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THE ZANZIBAR COLLECTION - LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTELS WE LOVE
On my recent trip to East Africa (Kenya + Tanzania) we had the pleasure of staying at all four properties of the luxury boutique hotel line, The Zanzibar Collection. From top notch service staff, to perfectly manicured gardens, decadent seafood to views of the Indian ocean, we had a divine experience for all the senses to enjoy.
The island of Zanzibar and The Zanzibar Collection lived up to the mysterious, unbothered (in a good way), remote island vibe that you’d expect. As we traipsed from our private villas to our spots on the beach, we couldn’t help but melt into the individual charm of these beautiful properties.
Let’s dive into each one, shall we?
We started our stay at Breezes Beach Club and Spa. With Zanzibar décor full of detailed wood carvings paired against brass details and draped frabrics blowing in the ocean breeze, this resort has a natural romantic personality. We arrived on a Thursday night which was just in time for their weekly BBQ which had amazing fresh fruit, BBQd meats, fresh seafood and more.
The privacy and seclusion of The Palms Zanzibar, paired with the warmth and personal attentiveness of their staff, made it so hard for us to leave. This is truly the location where you can unplug and disconnect from your everyday life and truly be one with your thoughts, or bonding time with your partner. With only 6 private villas, each with their own private bungalow a 30 second walk away at the beachfront, most times you feel like the only person there – perfect for centering your thoughts and energy. The villas, which I call luxury huts, are extremely well designed and spacious. The plunge pool in front with beach view is icing on the cake.
Zawadi Hotel was our favorite of The Zanzibar Collection. It sits on top of a cliff overlooking the azure Indian ocean. Upon entering you’re greeted with the most vibrant visuals of lush green tropical plants, palms, stunning flowers and of course the ocean view. As if that wasn’t breathtaking enough, throughout the resort and villa, the East African style décor in muted gray/crème/white colors provide a clean, fresh aesthetic while also providing you with a cultural sense of where you are. It truly gives you an ease of mind. Also, with there being only 9 private villas at Zawadi, that sense of seclusion is mesmerizing. Considering the full floor to ceiling glass view of the garden overlooking the ocean, the thoughtfulness goes as as to provide a “do not enter” roping long before anyone can get to your door or private plunge pool that’s tucked behind greenery. In this case, do not enter means do not enter my villa and the surrounding areas. LOVE!
The last but not least in our stay was the esteemed Baraza Resort and Spa which boasts a fusion of Arabic, Swahili, Indian and Zanzibar design. The gold details throughout the resort, down to the provided robes, truly made us feel like royalty. The pool and the palm trees are grand and regal, and the cove of day beds allow for all the R&R you could ask for, rounding out our memorable stay in Zanzibar.
Photos by Nicole Haynes