Baraza Resort Zanzibar

Located along the Bwejuu – Paje beach that was named as one of the top 30 Island beaches in the world by the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler magazine, Baraza is Zanzibar’s most exclusive boutique resort.

Baraza Resort and Spa is 5 star all inclusive hotel voted as one of the 60 best new hotels in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, a prestigious world wide travel magazine. With just 30 villas, this stunning fully inclusive resort evokes the heritage of Zanzibar dating back to the era of the Sultans.

A fusion of Arabic, Swahili and Indian design, with Swahili arches, intricate hand carved cement décor, beautiful antiques, handmade furniture and intricate brass lanterns; Baraza offers unparalleled standards of luxury on the Island of Zanzibar.

LUXURY VILLAS
There are 14 one bedroom villas and 15 two bedroom villas, as well as one Royal Sultan two bedroom villa. All the accommodation villas are designed to characterize classic Swahili architecture featuring dramatic arches, Baraza benches and intricate hand carved cement decorations.

The spacious villas feature luxury interiors, beautiful fabrics, hand carved furniture and brass lanterns, large bathrooms with luxury fittings as well as a spacious terrace and private plunge pool.

Royal Beach Two Bedroom Villa
254 sq meters Two master bedrooms, each with its own en suite bathroom and freestanding bathtub, walk in dressing room and terrace. A central living room with spectacular sea front view, large plunge pool, outdoor daybed lounging area and terrace with sun loungers.

Zanzibar for the connoisseur – An invitation to dine at Baraza

At Baraza, we pride ourselves on the creation of a menu that fuses the culinary cultures of Africa, Asia, India and Persia into a sublimely piquant selection of dishes that change every day. Our menus also reflect the diverse seasonal produce of this magical island.

Extensive in scope, our menu also features a range of continental dishes (and we will be delighted to adapt it to include any dietary preferences that you may express).

Dhahabu Bar & Lounge
Open in the evenings, it is the perfect venue for an evening cocktail before and after dinner.

Livingstone Terrace
This is our open air restaurant where breakfast is served daily from 7:30 am to 10:00am. Dinner is also served in this venue on certain nights of the week.

Ocean Lounge Bar & Restaurant
Sebule is our lunch restaurant open between 12:30 & 2:00 pm. offering a wide selection of Chef’s daily specials, traditional light fare, pizza of the day and salads.

The Sultans Dining Room
Alternating between buffet and table d’hote the chef’s creations for the evening can be enjoyed in this stunning setting.

Frangipani Spa Zanzibar
The Frangipani spa in Baraza is an oasis featuring its own lap pool with underwater music, indoor and outdoor relaxation rooms, the Sultans bath-our signature treatment for two as well as a fitness center and tennis court.

In this beautiful setting, reflecting a sophisticated Swahili style enhanced with candlelight and spice scented aromas, you can enjoy a variety of treatments and therapies, all aimed at relieving the negative impacts of a modern lifestyle such as stress & exhaustion.

Our professional therapists come from Thailand, Bali and India and offer a wide array of specialized massage techniques and treatments, including the renowned Thai massage.

The highest quality natural skin care products are utilized in all our treatments, as well as a selection of local spiced essential oils. The beautiful Frangipani Spa is a tranquil sanctuary, designed to stimulate your senses and allow you to experience a complete relaxation of body & mind.

An Ideal Wedding Venue in Zanzibar
As a family-run business, we will consider it an honour to work with you to make your special day a memory for eternity. We’re proud of our ability to create intimate bespoke weddings – just for the two of you – or for your entire group.

Our stunningly evocative Indian Ocean beach makes a sublime stage for a simple toes-in-the-sand ceremony. We are also experts in the provision of hand-made traditional wedding bowers – which can be set against the backdrop of the ocean, under the coconut palms or by the pool.

Our highly- trained wedding team look forward to working with you on personalizing everything from flowers and champagne – to hair to make-up. And, if your preference is for something different, we can suggest an authentic Swahili ceremony or a wave-borne ceremony aboard our own dhow.

