Tikitam Palms Boutique Hotel

We had 4 wonderful days at Tikitam Palms in complete peace and tranquility. There weren't many guests when we were there, so we usually had the entire pool area to ourselves and felt almost alone in the world during the daytime. There were a few more guests in the evening for dinner, which was pleasant. The area was absolutely fantastic with beautiful details in the rooms and buildings, and it was a lot of fun to see monkeys and other small animals in the outdoor area. We took a walk to the coral reef and strolled along the beach during low tide, visiting Kiwengwa. We borrowed a kayak for a paddle and swam in the sea from the small pier. Please note that there is no beach there, which we were aware of, so it was perfectly fine for us. The food was good, but considering that this is a 5-star hotel, there are a few things I would have preferred to be different. 1. An all-day a la carte breakfast option would be preferable. At this type of resort, it would be nice to choose when to have breakfast. 2. A la carte restaurant - in such a small place, it would be possible to have a menu to choose from, at least on some evenings instead of the semi-buffet style they have. Even though you could choose between meat and fish, etc. 3. More frequent visits from staff to the pool area to take drink and snack orders. 4. The swimming pier could be a bit easier to access, especially when it's a bit wavy. But all in all, a very pleasant stay, extremely relaxing with complete peace and quiet, good Wi-Fi, which is not always guaranteed in Zanzibar, excellent food, outstanding service, and friendly staff. We also enjoyed several delightful treatments at the hotel's spa, which we highly recommend.

If you cherish privacy, silence, a bit of wilderness and good cuisine you can’t go wrong with the place. Absolutely recommend the resort-stylish villas/rooms, great service, monkeys in the morning and cats in the evenings 😅 Greetings to all the hotel staff and hugs to Getrude😎

Stayed in this paradise hotel for ten days and was what a great holiday experience it was. When booking this hotel I was searching for peace and quietness and a getaway after a stressful period at work and this fabulous place was able to offer it all. The staff was uttermost friendly and helpful, all the areas were well maintained and food was beyond all expectations. The dinner experience was fantastic, breakfast was fabulous and staff was always making the best they could. Mostly I appreciated the atmosphere of quietness and tranquility. The rooms were tidy and comfortable and everything was extremely well organized and maintained. I wish I could make it back to this hotel soon again.

Last month my wife and I stayed at Tikitam Palms for 4 days. We were very excited when we arrived at the reception, but here we were well received. Pleasant and smiling people and we were given a tour on the way to the room. The Maasai who were on guard and who also carried our luggage came and shook our hands. Everyone who worked at the hotel was very nice and welcoming. The food is very tasty and exciting. The head chef always came to the table to either talk about what was on the menu or to get feedback. We had a nice room and it was clean and in a good condition. We had a short distance to the swimming pool where we enjoyed the silence apart from birdsong and the sound of the monkeys in the trees. After our stay at Tikitam Palms, we moved to a hotel by Nungwi beach. It was also good, but it is Tikitam Palms that we remember best and that we want to go back to.

The aim with our stay was to rest and relax and have a 5-star experience on Zanzibar. We have visited the island before, also in the Kiwenga area. Since being a Boutique Guest Owner myself, and my travel companion (son) having worked for top-rated Hilton’s and Seasons Resorts across EMEA, we very well know the requirements for meeting the star grading and the standards that need to be met, for a property like Tikitam to present itself as 5-star and for the apparent reviews and awards to be justified. Unfortunately, the complete opposite of what was expected, was offered, and our experience was nothing short of horrible, even now post check-out. WRONG ROOM TYPE: We specifically booked a twin room, and the hotel confirmed our request (via Agoda). Instead, the room had only a King-bed which we had to share. Reception / check-in staff was not even aware of the confirmed request, so it remains a mystery who then actually confirmed the room type. It was a huge discomfort for, and disrespectful towards me and my travel companion, to not have the room type we specifically booked and had confirmed. NO MANAGER, DUTY MANAGER, 2ND IN CHARGE ON PROPERTY There was literally no one on the property who could assist when we wanted to address our concerns. We had to wait 30 mins because in the reception area, where no one was present, and there is only a bell to ring. The in-room phone doesn’t work, so you cannot call the front desk or anyone from the property for that matter. And there is nearly no mobile signal. The only “manager” we could speak to, was Gertrude who is apparently the reservation manager, and based in Stone Town, about an hour away. We never met her, and only spoke on the phone via the receptionist. Cancellation & Refund Based on our experience, and the extensive list of shortcomings and sub-standard offerings (mentioned below), Getrude mentioned the entire booking would be cancelled from the Hotel’s side, and that we would be refunded in full. The only charge we would need to cover, would be the $5 per person Tourism Tax, which we paid in cash upon leaving. My son and the receptionist were also present when Getrude confirmed the cancellation conditions. There was no question about any “cancellation penalty” etc. – since all charges would be waived by the hotel and the hotel promised to send a confirmation email, to avoid any further confusion, which they did not. However, when I enquired through Agoda, apparently the Hotel went back on their word, did not initiate the cancellation as promised, demands a one night stay cancellation penalty and in fact no-one from the hotel contacted us directly after leaving. So you can imagine, not just having the bad experience at the hotel, but there is no care given even afterwards and severe dishonesty. We had to pay our own taxi to get to Kiwenga and find another hotel that could accommodate us (in peak season), and now this ongoing dispute and lengthy emails and messages regarding the stay is spoil

