bar and restaurant)|Mohammed (bar and restaurant)|John (the gardener)|Jackline (manager)|Godfrey (manager)||Also worthy of mention are the cleaners, cooks and maintenance men who are integral to ensuring that your stay is perfect.||We cannot recommend this hotel enough and...