We can provide hand-woven palm arches, traditional music and the best of Zanzibar cuisine; alternatively, we excel in the art of the elegant banquet.

Honeymoons
Baraza is an ideal retreat for honeymooners, with special surprises during your stay. This beautiful hotel has a romantic charm and offers a number of memorable venues just perfect for two.

Weddings
Baraza can arrange the private symbolic “Island beach ceremony” of your dreams. If this sounds like the way you would like to mark and celebrate this special occasion, Baraza can organize your perfect romantic symbolic wedding beach ceremony.

Romantic Zanzibar
Zanzibar, the magical island where the fusion of Arab, African, Indian and European cultures has created a pace of life, a style of cuisine, and a colorful tapestry of architecture, heritage, myth and magic that is found nowhere else in the world.

On the award winning beaches of the South Eastern Coast of the island lie Zanzibar’s finest properties specializing in travel for two in the most romantic of locations.

Diving
As the only PADI five-star Gold Palm and RAID diving certified dive centre in Zanzibar, we deliver a unique dive experience that reflects both dedicated professionalism and a commitment to the preservation of an utterly pristine marine environment.

It was our dive teams that, having first discovered the magic of the unexplored south-eastern coastline of Zanzibar 25 years ago, created the Rising Sun Dive Centre. Renowned for its unmatched selection of equipment and range of teaching skills, we welcome non-divers and dive-pros alike.

Water Club

The Water Club is our water sports centre located just a few meters from the Baraza beach-front directly on the award winning Bwejuu Beach. It features a great selection of new equipment and offering instruction in wind surfing, kite surfing and sailing.

The Water Club is the perfect place to experience the very best of the Indian Ocean. Approved as the first kite school in Zanzibar, our certified instructors will have you flying in no time with our new kites and gear.

Coral garden snorkeling
The water is as clear as crystal, the coral gardens dance with spectacular fishes; it’s a magical marine wonderland that you simply MUST explore. Luckily it couldn’t be simpler – just book up for our two-and-a-half-hour snorkeling guided tour. And don’t worry – we have all the equipment you’ll need.

Join us on the beach
We’ve got some of the most exclusively idyllic beaches on the island – so make the most of them with a walk, some marine ornithology or even a game of volleyball or football along with our activity teams. Simply contact the Guest Relation Desk for the schedule.

Island action
Like to keep busy? We’ve got just what you need. Keep active with some frisbee, beach- tennis or swimming-pool volleyball. Just ask at the Guest Relations Desk for our schedule.

Step out on the reef
Our pristine coral reef deserves discovery. But you’ll need the right footwear – so simply consult our Guest Relations Desk who’ll supply the right reef shoes.

Then set off to discover the treasures of the rock pools … and the utterly spectacular view of the coast that you’ll get from the reef at low tide.

Picturesque pedaling
To complete your visit to Zanzibar why not experience the entirety of its charm by touring the island aboard one of our bikes. There’s so much to see – the glory of the northern coastline, the idyllic silvery sand beaches of the east coast and the cultural treasures of villages such as Bwejuu and Paje to the south.

Safe, peaceful and great for your wellbeing – there’s no better way to spend a day. Contact the Guest Relations Desk to book your bikes.

Take off Zanzibar style
What could be more exhilarating than to ride the wind across the waves of one of the most stunning stretches of water in Africa?

Our dedicated aqua-sports centre is equipped with an unrivalled range of state-of-the-art kites. As for our training team, they’re on hand to offer everything from trainer sessions to advanced jump know-how. To find out more, just enquire at our Guest Relations Desk.

The wind in your sails
Not much comes close to skimming across Zanzibar’s azure waves under your own sail- power. And we offer easy-to-learn Hobie Cat single-sail boats for daily lessons, self-charters or skippered expeditions.

Wind surfing Zanzibar-style
The water is as clear as glass, warm as bathwater. The breeze is brisk off the silver beach and the coastline is spectacular: ideal wind-surfing conditions. And no need to bring your own kit – we can supply it all – and lessons or a refresher course if you need them.

