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Need to Know
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Unguja Lodge Holidays
Awards
Highlights
- Excellent remote location for snorkelling and diving.
- Popular with honeymooners and divers.
- Unguja Lodge is owner occupied and run, something to look for if you appreciate good service and the personal touches.
Right for you?
- Unguja Lodge has a small private beach, which is not available at high tide.
- Unguja Lodge is a smaller resort and doesn't have as many facilities as many larger properties.
?
I've read that there is an issue with the beach, what is it really like?
Unfortunately Unguja lodge doesn't have the largest beach on the island, however the architects and designers were well aware of this and have compensated beautifully when constructing the public areas. Realistically the tide will stop you sitting out on the beach for some of the day whilst it is in, but the rest of the time you will be fine. Because of this Unguja Lodge is one of the few places on Zanzibar you can go snorkelling right outside the resort.
$$$Prices for Unguja Lodge start at: $180 per person per night, including breakfast and evening meal, during Low Season.
Depending when you travel, room categories and party size prices rise to $300 per person per night during Peak Season.
Check rates for your dates: 0843 634 2258
Price Promise: We guarantee that booking with us is cheaper than with the hotel direct and we will beat any other operator, agency or website.
This hotel is available throughout the year. Below are some prices for holidays on selected dates intended as a guide:
£11607 Nights at Unguja Lodge for 2 people in a Baobab Villa.
Includes discounted rate, transfers, breakfast and evening meal each day.
Valid: January - March 2013
£15407 Nights at Unguja Lodge for 2 people in a Seaview Villa.
Includes discounted rate, transfers, breakfast and evening meal each day.
Valid: January - March 2013
Subject to availability. International flights to be quoted separately.
Need More Info?
- Unguja Lodge rated "excellent" by travellers
We are THE Zanzibar Experts and will be happy to help whatever stage you're at.
Please call: 0843 634 2258
Email:
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or visit the contact us page.
Unguja Lodge - The Details
As Ralph and Elsie relocated their family to Zanzibar, Unguja Lodge is also a family home and has a heartbeat so intimately linked with its natural environment that you cannot help but feel part of this wonderful space. The canvas that has been so richly enhanced combined with the fabulous hosting from all the staff, offers guests a unique experience not only to Zanzibar, but to the world.
The villas themselves are huge and offer all guests separate lounges and traditional Zanzibari day beds under Makuti domes, perfect for siestas and drinking in the wonderful elevated views out to the ocean. Their team have amongst them the best chefs and lodge management on the Island. We can’t sing this lodges praises highly enough.
Unguja Lodge Picture Gallery
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
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Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
Unguja Lodge - Zanzibar
http://www.zanzibar.co.uk/en/hotels/by-area/south-coast/unguja-lodge-zanzibar#sigProGalleria84bdd6c39a
Room Descriptions & Facilities
The 11 villas at Unguja Lodge each have an enclosed bedroom beneath the vast thatched makuti roof. The villas also feature an upper mezzanine level with a day bed that can be used to accommodate a third guest or older children.
There are three categories of villa including a Family Villa designed for six adults.
Baobab Villas
Sea View Villas
The Family House
Baobab Villas
3 Baobab Villas feature a plunge pool, AC and ceiling fan in the bedroom, spacious bedroom with double bed (6x7ft, 185x215cm), mosquito nets, ceiling fan for cooling, private safe, open plan sitting room (baraza-style), open plan spacious shower room, separate toilet and a loft with extra double bed. The villas are also encircled by a lush garden.
The Baobab Villas are built beneath a huge baobab tree and orientated to the gardens with a private pathway down to the beach.
Sea View Villas
Seven Sea View villas each have a spacious bedroom with double bed (6x7ft, 185x215cm), mosquito nets over the bed, ceiling fan for cooling, private safe, open plan sitting room (baraza-style), Open plan spacious shower room, separate toilet, loft with extra double bed and private terrace with a sea view.
The Family House
The Family House is set over two floors. Downstairs there is a bedroom with double bed (6x7ft, 185x215cm), mosquito nets over the bed, AC and ceiling fan, bathroom and en-suite toilet, additional open air bathroom and toilet, indoor and outdoor sitting areas and a sea view terrace. Upstairs there are two smaller bedrooms. In each room there are two single beds that can be put together to make a double bed, mosquito nets, fan and AC, en-suite bathrooms and a shared balcony.
Upstairs there are two smaller bedrooms. In each room there are 2 Single beds that can be put together to make a double bed, Mosquito nets, Fan and AC, en suite bathrooms and a shared balcony.