This is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Somewhere to really unwind and relax! Great for couples if you want to be pampered and enjoy 5* luxury. ACCOMMODATION: We booked the safari room and it was spacious, well decorated and a big comfy bed! FOOD: The food was excellent! The chef was so kind and humble and his food was amazing! Each night was themed a little and there was so much to choose from all included. The salads were out of this world...who knew a salad could be the star! STAFF: The staff were absolutely fantastic, they were there for everything you needed. We loved one of the grounds keeper , she played games with us and taught us the famous game 'Bao'. It's easy to learn and very addictive. Yumba guided us on a reef walk which was nice, but watch out for those sea urchins. THE GROUNDS: The reception area was very impressive..it was huge and reached around 30m tall! The pool area and grounds were fabulous! An absolute oasis LOCATION: The setting is beautiful, but the location is quite remote. There isn't anything really near by so everything is only accessible via a car. Stay here literally to unwind and enjoy the onsite facilities and food. A prefect stay would be 3-4 nights and then we moved closer to the North for some diving. SPA: We had a deep tissue massage and it was fabulous.. highly recommend It was our honeymoon and the made a beautiful set up on the beach for us! It was so special! We would definitely return if visiting Zanzibar again.

The existing reviews stating how great this place is are not wrong! Chosen for this reason, we were not disappointed! Tikitams is, without doubt, five star. The staff do everything they can to welcome you and attend to your every need. The hotel is quite remote and certainly not for those looking for exciting nightlife. It's quiet and, most evenings, everyone was back in their rooms by 9pm. But if you're looking for quiet and calmness, where all you hear are the sounds of monkeys and bush babies, this is the place for you. The food is delicious and there is good variety. The rooms are spacious, clean and very comfortable. Someone comes in every evening to turn down the bed. Afternoon tea is served every day at 5pm. The bar is a lovely space and cocktails and beer reasonably priced. We were offered a complimentary face, neck and back massage at the spa which was a real treat and outstanding. The staff are amazing. Two examples: 1. We were going on an excursion that involved swimming. Knowing pool towels were provided at the hotel, we had not brought our own. Unsure what we could take for excursion, we planned to ask at reception prior to leaving. We got to reception, ready to depart, and there was the receptionist with towels, anticipating our need without our even asking. 2. We wanted to use the pool table just off the restaurant. It is outside. When we got there, there was a large flying insect sitting on the table top. I got pool cue to encourage it to fly away. From out of the shadows, a massai warrior (I kid you not; they are the security team for the hotel) appeared, removed said insect, and disappeared into the shadows again. Not sure if he continued to observe our bad pool-playing or not because he was undetectable again. All you hear from all who work at Tikitams is 'You're welcome!' and 'Makuna matata'. We had a fantastic four days! I recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a relaxing get-away-from-it-all! It's fantastic!

Tikitam Palms was an exceptional choice for a couples retreat in Zanzibar! The room was beautiful and comfortable with a large bathroom and a lovely porch for early morning sunrise coffee. The service was terrific; everyone was friendly, helpful, and attentive. The chef prepared delicious meals with beautiful presentations. The spa experience was an extra treat! Loved, loved, loved it all!

What a hidden gem. Small and ultra private with a no kids policy. Absolute peace that I can’t describe. Super service and beautiful food. The most relaxing time we have had in a very long time. Highly recommend this place. Very tasteful design and furnishings throughout.