The Z Hotel Zanzibar

Z hotel is the original boutique hotel on zanzibar; opening in 2010, it brings casual relaxation blended with contemporary london–inspired design to the beaches of zanzibar providing the 21st century traveller with a fresh and original beach-holiday experience.

Set in a tropical garden with steps to white powder of nungwi’s award winning beach and temperate indian ocean, the Z hotel will provide you with everything you need for a unique away-from-it-all holiday but with all the advantages of modern living, including lcd tv, cable tv, wifi & docking stations in all rooms.

Our london-inspired design blends philippe starck furniture and lighting with zanzibari features to create a bright, airy atmosphere. the Z was named one of the ‘trendiest hotels in africa’ by tripadvisor and the world travel awards – and the only one in tanzania.

While we aim to offer a totally relaxed and stress-free environment, the location of the Z means we are also perfectly placed to offer our more ‘energetic’ guests some of the best diving, snorkeling and fishing available anywhere in the world as well as a range of water sports. the world-renowned mnemba atoll has one of the highest concentrations of turtles anywhere in the world and is just a half hour boat ride away.

Rooms & Suites
At the Z Hotel, we aim to offer our guests luxury and comfort blended with contemporary design. Each guest room comes with Travertine Marble floors imported from Turkey, Italian designer bathroom suites, crisp cotton bed linen from Egypt and bespoke furniture exclusive to the Z Hotel made from locally sourced coconut wood.

There are 5 room designs: Garden & Sea View, Roof-Top Suites, Ocean Front Cottages with private decks over the sea and for the ultimate in opulence, there’s our 70 sq metre Z Suite with 2 terraces.

Each bedroom has French doors, set in floor to ceiling glass which lead onto a balcony with views over our landscaped tropical garden and out across the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean to the magnificent Zanzibari sunset on the distant horizon.

The Z Suite
Our stunning light and airy signature suite is 70 square metres of opulent living space arranged across an entire rooftop with fully fold-back doors to create a seamless synergy between inside and out.

In addition to the features in our roof-top suites, the z suite also incorporates a 45m wrap-around terrace, separate living and sleeping area with a queen size bed, soft italian leather furnishings and a private staircase.

Ocean Front Cottages
Our 2 ocean front cottages offer 60 square metres of living space arranged over 2 floors with a living room on the ground floor and bedroom on the 1st floor. situated separately from the rest of the hotel, the cottages afford complete privacy with only the seemingly endless seascape of the indian ocean gently lapping the timbers beneath you.

Rooftop Suites
With over 50 square metres of living space, our light and airy roof-top suites encompass all the benefits of our deluxe rooms but with many additional features.

Perched on top of the building, they feature a double-height beamed ceiling, spacious private terrace, 42inch lcd televisions and uninterrupted views across the indian ocean to the tanga mountains in the far distance.

Garden & Sea View Rooms
our garden view rooms occupy the ground floor and offer easy access to the tropical gardens, pool and beach – the perfect spot to catch the wonderful aromas from the equatorial plants and flowers.

The sea view rooms are on the 1st and 2nd floors and offer panoramic views from the northern tip of nungwi out across to the distant tanga mountains and continuing down the west coast of the island. natural light floods the rooms until the evening when the blood-red sun finally drops off the far edge of the earth.

Cinnamon & Rooftops
Our all-day dining 2 floor restaurant & bar – cinnamon/rooftops is situated on the 1st & 2nd floor overlooking the ocean and the amazing zanzibar sunsets. both spaces offer a casual menu of asian inspired platters, sushi & stir fries along with simple western classics like burgers, pizzas and salads. there is also on offer a selection of zanzibar dishes including the famous stone town masala. finally, there is also a generous selection of homemade desserts including sticky date pudding & chocolate fondant.

The bar is fully stocked with a range of imported drinks and is perfectly positioned for watching the magnificent zanzibari sunset at the end of a hard day’s sunbathing on the fabulous nungwi beaches, accompanied, of course, by one of our signature cocktails.

Floor 2 of cinnamon/rooftops is open-to-the-sky and has both dining tables and comfortable sofas to sit back and enjoy the views of the ocean, nungwi beach and of course the sunset.

We have a dj playing relaxed sunset music on wednesday and saturdays from 5pm to 8.30pm. we also have daily happy hour cocktails between 5pm and 8pm but come early as it fills quickly during these busy hours. Unfortunately, it is not possible to book tables/sofas – it is on a 1st come 1st seated & served basis.

Sexy Fish
Our signature al fresco style restaurant, sexy fish, is open for supper from 7.30pm. offering a contemporary african-european fusion seafood menu that includes locally-sourced fish and seafood prepared from zanzibar and the surrounding islands. our bangali head chef rasel and his team will offer you an erray of fresh fish, lobster, crab to name a few all cooked with the world-famous zanzibar spices.

The atmosphere is one of simple elegance where you can sample some of the finest cuisine zanzibar has to offer, including tuna ceviche, lobster tempura, senegalese crab curry, champagne prawns or simple grilled lobster while savouring imported wines from our international wine selection as the waves gently lap the timbers of the deck below.

