Reviews of Tembo House Hotel This rating is a reflection of how the property compares to the industry standard when it comes to price, facilities and services available. It's based on a self-evaluation by the property. Use this rating to help choose your stay!
Shangani/Forodhani Street, Zanzibar City, Tanzania
#27 of 80 hotels in Zanzibar City
Guests' ChoiceReview Score
Based on 2092 hotel reviews
8.2Score breakdown
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Cleanliness
8.5
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Comfort
8.5
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Location
9.4
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Facilities
8.3
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Staff
8.9
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Value for money
8.2
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Free WiFi
7.8
Verified guest reviews from real Bookers
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Reviewed: January 15, 2024
Seonaid
United Kingdom30 Reviews7 helpful votes9.0“Spent a couple of nights here. Beautiful room but air con not functioning well enough.”- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Family Room with Balcony & Sea View
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
The property does not sell alcohol and we were there over new year! The air conditioner wasn't working well. Room terribly hot.
Lovely characterful hotel with 2 lovely pools right on the beach. Great central location
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: January 15, 2024
Msabi
Tanzania23 Reviews1 helpful vote7.0Good- • Business trip
- • Couple
- • Twin Room with Balcony City View
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Room wa not good
1 liked their services, especially staff, they are generous, the environment is beautiful, we have found places to take pictures for our pre wedding
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: January 14, 2024
Siri
Norway40 Reviews2 helpful votes8.0“A favourite in Stone Town.”- • Business trip
- • Family with young children
- • Twin Room with Balcony and Sea View
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Historical Hotel, perfect location. One can swim from the beach at high tide. They have a policy of hiring staff from Zanzibar, which is great.
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: January 12, 2024
Eleonora
Italy113 Reviews6 helpful votes8.0Very Good- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Twin Room with Balcony and Sea View
- • Stayed 2 nights
no alcoolic drinks served at the bar and in general food and beverage offer could be improved
the historic atmosphere
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: January 9, 2024
Burcu
Turkey45 Reviews9 helpful votes8.0Very Good- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Double Room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Good location friendly staff
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: January 7, 2024
Diane
Uganda16 Reviews5 helpful votes9.0Wonderful- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Double Room with Balcony and Sea View
- • Stayed 2 nights
Would have loved pool to be open until 9pm but I understand the logistics of such.
Lovely staff. Rooms were well appointed and we were put closer together on request. Breakfast was delicious. Swimming pools were great. Bed was comfortable. The style of the room furnishings and hotel decor is charming and adds to the experience.
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: January 5, 2024
Galton
United States of America20 Reviews5 helpful votes8.0“Amazing”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Twin Room with Balcony City View
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Fact that other rooms are by the side of the road and not all at the beach or same building
The location is amazing
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: January 4, 2024
Yenan
Sweden2 Reviews1 helpful vote9.0“Great location,”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Family room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 1 night
Great location! Friendly staff, nice big and clean rooms. Nice pools at hotel and in annex. We stayed in the annex which was nice and quiet. Very good selection at breakfast. Close to everything in Stone Town and boat trips to the islands can be taken from the beach in front for USD 30.
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: January 3, 2024
Gabriella
Hungary54 Reviews5 helpful votes8.0“Historic building in the heart of Stone Town, at the beach”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Freddie Mercury Apartments with Balcony & City View
- • Stayed 1 night
Fine historic building with great mood, nice decor, a good pool and great seafront, very good breakfast
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: January 3, 2024
Natty
United Arab Emirates15 Reviews3 helpful votes9.0Wonderful- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Triple Room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
all great
We had a great time. location, rooms were all great. will recommend
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: January 2, 2024
Mike
Zimbabwe7 Reviews8.0“Always a great choice”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Twin Room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Great staff , excellent location ,ideal
Stayed in January 2024
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Reviewed: January 1, 2024
Claudio
Zimbabwe33 Reviews4 helpful votes8.0“If be back, sure I will return to this hotel, great location and mix of old and modernity”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Double Room with Balcony City View
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Noise on the stair up and down wood stair, and back window, but maybe bcs the hotel was busy and full of people
Traditional palace /house by rhe sea, renewed, moder shower and bathroom, location, nice size room, and well manteined relaxing colorful glass window/doorc and new AC
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 30, 2023
Marina
Qatar13 Reviews9.0“Can’t wait to come back!”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Standard Double Room
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Everything was amazing, just breakfast could have a bit more variety, through it was just fine even like this.
Location is just perfect, near by everything. Staff is super nice, friendly and very helpful!
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 29, 2023
Leke
Canada6 Reviews1 helpful vote8.0Very Good- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Double Room with Balcony City View
- • Stayed 2 nights
No alcohol at the restaurant/bar was a bit surprising
Good location in Stone town, really nice breakfast and iconic/vintage room/suite!