Kayak power
If you’ve never sampled the joys of a professional sea kayak, now’s your chance. The water is clear and warm, the palm-backed beaches deserted – surely an exploration of the Zanzibari coastline is a treasure not to be missed?

Balance comes naturally
Balance comes naturally on a stand-up paddle board, as pioneered by the ancient Hawaiians. Plus the warm, clear waters and coral gardens make the dream venue. Perfect for a morning of discovery or an afternoon of family fun.

The Baraza Swahili Experience
The more you learn… the greater the fascination

We’ve noticed that once our guests have sampled the charismatic charm of the island, they want to know more. So, we’ve put together a visitor library that’s brimming with books on the island.

Our range also includes a comprehensive selection of books on flora and fauna, ornithology and marine biology. You’ll also find information on the island’s spice trade, cuisine and folk lore.

School Swahili-style

Once you’ve sampled the Swahili cuisine – you may want to know how to recreate it at home. So why not join one of our chef’s masterclasses and learn about all things spice, seafood and coconut?

Alternatively, you could join our Swahili School. As tradition dictates, lessons are held in the shade of our palm trees and led by a local Mwalimu (teacher) who can teach you how to speak Swahili … or all about Zanzibar’s history.

Finally, to take home an authentic Zanzibar cultural skill, why not pitch up for the beach-class on palm weaving – and weave yourself a sun hat.

Cooking classes are organized regularly where guests learn to prepare some classical Swahili dishes with our excellent chefs who talk about the local spices and their use and importance.

Spice Isle remembered

If you’d like to create some vibrant memories of your stay on the magical Spice Isle there’s a whole range of tours and day trips on offer at our Guest Relations Desk. But we’d also like to suggest some of our own family favourites.

Unique and personalized, they’ll provide you, not only with some great photo-opportunities, but also a chance to authentically interact with the locals and learn more about the Zanzibar heritage.

The Zanzibar Experience
Go Local, Learn About Authentic Zanzibar Life

This unique experience delivers an authentic and rarely-experienced glimpse into the Zanzibari way of life. Join with us on a visit to the local visit of Bwejuu where we visit the school and mosque and even take in a chat and a soda at the local kiosk; we also enjoy a welcome into a typical Swahili home; and a stroll to sample the produce of the local stalls.

Great news also, that the proceeds of this tour go direct to the village fund enabling the community to create their own health, educational and financial facilities.

Spice Island Master Class

Join our chef as he presents a master class on Swahili cuisine and Zanzibari spices. Put together your own menu of Swahili dishes using the traditional blend of African, Indian, Arabian and Persian influences together with a colourful fusion of sea-fresh fish, tree-picked coconuts and fresh limes. A great diversion for couples and families alike.

Be a Bao Master

If you’d like to add to your skills while on vacation, then why not learn the ancient game of Bao? Bao originated in East Africa and you can see it being played in town squares all over the archipelago.

A complex and intellectually challenging game, Bao is based on a mancala board comprising four rows of eight pits each—in Swahili, pits are termed mashimo, meaning ‘holes’.

Zanzibar is famous for its ‘bao bingwas’ (masters), one of whom will be delighted to teach you the game. Speak to our Guest Relations Desk for more information.

Coral Reef Exploration

If you’d like to learn more about our pristine coral reef, why not join our reef safari? Headed by a professional guide whose knowledge of coral formations and marine life is unrivaled, the walk sets off at low-tide and promises exercise, spectacular views, photo opportunities and an unrivaled close encounter with the marine world.

Drift Down the Coast on a Dhow

The ultimate day of Zanzibari pleasure – board our beautiful Swahili dhow and take off for a gentle sail down the spectacular coastline and into the mangrove swamps that are so characteristic of the island.

Serene yet alive with birds, the mangroves are a source of food and timber for the traditional Swahili homes. Whilst you’re there, you will also be invited to emulate the locals and carry out some traditional hand-line fishing.

