Ras Nungwi

This is by far the best place to stay in the Nungwi area. Ras Nungwi was one of the first hotels to be established on Zanzibar, so the owners managed to secure one of the prime sites on the island, away from the main village. The white, sandy beach is idyllic and it’s long enough to spread out and find your own spot to sunbathe. It is also just about the only resort along the eastern side of the Nungwi peninsula, which means you have the luxury of quiet beaches. This hotel is one of the best choices for big game fishers, divers, kitesurfers and honeymooners. 

Ras Nungwi is a large, professionally run resort with a swimming pool (the only one in the Nungwi area), a slick dive and deep-sea fishing operation and all the watersport facilities you could wish for in a beach resort. We were impressed with the friendly and efficient staff. 

The hotel, built with natural materials such as palm thatch and fossilized coral limestone, blends harmoniously into the landscape. The lounge areas, with their high ceilings, are spacious and open to the sea breezes. They’re decorated with handmade wooden chairs and colourful cushions.

Zanzibar’s top dive reefs at Leven Bank and Mnemba Atoll are easily accessible, and diving and snorkelling in the nearby coral reefs and beyond is superb. The dive boats are fully kitted and you can enjoy deep dives, drift dives, wall dives and night dives. There are regular sightings of dolphins, turtles, reef sharks and manta rays. 

If fishing is your thing the hotel is well situated for you to try your luck in the deep-sea fishing grounds between Zanzibar and Pemba. Fishing boats have all the latest technology. You can fish for a variety of marlin, tuna and sailfish. Tag-and-release is usually encouraged, unless it’s your first or a record catch.

Ras Nungwi is an excellent choice, especially if you want something with all the facilities that is between a small, intimate guest lodge and a huge beach club. True, the northern part of the island does lack the proliferation of palm trees you'll find elsewhere and the interior is dry and scrubby, but the beach is superb. Besides the awesome views and location, we found everything to be neat, clean and well maintained. 

Ras Nungwi offers 32 spacious and luxurious thatched rooms with a variety of attractive options, many with excellent sea views. The closer you want to be to the sea, the more you’ll pay for your room. 

The rooms are tastefully decorated in a harmonious combination of ethnic and modern styles. Four-poster beds with cheerful blue bedspreads, handcrafted wooden furniture, reed matting and local fabrics have been used to create a comfortable beach hideaway. All the rooms have air-conditioners, balconies and en-suite bathrooms. 

Room Types: There are four superior deluxe chalets, 10 superior chalets, 13 lodge rooms and one ocean suite for honeymooners. All the chalets have views of the ocean, while the lodge rooms, built in a row of semi-detached bungalows, overlook the beautiful gardens. Superior deluxe rooms are situated closest to the ocean and therefore have the most gorgeous view. These rooms also have the extra convenience of a mini-bar and CD-player. Not that you really need music when you have the soothing sound of the ocean on your doorstep!

If you’re after value for money, we recommend the superior chalets as they have views of the sea and there isn’t too much of a difference between them and the superior deluxe.

For honeymooners who can afford to really splash out, the stylish Ocean Suite is the most secluded option. You and your partner will have your own sundeck with a private plunge pool and deck chairs on which to laze, as well as private access to the beach. Although it is very spacious and exclusive, we think its rather overpriced. 

The Ocean Suite has been decorated with natural ochre-toned walls, handcrafted wooden furniture and a king-size, four-poster bed with a flowing white mosquito net. There is a music system, mini-bar, air conditioner and you’ll find dressing gowns in the well-appointed bathroom.