Zanzibar (Kiwengwa Beach, East Coast), Tanzania
Rating8.3
Rating7.8Adults Only
Rating6.3Good
Based on 1.3k reviews
Exceptional Staff
Guests consistently laud the staff for their outstanding friendliness, attentiveness, and willingness to exceed expectations, making every stay comfortable and memorable.
Stunning Beachfront
The resort's prime location directly on the beautiful, white sands of Kiwengwa Beach, offering magnificent ocean views and direct access, is a major highlight.
Delicious Food Quality
Many guests praise the good quality and taste of the food, especially themed dinners and the chef's flexibility to cater to specific dietary requests and preferences.
Relaxing Atmosphere
The overall ambiance, enhanced by well-maintained tropical gardens and pristine common areas, contributes significantly to a peaceful and relaxing holiday experience.
Dated Rooms
While comfortable and clean, some guests feel that the rooms could benefit from updating to a more modern style, as they appear a bit old-fashioned.
Tide Impact on Swimming
The significant tidal variations on Kiwengwa Beach mean the sea often recedes far out in the mornings, limiting direct ocean swimming until the afternoons.
Extra Costs
Despite being an all-inclusive resort, guests are cautioned about numerous additional costs for services like spa treatments, premium drinks, à la carte dining, and various excursions.
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Sultan Sands sits on Kiwengwa Beach — a stretch of Zanzibar's east coast that faces the Indian Ocean with a traditional Swahili-Arab architecture style distinguishing the property from generic tropical resort designs. The name references the island's historical connection to the Omani Sultanate, and the building materials, carved woodwork, and arched walkways reflect that heritage rather than using generic beach-resort pastels.
The property's practical advantage is its partnership with the adjacent Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa, a 5-star sister property. Sultan Sands guests have shared access to Bluebay's Oasis Spa, gym, tennis courts, and PADI One Ocean Dive Centre — facilities that would cost significantly more at a standalone 5-star property. This effectively gives Sultan Sands guests a 5-star amenity set at a 4-star price point.
Kiwengwa Beach has significant tidal variation — the Indian Ocean recedes substantially in the morning, leaving a wide sandy flat rather than swimmable water. This is a consistent pattern on Zanzibar's east coast (where the continental shelf is flat and wide) and means the best swimming window is typically the afternoon. Guests expecting Caribbean-style flat-calm water at any time of day will find this adjustment significant.
Room quality is variable. Some rooms have been updated with the Bahari Room modernization; others retain older fixtures and decor from the 2008 opening. Requesting an updated room category on booking reduces the likelihood of arriving at an un-renovated unit.