Sky Spa
The new Sky Spa at the Z Hotel, Nungwi is open from 9am to 7pm. Located on the 3rd floor above the reception. Please come and visit us, if not for the amazing beach & ocean views. Our facilities include 2 luxurious treatment rooms, spacious treatment terrace. Relaxing lounge reception area. Changing and shower facilities.

Give yourself the chance to relax, unwind and enjoy the benefits of massage to both mind and body. Massage treatments work on relieving muscle tension, stress and a general sense of wellbeing.

Nail treatments are about more than adding some colour, we will clean and shape your nails while caring for your cuticles for your hands and feet to ensure the canvas (your nail) is perfect, so the polish lasts even longer. All treatments include a complimentary welcome glass of sparkling wine or fresh fruit juice.

Jungle Gym
The new Jungle Gym at the Z Hotel, Nungwi is open daily from 7am to 10pm. Located on the 2nd floor of the reception building, ideally situated just one floor down from the new Sky Spa and the new 4th floor open air yoga and viewing deck.

Open Air Yoga
The new Open Air Studio at the Z Hotel, Nungwi hosts a varied range of daily morning and evening yoga classes. Whether you are new to yoga or if you are an experienced yogi, our schedule caters for everybody and includes foundational yoga classes, pure vinyasa flows and slower sessions that are sealed with meditation as the sun sets over the Indian Ocean.

Classes take place on the roof top of the reception building, ideally situated just one floor up from the new Jungle Gym and the Sky Spa. We provide yoga mats and our premises offer changing rooms with shower facilities.

Zanzibar
Set in the tepid, crystal blue waters of the indian ocean, zanzibar, with its tropical climate, white powder beaches, rich cultural heritage and abundant coral reefs offers some of the best diving in the world. it is one of the last remaining areas of outstanding natural beauty unspoilt by tourism

– nungwi beach was voted the 5th best beach in the world by uk newspaper, the guardian, which describes it as “…to die for”.

The island’s capital stone town is a designated world heritage site and blends a culture steeped in the opulence of the sultans with influences from europe. zanzibar has, at various times, formed part of the portuguese, british, italian, and german empires creating a unique legacy and almost mythical atmosphere.

Zanzibar Activities
If you are looking for a slightly more active holiday, due to its natural location and history, zanzibar has a lot more to experience than just its beautiful beaches.

The island has a rich and varied history which has seen occupation from the portuguese, the sultanate of oman and the british at various times over the last 500 years. these influences have left a myriad architectural styles and cultural influences which culminated in the capital, stone town, being made a world heritage site by unesco in 2000.

For diving, fishing and water sports enthusiasts we have a fully equipped dive centre on-site at the z with the world-famous mnemba atol and deep sea fishing grounds just a stone’s throw away.

For those hoping to learn to dive while on zanzibar, the z hotel has teamed up with the leading dive company in nungwi, east africa dive centre (eadc), to offer the full range of padi courses with the same high standards in safety and customer satisfaction that you would expect from a 5* instructor development centre, from your first underwater breath to the range of specialty programmes available.

The hundreds of coral reefs off the coast of nunwgi are teeming with fish species such as napoleon wrasse, graceful manta rays, sharks, kingfish, turtles, barracuda and wahoo. divers will appreciate fantastic wall dives, night dives and drift dives in warm, tropical waters and be rewarded with a rich diversity of marine life which surrounds zanzibar.

As an alternative, dive in the unique location of pemba which is surrounded almost entirely by reefs, numerous atolls and coral fringed isles. pemba’s spectacular underwater kingdom – which contains over half of tanzania’s coral reefs – is one of the world’s top 10 ten dive sites. the caverns, drop offs, swim troughs and immense coral gardens contain an immense collection of marine life.

Big surgeonfish, shoals of barracuda and chevron, kingfish, wahoo, tuna and jacks, giant trevally, giant groupers and napolean wrasse can all be found. the best time for diving pemba is october- march. with large drop offs and potentially dangerous currents pemba is best left to experienced divers.

Diving & Snorkelling
zanzibar is fast becoming one of the top diving destinations in the world: coral reef structures abundant with marine life, good visibility (20-60metres) and a year round average temperature of 27°C make for an excellent diving and snorkelling experience.

Mnemba atol possesses one of the highest concentrations of turtles anywhere in the world and the numerous coral reefs off the coast of nunwgi are teeming with napoleon wrasse, graceful manta rays, kingfish, barracuda and wahoo fish.

Scuba divers will appreciate fantastic wall dives, night dives and drift dives off beautiful beaches, in warm and tropical waters and be rewarded with a rich variety of marine life.

Kite Surfing
The kaskazi wind that once powered the sailboats of exotic merchant traders to zanzibar is now being enjoyed by kite surfers. the reliable winds, white powdery beaches and shallow turquoise water make it a kite surfer’s paradise.

Kite surfing has grown rapidly in recent years. it is an exciting sport for people of all ages and abilities…all you need is the power of the wind and there is no damage to our precious environment….!

