The ultimate spice island paradise
There’s a property on the spice island Zanzibar, 20 minutes flight from Tanzania that offers a truly rewarding beach holiday finale after a great migration safari. Zanzibar itself as an island will stimulate all of your senses – scents of spices, the sounds of waves, colourful markets to sand between your feet. The Zanzibar Collection is just that… a collection of three boutique properties offering something for everyone.
Breezes Beach Club and Baraza Resort & Spa offer fantastic family facilities and attract couples of all ages. Then there’s The Palms Zanzibar, it’s more of a romantic retreat that’s ideal for honeymooners, romantics or couples seeking refuge from noisy kids!
There’s something award winning about each property not least the stretch of beach in front of them. Conde Nast Traveller Magazine chose it as one of the top 30 beaches in the world, so that’s saying something. At low tide, you can head out with a staff member on a reef safari where you visit coral reefs and see its marine life.
So let’s take a closer look at the properties so you can determine if the Zanzibar Collection has something for your next African holiday.
Need to know about Zanzibar Collection
Where is Zanzibar Collection?
Zanzibar Collection can be found on Bwejuu Paje Beach on the east coast of Zanzibar.
How do you get there?
First, you fly into Zanzibar International Airport. There are daily flights with all the major East African cities like Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Mombasa. One of our private drivers would meet you and transfer you approximately an hour to the airport.
When’s the best times of year to visit?
The best time to visit Zanzibar is usually between July and October when it’s cool and dry (and spring). Many people also love going over between December and February when it’s hot and dry. The time to avoid is the rainy season, usually, March through to May. Afternoon downpours are commonplace and the humidity is high and day time temperatures in the mid-30s.
The property
What five words best describe the Zanzibar Collection?
Luxury, boutique, fusion, tranquility, paradise.
What sort of accommodation is offered?
The three properties vary slightly in their style of accommodation. Baraza has one and two-bedroom villas and the Royal Sultan two-bedroom luxury villa. They are Swahili in style with hand-carved details, luxury interiors and spacious area inside and out (with private plunge pool). The villas can be either garden view or the royal beach two-bedroom villa.
At breezes, there are standard rooms with a terrace and garden view, deluxe rooms on the ground floor of bungalows with terrace and suites on the upper floor of bungalows with large balcony and sunbeds.
Finally, at The Palms, you’ll find seven luxury villas all with private outdoor plunge pool.
What’s special about Zanzibar Collection?
Being a privately owned collection of boutique hotels, the Zanzibar Collection has an intimate and personal service offering. The family who owns the collection is dedicated to preserving the history, spirit, and legacy of Zanzibar which is what we find most special. Here you have world-class facilities, friendly service and unique opportunities like Swahili lessons, palm weaving, village visits, and cooking classes to learn local delicacies.
What facilities are on offer?
Each property within the collection has a wonderful sculpted garden setting with beachfront views. Central areas boast lounges, dining and of course swimming pools and pavilions. There’s the shared beach, access to the only National Geographic affiliated PADI 5 star Dive Centre and more.
Favourites
We asked Donna from Nasikia Camps in Tanzania what her favourites were because Zanzibar Collection is her top choice on the spice island.
What’s your favourite place to eat on the property?
“It has to be lunch at Breezes. The seafood barbeque on the beach under the frangipani trees is stunning and if you’re there in season, you can watch the humpback whales breach offshore.”
Other favourite things to do?
“The reef walk is free and super cool at low tide, especially for kdis to explore the tidal pools. You just pay for reef shoes. The spa at Baraza – oh my lord! This is heaven on a massage table. It’s hammam style with every perfect Arabian smell you can think of.”
What are your best insider tips for someone visiting Zanzibar for the first time?
“Remember that Zanzibar coastline has big tides, lots of seagrass and is ringed by a reef – don’t expect perfect white beaches and body surfing waves all day every day. It does not mean the beaches are dirty, but certainly, debris from the fishing industry and seagrass farming does wash up sometimes. Zanzibar is more about the culture, the history, the smells, the tastes – it’s a step back in time if you can avoid the mainstream craziness of Nungwi and Jambiani beaches. Support the local communities by asking your hotel to offer a walk through a nearby village with a guide. Zanzibar has some awesome community programmes to learn about – seagrass farming, soap making, weaving to name a few! Learning about the spice trade and seeing how those everyday spices we use are made is also fascinating. Lastly, a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow is a fabulous experience – the salty air and a sundowner can’t ever be a bad way to end your day.”