Back at the hotel, you can also discuss with Chef just how you’d like the fish to be presented for your dinner. Our guides, meanwhile, will be pleased to impart their knowledge on the marine and wildlife of these special wilderness places. Ecologically sensitive, our boats do not anchor on the reef but, rather, drift with the tide.

Go Climb a Palm

It’s great exercise, fun, and a superb photo-opportunity – climb a palm and pick your own coconut (if you can). Our gardeners do it all the time, equipped with nothing more than their own bare feet and a simple length of rope.

Like to try yourself? If so, one of our team will be happy to show you the ropes. He’ll also help you to weave your own palm mat or beach hat – a take-home memory of your Zanzibar sojourn.

Turtles

Get up close and personal with turtles via an excursion to our local trail-blazing sea turtle rescue programme. This trail-blazing eco-team works with local fishermen, encouraging them not to use the nets that can also ensnare turtles; and helping them rehabilitate those turtles who have already suffered from coastal plastic contamination.

It’s a fascinating and rewarding project that also ensures turtle nest protection and supervision of baby turtles on their first journey from nest to sea. The visit includes a call at the Sea Turtle lagoon, a rehabilitation space for young or damaged sea turtles.

You’re also invited to make your own eco-contribution by joining the ‘Trash to Treasures’ creative recycling/up-cycling project, the inspiration of the action group, World Unite.

Working with the local community, this project is committed to transforming the island’s plastic refuse into useful commodities such as building materials. For more details please contact our Guest Relations Desk.

The Rising Sun – A Dive School With a Difference

We are proud to offer the only PADI five-star Gold Palm and RAID diving certified Dive Centre in Zanzibar. Also to have been the first dive professionals to have discovered the pristine treasures of the unexplored south-eastern coastline.

Bringing 19 years of experience to our Rising Sun Center we can promise you, not only committed professionalism, but also a dedication to preserving the pristine ecology of this supremely colourful marine environment.

Our unusually extensive range of diving equipment together with our adherence to a policy of taking only 6 divers per guide also guarantees you an exclusively personal experience that will deliver memories for a lifetime. All ages and proficiencies are welcome. To learn more www.risingsun-zanzibar.com.

Unmissable Stone Town

It would be a tragedy to visit Zanzibar and not experience the wonder of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stone Town – it’s unrivaled as the world’s most enduring example of Swahili Culture at its finest.

A magical mélange of Sultan’s palaces, winding streets, markets, antique emporiums and ancient forts, this is a cultural wonderland that has to be seen to be believed.

The tour also includes visits to the Sultan’s Harem and Maruhubi Baths, the slave market and slave chambers, Prison Island and the gorgeously-scented spice gardens. Book your trip at our Guest Relations Desk.

Our Zanzibar Collection

Our close-knit family, now in its third generation, has developed The Zanzibar Collection over a 25-year love affair with Zanzibar. And it’s our proud belief that they epitomize the essentially authentic Zanzibar experience.

Exquisitely designed yet subtly differentiated in character, so as to appeal to families and couples alike, the Collection offers a price range and ambience for everyone.

No matter which of our hotels you choose, however, we remain uncompromising in delivering optimum service, inspirational cuisine, exclusivity of ambience and range of Zanzibari experiences.

As a result of our unwavering commitment to this unique island, our hotels have also come to represent the benchmark for excellence while our green credentials are of the finest.

Red colobus monkeys and forest trails

Join us on a visit to one of the last remaining tropical forests on the planet. The Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is the island’s only national park (soon to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and offers an enchantingly cool and leafy environment where winding nature trails and simply boardwalks lead through forests and mangrove swamps alike.

A tiny park that is easily traversed, Jozani is home to the rare and endemic Zanzibar red colobus monkey, Sykes monkey, Ader’s duiker, the Zanzibar servaline genet, bush babies, 50 species of butterfly and 40 species of birds. The professionally-guided walk takes around an hour.

