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Best AirBnB’s in Africa: Zanzibar
In the last of our AirBnB series (for now) we take you to Zanzibar, Tanzania a place where you probably aren’t even thinking about the home sharing service. Zanzibar has some of our favorite hotels from cute boutique places to all out luxury. For the exclusive set or longer stays you might want the intimacy of your own place. From our point of view, AirBnB in Zanzibar is best for group travel — think a destination wedding with your closest friends or the ultimate vacay with your #squad. The listings for smaller places are for the most part underwhelming — you’re better off checking out a more traditional hotel.
For solo travelers or couples
Unique Beach Tower // $150 per night
Located on the quiet beaches of Matemwe, Tim and Joyce’s UtupoaUpepo beach tower is super dope. It’s three floors are located right on the beach and are full of unique touches. For those of you looking to stay in a place with lots of character but still get your sun and sand in, this is it.
What we love: The boldness of this funky tower in the middle of exclusive private resorts
Ball so hard — groups of 6+
Crew Love Central // $2696 per night
Paje is a sleepy fisherman’s village about 30 minutes south of Stonetown, it’ll take you about an hour to get here in an airport shuttle (cost about $40 — $60). It’s the kitesurfing capital of Zanzibar and beginners can even get lessons from the locals who teach on the beach. This is our bucket list place for the best group trip ever. With room for up to 30 people the “Africa House” as it’s colloquially called is just plain epic. With only a 1 night minimum stay (rare for these type of places on AirBnB) you can theoretically use the spot for an event — the SnapChat vibes would be amaze.
What we love: local architecture, the palm tree in the pool
Casadamare in Jambiani // $995 per night
Jambiani is just south of Paje and is another fairly undeveloped beach in Zanzibar. This luxury style vila has pool lighting at night and a large open space covered by a thatched roof perfect for late night conversations. It sleeps a total of 16 with a mix of full size and single beds spread across 6 bedrooms.
What we love: The outdoor daybeds by the pool
Infinity Pool Over Matemwe // $1325 per night
Another gem on Matemwe beach, this private villa which can sleep 10 people, is a true home. The furniture is amazingly hand carved in traditional Swahili style — a mix of African and Arabic influences. Large, sweeping windows mean you can gaze out into Zanzibar’s crystal clear ocean from just about any spot in the house. When you can pull yourself away from the infinity pool, take the stone steps directly from the house down to the beach and get a closer view.
What we love: The infinity pool is magical as are the carvings in all of the chairs
Solar Powered Awesomeness // $334 per night
Mielele Villas is a solar-powered gem that features two large houses right on the beaches of Fukuchani. This village on the northwest coast of Zanzibar is about 20 minutes north of StoneTown and about another 30 minutes away from the popular Nungwi beach. Villa Lisa sleeps 10 people comfortably and is a study in locally-forward design. The furniture is built from old wooden dhow boats, typical of the region, and the architectural style blends with the surrounding environment.
What we love: The indoor terrace couch positioned high above the main room
Just north of Paje, Bwejuu is a quiet beach village known for it’s swaying palm trees and relative seclusion. Melanie’s Villa infuses the colors of the Zanzibari landscape into three carefully designed suites. The one downside is that you can’t cook at the villa as there isn’t really a kitchen setup to do so, there is a hotel next door with whom the villa has a good relationship with.
What we love: The swing on the outdoor terrace
All You Need in Matemwe // $324 per night
Cristina’s home is one of the most thoughtful AirBnB’s we found in Zanzibar. It’s got your standard gorgeous architecture, beautiful furnishings, and is right on the beach but the additions are what made us add it to the list. The place sleeps 8 comfortably (but up to 4 beds can be added) and there is a complimentary minivan that seats 6 people at your disposal the entire trip! Fresh fruit arrives every morning, there is a grill outside for BBQ’s, and if you need it Cristina can arrange a private chef for you to have throughout your stay.
What we love: The special attention to hospitality
That’s all for now good people. What cities would you like us to cover in part 2?
Travel Africa, Skip Mediocre. Find Your Experience at: TastemakersAfrica.com
