Hotels near Mtende rock, Kusini

We were staying here for our first 5 nights in Zanzibar during our 12-night holiday which was not following a safari, we were exploring the island, staying in different hotels. For anyone reading this review I feel it is as important to provide some trip advice which I have learnt from our trip; the reason being the island of Zanzibar is best described as RAW tourism and there are points that you will need to know before travel and selecting your hotel base. The visa process cannot be processed using the official Tanzanian tourism site and the e mail address is not monitored so at this time do not waste your time on the official site. We selected an established visa online service provider who we found to be excellent, providing the visas within 6 days. A word of caution there is some confusion regarding the ability to obtain your visa on arrival at the airport for $50, on check in with Fly Dubai they requested our visas and confirmed that it was mandatory to have a copy prior to boarding. During the flight visa application forms were distributed but only to selected passengers who were not referrals, my strong advice is to have it before you go. So, Raw tourism, well the island economy is 90% dependent on tourism and the authorities are in my personal view making some very poor decisions which will impact on tourism. As of the 1st of October 2024, you will now be required to purchase mandatory travel health insurance from a single source in Tanzania regardless of whether you have cover or your status at a cost of $44 for each person. Your stay will be taxed each day at $5 each day for each person, so for a 12 night stay you can add on $120 dollars. This meant our stay cost us $246 for visas, $120 tourist tax and you can now add on $88 for travel insurance making an extra charge of $454. We took low denomination US dollars and sufficient to pay expected charges and tips, if you decide to pay by credit card be prepared for 3 – 5% charges applied to every transaction and make sure you check, as on several occasions we were present when clients were hit with a 10% charge, which when challenged was reduced to 5%. When paying with US dollars ensure you request that prior to paying the change is provided in the same currency and not the local currency shillings; The difference is significant in value. The island may well establish itself as a tourist destination of choice for Honeymooners and post safari relaxation, with its current stance it will struggle to attract return visitors. My apologies for my opening which has nothing to do with the hotel, but these are things which travelling from the UK I wish I had known before I travelled. We selected The Residence to be our second hotel following 5 nights in the north. We had been unimpressed with the standard of our first hotel in the north but enjoyed the area and beaches. What a difference this hotel provided, our villa was modern and spacious, we loved the grounds which allowed us to see varied wild

It has been a really nice experience for our family. The food was very good. The pool and the seaside were very nice. The staff were very kind, ready to meet our needs and desires. I would especially like to mention RANSO who was responsible for our family. He was always there with a smile and professionalism.

We recently stayed for seven nights (myself and my two daughters - one adult and one child). Location is amazing - right on the beach with picture book views from the room and the balcony. The swimming pool was a welcome addition and the restaurant always delivered great Italian food. Breakfast was plentiful. On a few nights, we took a short walk along the beach to try out some of the other restaurants but nothing compared. The staff just couldn’t do enough and were very friendly. The resort is small (just 15 rooms) and is located at the quieter end of Jambiani so not too busy. Airport transfers worked perfectly (you have to request them in advance) and the hotel arranged some unforgettable custom day trips for us. The room was basic and quite small but more than adequate for what we needed. We were treated a few times to the colobus monkeys in the trees right next to our balcony and you can hear the gentle crashing of waves in the room. If I had to be picky - a fridge, kettle and safe in the room would have been useful. Otherwise no complaints and this is right up there as one of our favourite holidays ever.

Whilst the staff at the bar were very friendly (a highlight) there were some things that massively let it down: -pool wasn’t very clean (water wasn’t clear) -mosquito net was broken - very disappointing for a 4 star hotel. -breakfast was disappointing. You pick up to 3 things off a menu but we found them quite bland - eg the French toast I would have expected to come with berries/similar, it was basically just bread. -noise level in the room, even with windows shut was really high. -parts of the complex looked tired - eg wires sticking out of ceiling in the downstairs, and mirrors which had rusted. Disappointed for the high reviews that this place had.

We stayed at Karafuu for our honeymoon and it was the best decision we’ve ever made! We had a junior suite room and it was exactly like the photos. It was right on the beach with french doors looking out to the ocean. You could hear the waves from your room. It also had a lovely terrace to relax with a morning coffee. On our arrival the room was decorated for a honeymoon and we received a complimentary bottle of red wine and a fruit platter. The hotel restaurants had a massive variety of food and as vegetarians we had plenty of options to choose from. The main swimming pool and swim-up bar were amazing and we used quite a lot. Drinks were very tasty and you get to have a laugh with the bar tenders while they mix up your cocktail! The beach is beautiful! There’s no words to describe how pretty the beach is, white sand, crystal clear waters! We recommend wearing reef shoes as there’s quite a lot of sea urchins in the shallow parts but there is a path that leads further into the ocean where the clear bottom sand so you can stand freely. The entertainment was amazing. There is always something to do! The animators always have games planned and the evening entertainment is very fun and inclusive! Be expected to get up and dance! The staff were all incredible. Everybody is so friendly and will go out of their way to make sure you have the best time. They made our experience even more special. Thank you everybody for everything you did for us! We absolutely recommend Karafuu especially if you’re looking for a true African feel! Hakuna Matata!