How To Get To Zanzibar
Zanzibar International Airport is located approximately 6 kilometers south of Stone Town, the island capital. All the four Zanzibar Collection hotels can be reached in an hour’s drive on an excellent tarmac road to the south east coast of the Island. We can arrange a Meet and Greet Service and Transfers to/from the airport.

Zanzibar airport is connected on a daily basis with all the major East African cities such as Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, Nairobi and Mombasa.

Furthermore many international airlines land directly on the island making Europe, Asia and North America within relatively easy reach. There is a major expansion underway at the moment, with a new airport expected to be completed soon.

Our Inspiration
Beauty, culture, exoticism and uniqueness

Our family has its roots in East Africa. We are passionate about Zanzibar and love the Island, the people and its spectacular natural environment.

When we came to Zanzibar over 25 years ago, and set foot on our world renowned beach, we decided to use our degrees from the Cornell School of Hotel Management to combine the highest standards in hospitality with the personalization and warmth of a family owned and run business reflecting the beauty, culture, exoticism and the uniqueness of Zanzibar.

We are not a chain and we have no formula and.. no, we do not have a fleet of resorts in other Indian Ocean islands. We are here, in every sense of the word.

We did not choose our location by accident. We are located on a beautiful, peaceful beach chosen by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the top island beaches in the world. Of course, when we came, hardly any journalists or travel writers had ever visited our beach-we were true explorers, searching for the perfect spot.

We are delighted that the most prestigious Travel magazine in the world approved of our choice!

Why the South East Coast?
We might be a little bit biased, but we really do feel that the South East Coast gives visitors the chance to see and feel the real Zanzibar beach experience.

• En route to The Zanzibar Collection is the Jozani forest, home to the Red Colobus monkey. A species unique to Zanzibar
• We are located in a part of Zanzibar that is relatively undeveloped with few hotels, charming fishing villages and a spectacular natural environment.
• Our beach is simply one of the best in Zanzibar, if not East Africa, if not the world.
• Our beautiful coral reef which stretches across our coast, makes swimming safe, snorkeling spectacular and has ensured that we have the finest white powder sand beach.
• We are a quick drive to Kizimkazi, home of the famed Dolphin laguna where you can swim with Dolphins. Add to that breathtaking diving, water sports and reef safaris and you can experience the great variety of marine life that has makes Zanzibar special.

Our Proudest Contribution
One of our proudest achievements has been the wonderful journey of training and educating an entire generation of Zanzibaris and Tanzanians in developing a skill that they can use for the rest of their lives.

We have committed ourselves to training and employing local Zanzibaris through our Zanzibar hospitality education programs. English classes are provided for our staff. Many of our best managers have risen through the ranks to achieve their full potential.

It is a testament to us that world renowned, international hotel companies in Zanzibar try to poach our staff on a regular basis. An annoying habit that we nevertheless consider to be a feather in our cap.

Experience Baraza
Baraza is a painstaking architectural interpretation of Swahili design and features handcrafted details that have been incorporated in the architecture to celebrate skills of the local craftsmen.

We have honored and reinforced iconic designs, traditions and skills in a celebration of Swahili design. The name Baraza itself means “meeting place” and represents community, social interaction, and relations.

We searched to find craftsman on the island who were skilled in the art of cement carving. As a result, beautiful diverse handmade designs inlaid in plaster are a feature on all the Villas and buildings.

All the Zanzibari furniture in Baraza is hand made by local artisans who have perfected the art of wood carving, for which Zanzibar is so famous. Architecturally, Baraza itself is a journey through the grand, beautiful designs of the style of Sultans Palaces of Zanzibar.

We feature traditional Swahili dancers and singers and our Taarab band plays music that would have been heard in the Court of Sultan bin Said in 1880. This is our effort to support and celebrate the cultural identity of Zanzibar and preserve this iconic art form.

DEDICATION TO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We’re proud to say that the majority of our managers have worked their way through the ranks and we’ve supported them every inch of the way with an extensive programme of training that has ensured them a career for life in the tourism industry.

