Qambani — Hotel in Unguja

We spent 6 days of our honeymoon in Qambani in September 2021. It is difficult to put in words how fantastic our stay was, by far on top of our lists of experiences we had around the world!

Imagine building the dream holiday home for your family without the (financial) need to cut corners on the important things. This place feels like your own luxury holiday resort, except there is a kind, trained staff and no headache of maintaining the place.

Top things are: By far the best food we had on Zanzibar, with exciting variety. No costs cut. Food is personalised for you and there are no strict eating times -- each guest is served individually and at the choosing from a number of locations. The overall built quality and architecture is top of the notch (we were convinced there would be a feature piece on it on ArchDaily). The infinity pool's design is perfect. Beautiful both day and night, has sunny as well as shadow area with pool bar. The fact that you are in the middle of the woods and thereby come in touch with nature. We saw: Elephant Shrew (usually rarely seen!), a Yellow Weaver family (likes to indulge in bathing rituals in the corner of the pool), a very friendly monkey. Maite, the manager is both super friendly and very helpful and manages the place excellently. So is the rest of the staff, they are kind without being in your face. The main lounge area feels very cosy Rooms: very clean, fully equipped. External shower and sea view were top.

Beach: Easy access to shore with kayak, reef shoes available Beautiful, untouched beach (not a lot of hotels nearby). It is not fully sandy but has interesting rocky elements However, you can walk 2-3min to the right and take a swim in high tide. Tides change a lot so sometimes hight tides can be up to stomach, sometimes up to knees. We only knew at the end of the stay that there is a party place if you walk left down the beach about 25min, which is definitely worth checking out (Kae beach)! It's on the otherside of Machamwi so there is no noise...

My wife and I just returned from a 5-night stay at Qambani and to put it simply — we didn’t want to leave.

The resort itself is absolutely stunning — a perfect blend of modern luxury and authentic African architectural charm. Every detail, from the rooms to the pool areas, feels carefully designed to offer comfort without ever sacrificing character. All the modern amenities you’d expect from a 5-star resort are there, but wrapped in style that makes you feel like you’re truly somewhere special.

The staff were nothing short of amazing — warm, welcoming, always smiling, and their level of English and communication made everything so easy. Their positivity was genuinely infectious and added to the atmosphere more than words can say.

The food was another highlight — beautifully prepared, varied, and always delicious. We would’ve personally enjoyed a bit more spice here and there, but that’s just our palate talking. What we loved most was the balance: local Zanzibari dishes and fresh seafood alongside international classics that made us feel at home. Every meal felt like a treat.

The grounds are magical. Qambani feels like a hidden sanctuary, with a private beach that stretches for what feels like miles. The tides change dramatically throughout the day, creating an ever-evolving backdrop that’s breathtaking. Watching local villagers walking the low-tide beach plains added a peaceful, authentic rhythm to each day. It’s one of those rare places where time slows down — and you want it to.

We came to Zanzibar aware it isn’t a cheap destination — and honestly, we had a few reservations about whether it would all be worth it. But Qambani blew us away. This isn’t a place trading on hype or glossy Instagram shots — it’s all substance. A true 5-star experience in every way. We left without a single complaint.

If you’re on the fence: go. This place exceeded every one of our expectations. A heartfelt thank you to the whole Qambani team — you made our stay...

This place is truly a paradise! We stayed at Qambani to wrap up our two-week anniversary trip in Tanzania, and it was the perfect ending.

As soon as we arrived, I was amazed by the beautifully landscaped garden at the entrance and the stunning view of the ocean. We stayed in the Coastal Room, which was tastefully decorated, extremely clean, and spacious—you have an entire villa to yourself!

There are three pools on the property, and we especially loved the main pool overlooking the ocean. I particularly enjoyed watching the Eastern Golden Weavers visit the pool throughout the day.

The food was absolutely AMAZING. The chef and the team are incredibly talented—I had the best butternut squash risotto of my life here! I live in NYC and have dined at many Italian restaurants, including Michelin-starred ones, but the risotto I had at Qambani was perfectly balanced and seasoned—truly the best I’ve ever had. Breakfast was also delicious and thoughtfully prepared, with fresh fruits and local ingredients.

On our last night, they surprised us with an anniversary cake! It was such a thoughtful gesture and made our stay even more memorable.

I also had a spa treatment right in front of our villa. It was a perfect time to relax while listening to the soothing sound of the ocean.

Every staff member was friendly and attentive, which made our stay feel warm and personal. My only suggestion would be to have name tags for the staff, as I kept forgetting the names of the lovely people we interacted with.

The property is serene and peaceful—far from the busier parts of Zanzibar like Nungwi and Kendwa, where you're constantly approached by "beach boys". Here, you can enjoy uninterrupted tranquility.

You’ll witness breathtaking sunsets every day and have fun exploring the ocean at low tide. Qambani is a hidden gem and a truly...