South Zanzibar is a buzzing hub of vibes and new developments. It's home to the best nightlife on the island, some of the best restaurants, and unique boutique hotels.
Jambiani is only about a 15 minute drive from the centre of Paje; but you get a much more quiet and peaceful vibe.
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Hotel Guide for Jambiani
With over 600 hotels on the island of Zanzibar, it can be overwhelming trying to find the right one! But after living here as long as I have, I've visited and stayed at many and know which ones to recommend and which ones not to. I only want to recommend hotels I've actually stayed and slept in - so keep checking back for updates as I visit more!
I use Booking.com to book all my hotels. After a few bookings, I gained Genius status so I now get 10%-20% extra off my nightly stays!! You can filter for properties that don't require pre-payment or a credit card hold as well, and they have flexible cancellation options.
Be Zanzibar is a brand new hotel in Jambiani.
It’s designed unlike any other property in Zanzibar, giving a full tropical boho vibe like you’d find in Bali or Tulum. Every detail has been well thought out and placed.
From the second you walk in you’ll be mesmerized by the insanely cool palm tree they have after the lobby, and you’ll see the beautiful blue colours of the ocean.
The best part about this hotel - its starting at $135 USD per night!!!
Be Zanzibar has a beautiful design, with different style of garden suites. Some have indoor bathtubs, outdoor bathtubs, or small outdoor pools. They also have ocean view suites.
They have a stunning infinity pool, steps down the beach where you can swim or do water-sports during high tide, or walk along the coast at low tide. They offer hammocks, different lounge chair options, and equipment like clear kayaks and floating water bikes.
Be Zanzibar has a small restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their menu rotates with fresh seafood and vegetarian options.
They’re not serving alcohol yet, but allowing you to BYOB at no extra cost.
The owners are super kind, welcoming, and chill.
Everyone is welcome for the day to Be Zanzibar or for a meal, with no entry fee or minimum spend.
I’m just so obsessed with these trees and their logo.
They are adding more every day so stay tuned for updates on this amazing property!
Bamboo Design Hotel is a stunning property, with the most unique design!
Drone video taken in 2022, much more has been built on property and added to the main pool since then.
Their main pool and restaurant is the real aesthetic point of the hotel - with an angular infinity pool, modern lounge chairs, bar and nets over the ocean.
The restaurant menu at Bamboo is beyond delicious, and they purposely don’t serve fast food items, as they say they are embracing the "slow food" movement. They have rotating specials every day, and the portion sizes are generous.
You have the option of having a barbecue in the covered areas by the main pool, where you can grill your own dinner with your date, or group of friends.
If you’re not staying, you can still join for the day or for dinner. They offer a day pass for $40 USD which is a minimum spend for whatever you’re consuming during your visit.
You can see their menu here.
Now to the rooms!
At Bamboo there are two different categories of rooms. There are 10 ocean view suites, located underneath the main pool with your own plunge pool.
These rooms are priced around $500 USD per night, depending on season.
Recently 6 garden suites have opened, and I had the pleasure of staying in one of these rooms. They’re more boho style with a cute floral painting on one wall, and an outdoor tropical shower.
These rooms are priced more affordably at $250-$350 USD per night, depending on season.
There’s a separate entrance - of course uniquely designed - leading to a shared pool between the garden suites. Each room has their own swinging sun bed outside of the door.
There’s also this shared covered area, which was actually great when we hit some rainy days during our stay. We set up under here with some drinks and cards!
The South coast is known for how popular kite surfing is, and Bamboo offers some waterspouts equipment such as kayaks and stand up paddle boards. You can enjoy the water and views at high tide, and walk further along the beach at low tide.
They also have a new spa - Elements - inspired by the five elements, where they host daily yoga classes for guests staying; along with a gym with stunning tropical views!
Passion Boutique Hotel is a hidden gem in Jambiani.
Passion Boutique Hotel is adults only, they are right on the beach, with a pool, restaurant, beach lounge area, gardens and rooftop. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and designed aesthetically. I especially loved that there were dozens of books throughout the hotel left by past travellers that you can pick up and read, or swap with one of your own.
If you're looking for more, like I said, theres over 600 hotels on the island - so I'm sure you'll find one specific to your travel style and taste!
Activities & Tours
Jambiani has a few activities and tours, but you'll find a bit more action just a 15-20 min drive away in Paje. Check out my guide on Paje for more details - COMING SOON.
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is a very popular activity in the south coast of Zanzibar. At different times of the day, depending on the tide, you may see hundreds of kites flying around at once.
If you're in experienced with kitesurfing you would need to take multiple lessons on the ground first before being able to get in the water, to learn how to control your kite and keep the activity safe for yourself and others.
In Paje, there is Zanzibar Kite Paradise, a reputable company that offers lessons.
There are also a ton of local independent instructors you can find along the beach, so there are lots of options if you choose to learn how to kitesurf while in Zanzibar.
Jozani Forest
Jozani forest is one of my absolute favourite tours in Zanzibar! I love monkeys, and if you do too and nature in general, you’ll find a tour of Jozani forest fascinating.
Jozani Forest is a protected area located in the central-eastern part of Zanzibar. It is the largest area of natural forest remaining on the island and it is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna, including several species that are unique to the island.
The Jozani Forest Reserve is home to the Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey, a critically endangered primate species that is found only in this forest. You can take guided tours to see these monkeys, which are known for their distinctive red fur. The forest is also home to bush babies, bush pigs, hyraxes, and other small mammals. You can also see various bird species and butterflies.
The forest is also home to a variety of plant species, including mangroves, coconut palms, and casuarinas. You can take guided walks through the forest to learn about the different plant species and their traditional uses. The mangroves are a lot more interesting than they might sound, and crucial to the ocean.
How to Book
You do not need to book a tour through Jozani in advance. Cost for park entry is 20,000 TZS per person (just under $10 USD) and an additional 10,000 TZS to park.
Sometimes there can be a line if there a lot of groups waiting for guides to start their tour, but there is a small convince shop and some outdoor seating where you can wait.
Important to Note
You can only tour the park with a guide.
The guides work as volunteers so tipping them is kind to do at the end of your tour. A tip of around 30,000 TZS is appreciated.
You cannot touch the monkeys or interact with them or their natural habitat in any way.
You can’t bring in any waste, they are very strict on the conservation of the forest and keeping it as natural as possible without human interference.
Restaurant Recommendations
Pompetti is hands down some of the best Italian food I've ever had.
Start with some charcuterie or other sharing plates, sip on an Aperol spritz and indulge in the best pizza and pasta you'll have in a long time.
Personal favourite is definitely the creamy gnocchi!!
Sharazad Boutique Hotel is known for their culinary team. You can walk on over for dinner even if you're not staying there.
As mentioned above, the food at Bamboo is just incredible. They purposely don’t serve fast food items, as they say they are embracing the "slow food" movement. They have rotating specials every day, and the portion sizes are generous.
If you’re not staying, you can still join for the day or for dinner. They offer a day pass for $40 USD which is a minimum spend for whatever you’re consuming during your visit.
You can see their menu here.
Jambiani has some delicious food for sure, but you'll find a lot more options just a 15-20 min drive away in Paje. Check out my guide on Paje for more details - COMING SOON.
I hope you enjoyed this guide on Jambiani!
Check out my other guides on different areas of Zanzibar!
Nungwi - North Zanzibar | Stone Town - Central Zanzibar City | East Coast - The Hidden Gem of Zanzibar
And don't miss....
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