Stayed in November 2023
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Reviewed: December 27, 2023
Antoine
Angola39 Reviews4 helpful votes8.0“Gorgeous hotel in historic area of Stonetown, not best for light sleepers”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Presidential Suite with Balcony & Ocean View
- • Stayed 2 nights
There's a new bar opened downstairs, next door, and the music was VERY loud. When I called the reception, they were very nice and said they would go ask them to turn it down, but it remained quite loud every night. We were there several years ago and didn't have this issue, but noise is a problem for us so we probably would not return :(
We returned to Tembo as it's a great location, right near old town and on the water. It's a beautiful, historic building, and the staff are incredibly friendly.
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 27, 2023
Bo
Kenya10 Reviews9.0Wonderful- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Double Room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 1 night
Nothing can complain
Everything great value, splendid one in the stonetown
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 26, 2023
Leonie
Australia26 Reviews3 helpful votes8.0“Excellent hotel in great location but be aware there’s no alcohol available.”- • Leisure trip
- • Travelers with friends
- • Twin Room with Balcony and Sea View
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
This is a dry hotel. It caught us by surprise when we were planning a cocktail sunset.
Location and staff excellent
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 23, 2023
Bernadette
United Kingdom1 review8.0“Beautiful historical hotel in a great location !”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Twin Room with Balcony and Sea View
- • Stayed 3 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Breakfast had lovely fruit but fresh juice would have been nice with boiled eggs or scrambled egg as an option. More shade - umbrellas needed for upstairs swimming pool
The property was beautiful . Totally charming in a great location. The staff were so helpful and friendly. It was very clean also!
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 23, 2023
Khiah
United Kingdom6 Reviews3 helpful votes9.0“Would stay here again if I came back to Stone Town”- • Leisure trip
- • Solo traveler
- • Double Room with Balcony City View
- • Stayed 2 nights
Breakfast wasn't amazing and food at the restaurant was average.
Staff really helpful, the room was beautiful and so big, and the architecture of the hotel is beautiful
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 23, 2023
Laith
Kenya7 Reviews5 helpful votes9.0“Great service, great location, Well priced”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Twin Room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 5 nights
In terms of booking it would be nice to confirm whether the room booked is located in the main hotel building (which is shown in the pictures) or one of the other buildings to avoid misleading anyone.
The manager Abdul Aziz was very accommodating and even checked in on me and my family every morning at breakfast. He and the other staff t Tembo were excellent and delivered high quality service. The hotel itself is ideally located in old town and you can easily walk to the local market, the old fort, the palace museum and a lot of great eating spots. Additionally you can easily take a boat from the beach to Prison Island.
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 21, 2023
Karla
Ireland143 Reviews37 helpful votes8.0“Good location”- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Twin Room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
I arrived early because of my flight and it took longer then I thought to get my room , actually 12:30 instead of 12:00(check in time) .
Location is great , sea front, swimming pool, good breakfast , air con working, hot water , tea/coffee …
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 21, 2023
Essa
United Arab Emirates25 Reviews1 helpful vote7.0Good- • Leisure trip
- • Couple
- • Double Room with Balcony City View
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Staffs
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 21, 2023
Anika
Australia14 Reviews2 helpful votes8.0Very Good- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Triple Room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 1 night
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Breakfast was a bit average, they do not serve alcohol at all
Great hotel, beautiful old building, lovely staff
Stayed in December 2023
-
Reviewed: December 20, 2023
Gunn
Norway2 Reviews1 helpful vote8.0“Hotel with perfect location at the beach!”- • Leisure trip
- • Group
- • Triple Room at Annex Building
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Some times very long waiting time for the food. We got a room at the annex and not the mann building, which was not as Nice or authentic as the main Hotel.
Clean Nice rooms. Good food. Friendly staff. Excellent location. We especially liked the waitors Richard and Ahmed Omar, they gave excellent service!
Stayed in December 2023
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Reviewed: December 20, 2023
Arunananda
Tanzania17 Reviews2 helpful votes9.0“Great time with Tembo; we will come again.”- • Leisure trip
- • Family with young children
- • Triple Room With Balcony & Sea View
- • Stayed 2 nights
- • Submitted from a mobile device
Every evening noise on the beach side was not easy for us to accept. We were looking for a place where evening could be spent with friends and family. But the noise level was too much. One more thing- the hotel must look into the Internet connectivity. This was a serious concern. One more: seating arrangements during breakfast time - I would recommend of removing a few tables to give more space to move inside.
Location and the structure of the property: these two are 10/10. It looks like we are living in a King’s mansion. Everything was unique and has a touch of traditional architecture. Breakfast was simply the best. The support staff were humble, polite and caring. It is just beside the beach as well as as on the road side. I cannot think of any hotel which comes within the same range but with the same level of facilities.
Stayed in December 2023
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