Don't hesitate to book this hotel wether you are a couple or travelling with children... If you like to be somewhere: that is more authentic than fancy, where you can walk and be barefoot on the whole property, where you are surrounded by a team that is kind and modest - clearly trying to give you the best experience possible. The room exceeded our expectations, way better than the photos would suggest. The new restaurant & bar: "The Club" is magical. Hope to be back soon.

Stayed in April 2024

Pool, breakfast, bar, service

Stayed in March 2024

Wonderful place to stay and to have a complete experience in Zanzibar. Great food, amazing view, we will come back for sure every time we will visit Zanzibar. The people that are working there are always available and ready to help. So if you want to enjoy a full experience full of amazing people, a dazzling accommodation and a super relaxing pool you should not miss this place.

Stayed in March 2024

NA

I like everything in the hotel

Stayed in March 2024

I love the staff!!! I had so much fun during my stay! I traveled solo and it was such an amazing experience staying at Pongwe Bay! 🙏🏼😍

Stayed in January 2024

Overall we were pretty happy with our experience and I wouldn't say there was anything we focussed on negatively.

The beach was lovely and peaceful. There were plenty of deckchairs and hammocks. The whole beach close to the hotel was kept very clean and was very picturesque. The hotel room was spacious and kept clean. It was decorated very nicely. We liked the water was restocked every day and there were toiletries available to use. The bedding would be changed each day, but we stopped the attendant a few times as it was a little excessive. The hotel was very pleasant, the service was great, the standards were high and the 2 restaurants were lovely to eat in. Especially the Club at the end of the peer.

Stayed in February 2024

There was absolutely nothing not to like. We had a fabulous time.

We have just returned from a truly wonderful stay at Pongwe Bay resort. We paid for beach front accommodation and were thrilled with our room (301), in our opinion 'the best' the views from our very large and comfortably furnished balcony were breath taking. Staff were attentive and friendly and our room kept spotlessly clean with change of bedding and towels daily. The pool was beautiful and never crowded. We particularly enjoyed our breakfast, good choice with fresh fruit, cereal, pastries, hot food selection and freshly cooked omelette and pancakes to order. We also liked that the hotel was small and was wonderfully laid out with direct access to the beach. The new restaurant built on the jetty was beautiful. We would recommend for anyone wanting a relaxing carefree stay away from the hustle and bustle of busier resorts. The only thing to note is that the beach is tidal and when the tide is out you are not able to swim; we loved this because we were able (with beach shoes) to walk around the bay and enjoy the stunning rock pools and colours that are a dream.

Stayed in January 2024

The beach is almost flat so when the tide is out the water is a long way away. This is addressed to an extent by the pier, providing access to the water from the Club.

We loved the Pongwe Bay Resort. The layout is open with a feeling of space. There is ample space around the delightful swimming pool and a large spacious restaurant. A particular highlight is the Club, at the end of the pier: we found that this was the ideal place to relax when the weather was particularly hot, enabling us to catch the best of the gentle breeze. We were in a Junior Suite, which had a great view across the attractive gardens and the pool towards the sea. It was spacious and had a large comfortable bed, plus efficient aircon. Meals were good, particularly at the Club at the end of the pier. The staff were all extremely friendly and could not have been more helpful or welcoming.

Stayed in February 2024

The location is not great: it is not clearly advertised that the water is very low in the bay, even at high tide, and also there is a lot of reef so it is practically impossibble to swimming at the shore. The price for drinking water seems a bit like a rip-off.

The staff is very nice. There is a nice restaurant built further from the shore, with a nice deck, which makes it possible to go in the water at high tide (the beach shore is not good for swimming). They even provide reef shoes.

Stayed in January 2024

When the weather was cloudy there was no hot water - cold shower!