Deep Sea Fishing
We work in partnership with 2 local international charter companies to offer deep sea fishing. The zanzibar and pemba fishing grounds are teeming with an abundance of wahoo, mahi mahi, barracuda, giant trevally, yellow fin tuna and of course the most wanted billfish.

Sunset Cruise
The Z hotel has an affiliate company with whom they can arrange private sunset cruises for the ultimate romantic evening. sip champagne while watching a kaleidoscope of burning colours fill the sky until the sun dips into the ocean.

The cruise will take you out at just the right time to catch the optimum sunset, allowing you to relax on the upper deck while cruising the north west coast following the last rays of sunlight.

Zanzibar Excursions
Stone town is zanzibar’s capital and largest town. it is an historic and bustling city largely made up of stone coral buildings that were built in the late 19th century and gave the city its name.

Stone town is home to sixteen thousand people and seventeen hundred buildings. many of these present interesting facades which can be found via the charming narrow alleyways that twist and turn throughout the city.

The city is famous for its large carved doors and covered balconies. the doors, tall wooden carved affairs with or without brass studs are part of the swahili culture that was influenced by arab and indian motifs.

The brass studs, originally spike covers, were placed on the doors to protect from elephant raids during the wars in india. the variety of carvings has interesting representations such as rosettes in the centre meaning prosperity and fish at the bottom meaning fertility.

Stone town is also home to fifty one mosques, six hindu temples and two christian churches all teeming with history and well worth visiting. the city has been designated one of the world’s heritage sites by the united nations.

Jozani is a protected forest and home to the red columbus monkey indigenous only to zanzibar. the monkeys, about 1000 in number, live in little groups and can be viewed throughout the forest.

A nature trail through the forest reveals an abundance of other wildlife, including over 50 species of butterflies, 43 species of birds, hyraxes, sun squirrels, bush babies, african civet, ader’s duker, snakes, frogs, giant elephant shrews, bush pigs, mongoose, geckos and chameleons. also many different species of trees inhabit the forest such as the oil palm eaten by the bush pigs and monkeys.

Zanzibar was established as a major trading island for spices back in the 19th century. cloves were introduced here in 1818, flourishing in the tropical climate and fertile soil of the western areas of both zanzibar and pemba.

A guide will take you around the plantations on the spice tour where you will discover how the different spices are grown and produced. on the tour you will learn how to peel the bark off a cinnamon tree or carve a root and identify the various spices. discover the history of zanzibar’s spice trade while viewing the huge nutmeg trees and vanilla vines.

Green coconuts are offered on the tour, which are grown locally and taste delicious. visitors may purchase spices from the kiosks along the way, including vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, saffron, masala, hot chillies, black pepper and many others.

There are many islands surrounding zanzibar of which prison island is the most popular to visit. it is reached by boat and is famous for the giant tortoises and peacocks, which can be seen among the ruins in the courtyard.

The giant tortoise, the most popular attraction on the island can reach over a hundred years old and some over a metre tall. the island is fringed with a beautiful coral reef, ideal for snorkelling, and has a lovely white beach for sunbathing.

Prison island was once the site of a gaol for misbehaving slaves. a wealthy slave owner who used to send slaves to the island for discipline was the first owner. after the abolition of slavery the island was inhabited by a british general and later used as a quarantine station. the quarantine housing is still there as well as a natural lagoon and a small beach and restaurant.

Zala park is run by a local schoolteacher who was tired of seeing native species killed by locals out of fear. the park’s ranger ‘mohammad’ will introduce you to snakes, monitor lizards, crabs, turtles, dik dik (tiny gazelles) and hyrax, the closest living species to the elephant, although less than 5% of its size!

All the animals are living comfortably in a natural habitat. if you show an interest in them mohammed will take you on a personal tour of the zoo. he may even let you crawl into the python area to handle the snakes. with some weighing up to 35 kilos you may be left wondering who is handling whom.

The turtle sanctuary can be found in a sleepy little fishing village on the north west coast of the island. here the villagers have built a turtle sanctuary to nurse injured turtles and other marine life back to health.

It is a fascinating way to see these ancient reptiles being cared for in their natural habitat before being released back into the waters of the indian ocean. Beautiful beaches and coral reefs ideal for diving and snorkelling also surround the village.

Safari by Z
Safari by Z offers quality safaris and trekking from the alpine landscapes of kilimanjaro, africa’s highest mountain, to the 250 sq km breathtaking collapsed volcano – ngorongoro crater – home to 20,000 large animals including the big 5 – lions, buffalo, leopards, rhinos and elephants..

Covering an area the size of france and boasting twelve national parks including the serengeti, ngorongoro crater & lake manyara, tanzania is the cradle of mankind.

Tanzania is a land of contrasts: whether it be witnessing the largest natural migration of animals on earth, when two million wildebeest, zebra and thomson’s gazelles gather to follow the instincts of their ancestors pursuing the rains through the serengeti planes and up into the maasai mara in a continuous circle, or floating sedately down the rufiji river in the selous as the hippos and crocodiles wallow next to you, escaping the midday sun.

Website: www.thezhotel.com

Rooms: 39

Price: from 200 EUR per night