Resort Service & Facilities
Pool
The pool at Unguja Lodge has a shallow end for children and is perfect for both a quick cooling dip or swim and simply somewhere to sit up to your neck in cool refreshing water and relax. The pool is also used for beginners’ courses in diving.
Diving
There is a well-equipped PADI dive centre called 'Unguja Divers' within the lodge. Resident dive instructor Nick and his staff can take you out for some beautiful diving, snorkelling or trips in the Menai Bay Conservation Area. All PADI courses and equipment are available - whatever your level. If you would like to know more then please call our team on 0843 634 2258 or download the special ‘Unguja Divers brochure’.Unguja is fortunate to be the only location on Zanzibar with a ‘house reef’ within swimming distance from the lodge itself. They keep the boats outside the reef at low tide; this means that all the water activities are unrestricted by the tide. Just a short boat ride away you will find several unspoiled coral gardens: easy to dive and offering an abundance of sea life. For the more adventurous divers there are several spectacular deeper and wall sites where the bigger fish thrive.
Diving at Unguja Lodge is very personal and efficient. The dive centre is located adjacent to the pool and the access to the beach. Diving is always in very small groups. They use either a spacious traditional dhow or a smaller fibre boat depending on the dive sites and weather conditions.
Bar
The bar is a sociable and comfortable meeting point with a fantastic cocktail list and knowledgeable barman to shake them from bottles to glass. Whether you’re chatting at the bar on stools or lounging on the sofas with a book or a friend, you’ll be well watered and not want to leave!
Beach Activities
There are some great rock pools nearby and it is possible to watch the local villagers gathering shellfish - and sometimes even catching octopus. Exploring these pools is great fun for children and adults alike. Snorkelling is also easy to do from the beach. There are coral towers within a short swimming distance, just ask us Ralph or Elise to point you in the right direction.
Swimming
Each villa is provided with a tide schedule so you can plan your day as the villagers do. Swimming from the stairs to the beach is great at high tide. South of the lodge there is a permanent village beach unaffected by tidal movement and you can reach this by a short nature trail.Trips and Tours
Robinson Crusoe
Sunset Cruise
Village Walk
Jozani Forest
Zala Park
Robinson Crusoe
You can spend a full day on the water where Unguja Divers takes you out on the traditional dhow for a picnic lunch on a deserted sandbank or island at sailing distance. On the way you can snorkel or dive, see the dolphins, practice sailing and relax in the sun on the beach or the water.Sunset Cruise
If you want to experience the romance of a dhow ride as the sun sets, Unguja can arrange a special sunset cruise for you. What could be better than enjoying a sun downer on a traditional Arabic sailing boat as the sun sinks over into the sea?Guided Village Walk
Unguja Lodge organises guided walks to explore the village and surroundings. You will see traditional coral block built houses, meet fishermen repairing their nets, and women making rope from coconut fibre. Rachid Ali Hassan (one of Ungujs’s senior staff members) shows you around and explains the traditions and culture. They simply ask for a small donation for the village walk which is then spent with the village on school or medical projects.Jozani Forest
From Unguja Lodge it takes just 20 minutes to reach Jozani Forest. It is the only remaining indigenous forest on Zanzibar and here you find the largest population of the Red Colobus Monkeys, which are unique to Zanzibar.Zala Park
Zala Park is just 20 minutes from Unguja Lodge and a visit can be easily combined with Jozani Forest. You can observe indigenous animals, mostly reptiles like snakes, lizards and chameleons but also tortoises, dik diks, monkeys and hyrax. The zoo is run by the very enthusiastic Mohammed Ayoub. From Zala Park it is also possible to walk through the forest and mangroves to the shore and be picked up by a dhow to take you back to the hotel.Community & Conservation
For Ralph and Elise, understanding the environment and respecting it are an integral part of running the lodge. From the very beginning they aimed to have a positive impact on their surroundings. The construction of the lodge is an excellent example of this in action.
The area chosen to build the lodge on was scrub bush and instead of clearing the whole area to build, they carefully marked out and cleared only the areas where buildings would be. As a result, the lodge is embedded in verdant natural bush and Indigenous plants, bushes and trees thrive. This approach also meant that many of the smaller animals and birds stayed on the site throughout the building period. Once construction was completed even more animals, birds, insects and reptiles moved in. The lodge provides a haven of well protected natural habitat and the population is booming.
Unguja Lodge - Opinions and Reviews
Unlike many operators we not only visit all the hotels we offer regularly but we also stay in them. Please find a few hints, tips and opinions from our staff plus some genuine feedback from our clients below.
