Tembo House Hotel

Tembo House is a highly attractive hotel. Firstly, it is one of the few hotels in Stone Town to be set on the beachfront. Secondly, it has a lovely big swimming pool. Thirdly, its rooms are decorated beautifully in traditional Zanzibari style. It has a small beach and views across the ocean to the small coral islets on the horizon (Zanzibar’s satellite islands).

The beach offers a sandy spot to unwind after a busy day in Stone Town, but if you want to swim rather use the hotel’s spacious pool. It’s a much cleaner and safer option. The front terrace provides a quiet spot to sit and watch the sun dip into the Indian Ocean with a soft drink in hand. (In keeping with strict Muslim law, alcohol is not served at this hotel. You can satisfy your thirst in one of the pubs a short distance down the road.)

It’s a glamorous hotel with influences from India, Africa and the Orient. There are stained glass windows, antique furniture, carved doors and lots of lovely pot plants. There’s a sundeck for developing your tan and a lovely sitting room enclosed in stained glass.

Tembo House and the Dhow Palace, a short distance away, were among the first hotels in Zanzibar to open to tourism in the late 1980s. For many years Tembo, with its fine Arabic architecture and antiques, was one of the most charming places to stay in Stone Town. These days many large tour operators use Tembo for groups, so the general atmosphere has become rather touristy. You won’t be without your comforts though, as the rooms are well appointed with all the modern luxuries.

HISTORY
This seafront building has served a number of functions over the years. In 1834 it housed the American Consulate, standing in the hub of the slave trading area. From 1884 it was occupied by Cowasjee Dinshaw and Partners, one of the most well-known tradition companies in the Western Indian Ocean. You’ll still see the company name on the original entrance.

This hotel is situated close to a number of historical buildings and palaces. The British Consulate where David Livingstone’s body was brought in 1874 after he died on his long journey into deepest African, was located next door to Tembo.

The guest rooms at Tembo Hotel are decorated with oriental and Swahili antiques and ornaments. Each of the 29 rooms has an air conditioner, a fan, a mini-bar fridge (with water and sodas), satellite television, a telephone and an en-suite bathroom. Extra beds are available for children.

There are two sections to the hotel. The rooms in the older section have a lot of character, but are small and somewhat dingy, while the newer rooms are more spacious and comfortable with magic views of the pool area and ocean. We have found that it is almost impossible to guarantee a room in the new section of the hotel, as the staff are notorious for messing up room requests. However, we will try our best to get the message across when we make your booking.

Many of the rooms have wooden balconies overlooking the swimming pool. The bathrooms are sunken, Arabian-style, blue-tiled, sit-down affairs with hand-held showers. 

If you’re after a fantastic family room, book Room 100. It’s enormous and has stunning views over the ocean on both sides and lots of stained glass.