Mambo Ocean Resort — Hotel in Unguja

This hotel shall not be ranked as 4 stars. I faced a totally different reality when reaching this place on 27th Dec 2023. Please see the pictures attached which show the bad quality of the bathroom.

The owner does not provide the entire bathroom photos hence cheating by hiding the reality. The owner advertises the resort common areas, the pools and the resort being on the beach, which is true but the rooms are outdated.

The A/C was not working. They seem not to check the quality of the room prior receiving clients. Fortunately the issue was solved the following day since we announced the manager.

In regards to the optional excursions the hotel provides, they are pricy for what it offers and no local guide is provided. Fortunately we only purchased one trip through the hotel and we booked the rest through an agency ( a very good quality service with less or similar price)

The resort is located in a quiet area The beach is lovely and it has security. The food is good but more pricy than the rest of the restaurants and served with delay. The room cleaning is done daily however with such an outdated bad quality of the room/ bathroom you cannot expect to make miracles. Lots of ants and bugs are in the room as the exterior doors are of poor quality and leave space for the bugs to enter.

The manager Ana is a lovely person, calm, client oriented and trying to solve all the issues however what can we expect if the venue is outdated?

In the event the owner sustains the rooms are renovated, note that these pictures pertain to a renovated room. If you take the risk to book, prior that ask for videos, photos and hope you will indeed receive what you are presented!

Our journey ended up with a pair of flipflops disappearing the day prior our check out.

PS: There have been other clients complaining as well. As a different example, in the neighboring room, the rain entered inside as the roof...

A nice little hotel at the north east side of Zanzibar.

Hotel consist of two hotels put together. Recently semi renovated.

Three pools. Warm water in all of them, but most of the day in direct sunlight, so not usable.

Two restaurants. One for breakfast. The other for lunch and dinner and as a bar. The latter closes by 11pm, which is nice, because it’s quite enough to be able to sleep.

Direct beach access. However the beach boys trying to sell you stuff stand between the property line and the water, the moment you try to go for a swim, they will approach you and try to sell you anything and everything. They will stare at you and wave you over while you lay on the sun-beds, it made the whole experience a bit frustrating, because you couldn’t avoid them. The low and high tide wasn’t as bad as I expected.

Playground.

Spa. Many massage and spa treatments for fairly cheap prices.

Rooms. The rooms are semi renovated. Water pressure almost nonexistent in the shower, but great in the sink. You will be able to hear everything going on outside, and in your neighbours room, windows and door seem to be some sort of decoration, so bring earplugs. Otherwise rooms are good, comfy bed, mini fridge, storage space, little terrace.

Food is okay, nothing special, prices are a bit high for lunch and dinner especially as the portions are rather small.

Hotels currency is USD, which is very unfortunate because you can’t even get USD, only local currency here in Zanzibar. So when you pay with Shilling, they do a bad exchange rate for you from USD to Shilling.

Internet. Can be pretty spotty. Somehow best at the beach, in the rooms almost not usable. Staff is aware and it’s understandable that the...

I recently spent a memorable stay at Mambo Ocean Resort in Zanzibar, and I can confidently say it’s a slice of paradise. The resort boasts a stunning beach and a restaurant that impresses with a diverse menu featuring both international and local cuisines.

Upon arrival, a mix-up with our travel agency meant that we were initially given a standard room instead of the deluxe room we had requested. However, the exceptional service of the hotel management quickly turned our experience around. David and Ana, the hotel managers, were outstanding in handling the situation despite the hotel being fully booked. Within two days, they managed to upgrade us to a superior room, reflecting their genuine commitment to guest satisfaction.

The overall vibe of the resort is enchanting, with lush greenery, beautiful trees, and vibrant flowers that create a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. The staff throughout the property were kind and caring, making every moment of our stay comfortable and welcoming. Special thanks go to Nancy, Modeste, and their colleagues at the restaurant, whose attentive service made each meal a delightful experience.

In summary, despite the initial hiccup, Mambo Ocean Resort exceeded our expectations with its remarkable service, beautiful surroundings, and delicious dining options. I would definitely return to this wonderful place for another...