Essque Zalu Zanzibar

We had a wonderful stay at the hotel. Really quiet and nice place. Directly to the ocean but you cant swim. The pool is very nice!

We visited in November for our honeymoon, opting for seafront suite and the all inclusive package. At check in, they tried to put us in their lowest class of rooms available, even when we had confirmation on our side. They said they could get it sorted out by Monday morning (it was saturday), leaving us in the wrong room for 2 nights. Worth noting that the resort was completely empty, they could’ve honoured our reservation. We ended up having to wake up our travel agent abroad to speak on the phone with the booking manager (who offered to move us to the correct room for a fee…) Ended up in the right room The service staff was so nice! Went above and beyond to make our experience nice When we were there the resort was empty so buffet restaurant became a set menu.. we had to complain to have more variety for lunch and dinner. All inclusive also doesn’t get you access to any alcohol except local beer and wine, and no access to the jetty restaurant. The pool could use some maintenance, it actually stained our swimsuits. Worth noting that the beach is impractical, my husband got stung by sea urchins when he tried to go in (shout out to the staff for a pool-side surgery that saved him) Overall, the staff really made the stay better, but I would say this is not a 5 star all inclusive stay, and the managers seemed money hungry, unwilling to make our stay better

We liked everything about the hotel, staff were lovely , room was perfect, location stunning . A short walk to restaurants and not far from Nungwi . Would recommend for comfort and peaceful location.

This resort does not live up to a five-star standard and is closer to a three- to four-star property. While the location itself is nice, the hotel feels worn and clearly in need of proper renovation. Many areas show visible signs of ageing, from rusted outdoor furniture and poorly maintained wooden decking to details in the rooms that should have been addressed long ago. These are not minor cosmetic flaws but ongoing maintenance issues. One major inconvenience during our stay was the frequent power cuts, which occurred easily 20 times a day. While electricity usually returned quickly, the constant interruptions were disruptive and unacceptable at this price level. To be fair, once we raised our concerns, the management and staff were responsive and genuinely tried to improve the situation during our stay. We do appreciate this effort, and it is clear that the team is doing its best. However, guests come here to relax, not to identify problems or wait for fixes. At this level of pricing, the experience should be smooth from the moment you arrive. Food was mixed. Breakfast was simple and acceptable but offered a limited selection. Lunch we tried only once and would not repeat it — it was extremely overpriced for the quality provided. Dinner, on the other hand, was better organised, with a wider variety of options and occasional themed evenings, which helped improve the overall dining experience. New Year’s Eve was enjoyable, with plenty of food, entertainment, and a lovely fireworks display. The atmosphere was festive and well-managed. While the food was not gourmet, it met expectations for a large event, and credit is due to the team for creating a pleasant evening. Personally, I prefer to receive the level of service and quality I have paid for upfront rather than seeing issues addressed reactively. While the staff and management are clearly trying, the resort as a whole is still far from what one would expect from a luxury destination. My honest recommendation would be for the hotel to reposition itself as a strong four-star resort, align expectations accordingly, and focus on thorough refurbishment. Doing so would attract the right audience and prevent disappointment for guests expecting a true five-star experience.

Had a great time on our honeymoon here! It’s a large property with all the regular amenities. It was nice they even had a dining area in air conditioning, which is rare to find around here.