Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa

Every single staff member was wonderful from arrival especially the treatment by Supa at reception and dining staff & chefs- Julius was amazing and then all the animation staff particularly Jackson and Nurdin keeping us entertained and fit after all the plentiful food and drinks. The bar staff were exceptional Ramadani, Joel and Rojast. Accommodating and kind with so much love shared across all the services. Meeting, talking and dancing with the Maasai especially Annanas was a life experience. Snorkelling - seeing the sea life in the coral especially the starfish was amazing.

We just had a trip for my mother’s 60th birthday organised by AfricaStay. The party that we had was once in a lifetime. Thank you Karafuu. Although the water pressure and temperature was inconsistent, the power often visibly switched between solar and grid, and the WiFi was completely off the for a full day we had an unforgettable stay at Karafuu. I attribute the magic of the resort to the staff, whom after 3 days back home I miss terribly! Jackson and Nurdin from the animation team kept me thoroughly entertained, dancing and busy all day, I loved watching how they interacted with other guests too — their joy really was infectious. You must do aqua gym with them. A shout out to the Kappa Club boys as well, who also added some magic to our trip, especially James, Inno and Abdoul! At the restaurant during mealtimes Julius, Ally and Lucia never failed to make me laugh and smile. At the bar Joel, Erasto, Ramadani, Rojast, Rizi and the rest of the team were always so considerate and caring. I hope management realises how much of the essence of Karafuu comes from its people. Located 1.5 hours from the airport, it was worth the ride getting there! Make sure you’re there for dinner on Friday night - and try the Zanzibar bread.

Beautiful resort. Great food. Great staff. Everyone is super friendly and really good at their job. The spa was fantastic. The animation team, especially Jackson, was superb. Unfortunately the resort is far away from everything, so you need to hire a car to do anything outside the resort . That’s the only minus point I would give.

Our stay was absolutely amazing! The hotel made a great impression – beautiful, well-maintained rooms and very comfortable overall. The food was delicious, with a wide variety of fresh options every day. The drinks were also fantastic – really tasty and well prepared. And you definitely have to try the ice cream – it was so good! One of the highlights were the evenings by the beach – we had two nights with Masai performances, which were an unforgettable experience and created a truly unique atmosphere. The hotel is a bit far from the airport, but it didn’t bother us at all. It’s also located near a village that you can visit, which is a nice experience. The waiters were wonderful – very friendly and attentive. The pool was also excellent – clean, spacious, and perfect for relaxing. There were different animations organized every day, so there was always something to do. I highly recommend this place – perfect for a great holiday!

We tried to arrange a late check-out today, but the experience was quite disappointing. Instead of a standard hotel procedure, it turned into a negotiation. The price went from $120 to $100 (including lunch) only after we were asked 'how much we want to pay.' To be honest, we felt like we were at a market in Dar es Salaam. We didn't expect to have to haggle over prices in a 5-star hotel. We expected a more professional approach and fixed pricing for such services

I loved everything but to name a few: the stunning beach that even has a walkway into the ocean, the hotel staff’s attention to guest, the gym, the location, the spa and overall the smell of flowers/plants all over the resort. The resort has a charm that all those large hotels (that are so impersonal) miss out on. There was always plenty of food so even the pickiest eater can find something. There is entertainment most of the night and twice a week there is massai dinner/entertainment.

This was a very disappointing experience for a supposed 5 star hotel. On arrival, yes we were greeted but after a long journey we wanted to have something to eat and settle into our rooms. Instead we got an obviously rehearsed (yes we all know it has been done a hundred times before but at least pretend it hasn’t) speech on all the things we could not do. We then had a procession of people trying to sell us things before we were allowed to escape. Edward at the beachfront restaurant was a welcome reprieve and the food there was good and true to label. The views were also spectacular and is the most redeeming feature of the hotel. Finally to the room where there is not much evidence of 5 star. Towels were threadbare, only one pillow each and only a sheet for bedclothes. That was better than dinner where with our orange wristbands (yes you have to wear wristbands) we were abused by one of the waiters for taking a table he had reserved. I am not sure how we were supposed to know as we were told to find ourselves a table and help ourselves. The buffet food was average but edible but most plates were empty. All in all the rooms, pools and staff are looking a little tired. The view is stunning and some staff were great but don’t go there expecting 5 star - it is not!

Sorry for posting this review a little late, but our wonderful experience at Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa deserves to be shared. Our two daughters gifted us this trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful memories of our lives. A very special thank you to the lady manager, who went above and beyond to make us feel special. Every day, she arranged a different, beautiful decoration in our room, making our anniversary celebration even more memorable. As we were the only Indian couple staying at the resort, she also made sure the chef prepared delicious Indian food for us. She regularly checked if we were comfortable and enjoying everything. Her kindness and personal attention meant so much to us. The resort has such peaceful and positive vibes. Everything was exceptionally clean, hygiene standards were excellent, and every member of the staff was friendly, caring, and welcoming. We truly felt at home. We also had an amazing scuba diving experience. The instructors gave us excellent training, made us feel completely safe, and took us on a fantastic full-day diving trip. It was an unforgettable adventure. Thank you to the entire team at Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa for making our silver wedding anniversary so special. We will always treasure these memories and highly recommend this beautiful resort to anyone visiting Zanzib,ar.