It exceeded our expectations in every way. Spacious well appointed clean room set in beautiful garden . The large lounge and dining room were perfect for relaxed evenings and the staff were very friendly and helpful

Stayed in January 2024

It’s isolated - 1.25hrs from airport. I did activities while staying at another hotel (snorkelling, beach swimming, boat trip). I would not stay here if you wish to do a lot of these because you will need long taxi rides and the beach is not great for swimming. The spa is quite basic.

Tranquil and peaceful escape to a quiet bay. The rooms are very spacious and staff lovely.

Stayed in January 2024

Isolated tourism that is not specific to the hotel but to Zanzibar as a whole.

Well-trained and kind, guest-centered and kid-friendly management, very delicious food, beautiful facility in a beautiful environment.

Stayed in January 2024

People are very nice & cooprative

It was perfect in every thing

Stayed in January 2024

Beach swimming is highly dependent on level of tide. Hotel can lend you reef shoes to walk around and you can walk off the end of the pier.

The feel and vibe were so relaxed. The common area was a lovely place to sit. The pool excellent and the restaurants very good. Great sunset view from the restaurant on the end of the pier. Acrobatics one night was fun!

Stayed in January 2024

The sea declines very slowly; during low tide it falls back up to 100 mtrs. So not really a sea to swim in

Perfect location directly at the beach, nice pool, good accommodation with nice beds. I read about high prices in the restaurant, but I think compared to what I saw in the rest of Tanzania these were not extraordinary.

Stayed in January 2024

All went well, just great as expected

Stayed in December 2023

The beers were quite expensive, so we went to a local bar a few minutes' walk along the beach.

Really nice breakfast with lots of fresh fruit, cereals, egg station etc. Friendly staff. Decent sized pool (about 18m long). Great location, right on the beach which was great for a long walk. "The Club" which is located at the end of the long boardwalk/pier has a very good restaurant, and you can also rent kayaks there and play pool. The room was large with a comfortable balcony.

Stayed in October 2023

I loved everything, it was perfect

Service was excellent , the staff was so welcoming and the beauty of the beach

Stayed in October 2023

There is virtually no internet in the rooms -only in the public area. Also, there is no fitness center and it's a pity since given the hotel's size 2-3 devices will be enough. Finally, most of the time during the day there is no sea due to the dramatic ebb and flow -but this applies to all hotels along the eastern coast during this period

Wonderful staff. A small and cozy hotel. They made any efforts to address our requests. Nice pool with sweet water and lovely rooms. They have water sports and nice restaurant deep into the sea

Stayed in October 2023

The food is mainly pasta and fish. Prices for taxi were quite high.

Beautiful place with great swimming pool and immediate access to the beach. They cleaned our house every day. Really felt like paradise.

Stayed in October 2023

Nothing

Traditional architecture, relaxed and cozy environments, beautiful location. Very polite, friendly and helpful staff, great food, nice entertainment!

Stayed in September 2023

Not able to have food between 17:30 and 19:30 in the main restaurant, which for us being with a toddler was a big downside, no time limitations for food at the Club though, food usually more tasty at the Club, the main restaurant was hit and miss sometimes

Location, staff, overall experience was great, good place to relax, good location to explore the island when you hire a car, jetty and restaurant the Club was another bonus, water sports at the Club (SUP, kayaks available), very good breakfast with a lot to choose from, good wifi, free coffee and cookies about 4pm everyday, free snacks at 18:30 every night, Masai night was lovely, high chairs available, every single staff personnel was so friendly and always smiling, totally recommend.

Stayed in September 2023

Bottled water seemed to be way overpriced.

Amazing views of sunrise from beachfront junior suite balcony. Room was spacious and comfortable. Very friendly, helpful and attentive staff. Tasty food. Good facilities. Situated in a small cove away from slightly busier beaches, so a great place to relax.

Stayed in September 2023

Nothing - it was just perfect!

Absolutely everything! Stunning rooms, excellent service from all staff, fabulous location on quiet beach, brilliant pool and delicious food and entertainment. 10/10

Stayed in September 2023