Where we can, we believe in employing local people; similarly, we invest heavily in their skills-set building. We also support our local community in terms of health, sanitation and educational infrastructure; and we purchase fresh produce from the local farmers and fishermen wherever possible.

We are committed to supporting local craftsmen and artisans in our interior design and refurbishment. Guests may like to know that we also produce and market our own range of Palacina Interior Design, much of which is produced in Zanzibar.

Our insistence on the use of solar power, rigorous energy-saving, minimal plastics use, organic gardening, general waste and water recycling and meticulous marine environmental protection has also ensured that ‘green credentials’ are unrivalled.

As the first people to install electricity in this area, we have also made a significant contribution to its overall development in terms of transport, employment, income and overall infrastructure.

SUSTAINABLE SANITATION
We’re pleased to have invested in a green sewage-treatment plant that recycles wastewater into an efficient irrigation system. We plant only indigenous species, which are chosen for their ability to absorb humidity during the day and release it into the roots at night.

In this way, we have reduced our uptake of water by 50%. We also maintain a far-reaching policy of laundry/bathroom water-use minimization.

ZERO PLASTIC USE – THE WAY FORWARD
We’re already firmly committed to the total eradication of plastic. We use recyclable cardboard and paper wherever we can. We’re similarly dedicated to the use of glass bottles rather than plastic whilst providing drinking water for re-usable containers in all our units.

Finally, any single-use plastic containers that are still in use are immediately recycled either into plant pots or into construction materials.

GOING GREEN ON INTERIOR DESIGN
The distinctive range of artefacts and furnishings used throughout The Zanzibar Collection are hand-made by local artisans in an effort to celebrate and preserve the island’s precious heritage and ensure an income for the local community.

We also prefer to create our distinctive design profile by using upcycled locally sourced/reclaimed materials.

BUYING LOCAL, REDUCING AIRMILES
Wherever feasible, we purchase locally. We place our business with a broad range of local farmers, fishermen and artisans and we prefer to buy seasonally and organically and to plan our menus accordingly.

Wherever possible, they also reflect the authentic heritage of the region whilst preserving local skills and customs.

GREEN LEISURE
We have taken care to ensure that our leisure options respect the principals of social responsibility and environmental protection. By supporting local villages, we also promote their development; as does our patronage of numerous local environmental programmes.

We also contribute towards the preservation of Zanzibar’s cultural heritage by means of our classes in cookery, palm-weaving, Swahili and Bao.

MARINE CONSERVATION MATTERS
We rely on our marine biologist to ensure the well-being of the barrier reef that protects our shoreline and its delicate tidal ecosystem. We also offer educational workshops on marine conservation for all our staff.

For our guests, we promote reef walks, diving and snorkeling – all of which activities are managed according to the most careful environmental considerations.

FAMILY WELL-BEING
We welcome families and, as a loving family ourselves, we’re keen to ensure a family-friendly environment and an extensive selection of ‘edutainment’.

We provide baby cots/chairs, additional beds for children, children’s mealtimes and leisure options to include: guided reef walks, children’s water-sports, beach volleyball, sandcastle-building, Swahili lessons, cookery workshops, palm-weaving and palm-tree climbing for kids plus tours of the Jozani Forest, Stone Town and the Spice Plantations.

Visiting families may also like to go for a bike ride, learn to kite surf, kayak, windsurf and dive. We can also arrange family-oriented visits to the local village and school.

SPA-SENSITIVE
The treatment portfolio for our Frangipani Spas has been wholly inspired by local medicinal plants and products. Our body treatments and beauty regimes are based on hand-made products using locally produced coconuts, fruits spices and fragrances. All our treatments are free of harmful chemicals and toxic plastics.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
We believe in the precept that the provision of ‘luxury with a conscience’ promotes the longevity of our planet and the well-being of people alike. Our own business has been built on a foundation of conscious commitment to social, economic and environmental responsibility.

Meanwhile, we will always be dedicated to the adoption of only environmentally- and community-supportive polices and implementations in the future.

Rooms: 30

Price: from 580 EUR per night

Source: www.baraza-zanzibar.com