Zanzibar Sunrise at Bandas

Going back to a place with fond memories can always be tricky, but Zanzibar Sunrise at Bandas did not disappoint. We came back this year and the place is exactly the same gem it was two years ago - unspoken (natural) beauty, super relaxed and chill vibe and most of all the amazing staff, always doing their best to provide a really unique experience. From restaurant/bar staff to security and gardening, everyone was super friendly and put a smile on our faces. Special mention here to Fundi, who wished us a great beach day every morning - it was an absolute pleasure meeting him. The hotel also offers complimentary water which guests can get at the refill station - no need for extra plastic bottles, which we extremely appreciated! They also organize free guided tours through Matemwe town (absolute recommendation for getting local insights) and activities such as reef walks (those starfish!). Other than that and really cool African music on Tuesday and Fridays this is an absolute relax zone. The beach heaven and very relaxed, swimming is possible during high tide. Matemwe is still such a gem in otherwise (over)crowded Zanzibar. We are big fans and highly recommend Zanzibar Sunrise at Bandas and their great team if you are looking for peace & quiet off the beaten track, amazing scenery, authenticity, friendliness and style everywhere you look.

A perfect paradise to escape, relax and a fantastic place to see the beauty of zanzibar Island. Hotel is beautifully well kept, food was great, reef walk tour was very insightful and the Friday live music was also great entertainment. My only negativity to the music was that after the amazing live band they had a DJ playing heavy beats till late in the night with a speaker right next to our bedroom, which did not match the relaxing ambience supposedly set. Would certainly visit again.

I would give it a 3.5 if it was an option…. Pros: excellent food, the resort is beach front with nice pools and live music, dining area is lovely and grounds are well maintained. Service was friendly and helpful. Cons : be prepared for long wait times surrounding meals—-a good reminder to chill out; there is little that is walking distance from the resort so meals are done primarily at the resort. Resort is a long drive to “tourist “ type areas. Walking the beach yields many locals approaching you to buy things which becomes tiresome. The rooms are quite dark, somewhat rustic and not fully enclosed , allowing bugs and the occasional scorpion inside although they do spray each room daily. No AC in all but a few select rooms.

Stayed here after climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and enjoying a 3 day safari so we were ready for some relaxation and Zanzibar Sunrise at Bandas delivered! The staff were AMAZING, especially Mini!!! I also joined in a yoga class and had a hot stone massage and it was so rejuvenating. The food was delicious and the drinks were yummy. And the beachfront rooms were clean and comfortable (though pretty hot, but with the fan was still very nice for sleeping, especially with the ocean breeze). We loved our stay here and would definitely come back.

We just fell in love with this place on arrival. The staff couldn’t be more helpful, Sylvia is without a doubt the hostess with the mostess she made us feel like family as soon we entered the gate. The place is stunning, beach amazing, beach huts rustic, clean and gorgeous, the food is off the scale and it’s just soooooo relaxing. All the other guests were chilled and friendly…A perfect getaway for a relaxing stay in a beautiful environment…We will 100% be visiting again…

I had a lovely time here! The view was amazing, the Bandas were done quaintly and well thought out. The service there was fantastic and the staff were a really good team. The live music was amazing and got everyone up on their feet dancing!

Amazing place, cosy, nicely decorated with special vibe. Restaurant is well fitted into overall place and food was delicious. People in charge are doing great job. As it is situated in the village, it gives you unique chance to see local life and walk around. Beautiful place, my go- back place for sure.

I spend 4 nights at Sunrise at Bandai in June 2022. The hotel has wonderful rustic (simple) individual ocean facing chalets/bandas. They offer direct access to the wonderful wide beach. The rooms are not air-conditioned however they have good fans and good ventilation and have very comfortable beds. I also loved the hotel restaurant and the food there. There are two pools and I loved the new pool which was ideal in the evenings. there are numerous restaurant options along the beach however the hotel restaurant was the best I found in Matemwe area. I will certainly return to the hotel in the future.

Small paradise on the east coast Excellent food Spacious bungalows Beautiful view With attention to detail Breakfast available all day Friendly staff Suggestions for improvement: more comfortable seating/lounging on your own terrace coffee maker in the room prices for Zanzibar a bit too high clean beach section a bit (trash, algae), it just makes such a difference