The lit pool courtyard of Kendwa Sky Hotel at night, framed by palms beneath a makuti thatch roof

Kendwa · Zanzibar · Tanzania

Quiet nights, bright mornings.

A small, owner-run hotel set back from the shore — where the loudest thing after dark is the water in the courtyard pool, and the beach is still only eight minutes away.

8 min
Walk to Kendwa Beach
35 m²
King rooms with balcony
24 h
Courtyard pool & bar
9.5 Exceptional 23 guest reviews
The open-sided bar and lounge under a makuti thatch roof, lit warmly at night
A carved Zanzibari wooden panel hanging on a lime-washed wall

Karibu — welcome

A courtyard, a pool,
and time to do nothing

Kendwa Sky is built the way the coast has always built: thick lime-washed walls, carved doors, a makuti thatch roof over an open bar, and everything turned inward toward the water.

There are only a handful of rooms here, and the owners are usually somewhere on the property — pointing you toward the right dhow captain, arranging a taxi, or telling you which of the beach restaurants is worth the walk tonight. It is the kind of place where the staff learn your coffee order on the second morning.

Being a few streets back from the shore is the point. You get the quiet, the garden, and a pool that is yours rather than shared with a thousand day-trippers — and the sand is still an easy stroll down the lane whenever you want it.

Wail & Mohammad Your hosts

A king bed dressed in white linen beneath a carved headboard, warmly lit

The rooms

Double Room
with Pool View

Thirty-five square metres, a king bed, and a balcony that looks down over the water. Cool tile underfoot, air conditioning for the middle of the day, and a bathroom of your own.

  • 35 m²
  • 1 king bed
  • Sleeps 2
  • Balcony
  • Pool view
  • Air conditioning
  • Private bathroom
  • Free WiFi
TZS 85,000 per night, breakfast included

Standard rooms from TZS 75,000; family rooms TZS 100,000. All rates per room per night, breakfast included.

Coffee cups and a fresh flower arrangement set out for breakfast

What's here

Everything you need,
nothing you don't

Breakfast is continental and generous, served every morning under the thatch. There is no full restaurant — but the kitchen will bring food to your table or your room, and three good beach places sit within a ten-minute walk.

  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Free WiFi throughout
  • Continental breakfast
  • Private beach area
  • Pool bar
  • Room service
  • Airport shuttle
  • Free private parking
  • Garden & terrace
  • Tea & coffee in every room
  • Yoga classes
  • Bicycle hire

In pictures

The house and its garden

Guest reviews

Rated 9.5 out of 10

Verified reviews collected by Booking.com from guests who have actually stayed.

Staff
9.9
Comfort
9.9
Value
9.8
Cleanliness
9.7
Facilities
9.5
Free WiFi
10
★★★★★

“A cosy and intimate hotel with a calm atmosphere.”

Egerrup · Denmark

★★★★★

“The rooms are spacious than i anticipated.”

Sheron · Zimbabwe

★★★★★

“The owner and staff were very helpful.”

Pravin · South Africa

Where you are

Northwest corner
of the island

Kendwa sits at the top-left of Zanzibar, three kilometres down the coast from Nungwi. The beach faces west, so the sun sets straight out in front of you.

Kendwa Beach
650 m · 8 min walk
Sunset Kendwa — cafe & bar
600 m
The Lebanese Cuisine Kendwa
750 m
Fisherman Lokal Restaurant
800 m
Royal Beach
1.5 km
Nungwi Beach & village
2.7 km
Abeid Amani Karume Airport
59 km

Ready when you are

Come and stay with us

Check-in is from 1 pm, breakfast runs every morning, and we will meet you at the airport if you would like us to.