Best Zanzibar Honeymoon Resorts (2027)
2027 planning reviewed 7 October 2026 · Dated sample prices from Expedia · By the honeymoons.africa editorial team
Ten honeymoon resorts compared on what a week really costs, private pools, adults-only rules and meal plans, from sunset pavilions in Kendwa to pool villas on the quiet south-west coast.
Zanzibar has hundreds of places to stay, but only a few work as a honeymoon resort: a beach worth spending time on, privacy for two, strong food and service, and a room that feels special. We compared ten of them on the details that decide a honeymoon: a private pool, adults-only rules, what the rate includes and what a week actually costs.
Location matters most. Kendwa, on the north-west, lets you swim at any tide and watch the sunset; the east and south-east coasts are quieter but strongly tidal. If you are still choosing a coast, read our Zanzibar beaches and honeymoon areas guide and the best time for a Zanzibar honeymoon.
How we checked: on 28 September 2026 we priced every resort on Expedia for 1–8 February 2027, two adults, and quote the seven-night total including taxes and fees, rounded to the nearest US$100. Room names and facts come from each resort’s own website and its Expedia listing. The figures are dated sample prices, not a quote for your trip. Use the Expedia buttons to enter your own dates and compare the available room, meal plan, total for two adults and cancellation terms.
2027 price context, checked 7 October 2026: the Expedia comparison remains the 28 September sample for 1–8 February 2027. Separately, Zuri’s published 2027 rack rates list a two-person entry bungalow on half board at US$830 per night in mid season, US$1,220 in high season and US$1,410 in the festive period, including VAT. These are published hotel rates, not Expedia quotes. Its all-inclusive supplement is US$150 per person per night: US$2,100 extra for two over seven nights. Compare your actual Expedia total and inclusions before choosing the meal plan.
Zanzibar honeymoon resorts compared
| Resort | Area | Best for | Private pool | Adults only | Board (Expedia) | 7 nights from | Live price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilindi | Kendwa | Best overall | Every pavilion | Yes | All-inclusive | US$12,100 | Check price |
| Zuri | Kendwa | All-round beach resort | No | No | Half board | US$7,200 | Check price |
| The Residence | Kizimkazi | Best-value pool villa | Every villa | No | Breakfast | US$4,800 | Check price |
| Baraza | Bwejuu | All-inclusive villas | Every villa | No | All-inclusive | US$9,300 | Check price |
| White Sand | Paje | Food and design | Pool villas | No | Breakfast | US$12,900 | Check price |
| Tulia | Pongwe | Small hideaway | Pool villas | No | Breakfast | US$7,000 | Check price |
| Riu Palace | Nungwi | Adults-only value | Some suites | Yes | All-inclusive | US$3,300 | Check price |
| The Mora | Matemwe | Big modern all-inclusive | Two suite types | No | All-inclusive | US$4,700 | Check price |
| Gold Zanzibar | Kendwa | Kendwa value | Villas | No | Breakfast or all-inclusive | US$4,800 | Check price |
| Essque Zalu | Nungwi | Best value | Family villas only | No | Half board | US$2,900 | Check price |
Shortlist by what matters most
- Adults only: Elewana Kilindi and Riu Palace; direct-only Zawadi and The Palms.
- A private pool whatever room you book: Kilindi, The Residence and Baraza.
- All-inclusive: Kilindi, Baraza, Riu Palace and The Mora, with all-inclusive rates at Gold.
- Swimming at any tide, with sunsets: Kendwa, so Kilindi, Zuri and Gold.
- Under US$5,000 a week: Essque Zalu, Riu Palace, The Mora, The Residence and Gold.
The 10 best Zanzibar honeymoon resorts
Location photo: Rafal Jedrzejek / Unsplash
1. Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar
Best overall. Kilindi has just 15 domed pavilion suites in a tropical garden that runs down to the beach, and every one has its own plunge pool, with a 25-metre infinity pool to share. It is adults-only and all-inclusive, and Kendwa lets you swim at any tide with the sunset over the sea.
- Book: Ocean View Pool Pavilion for the sea and sunset view; the Garden View Pool Pavilion saves about US$2,400 a week.
- 7 nights: about US$14,400 all-inclusive (Ocean View); US$12,100 (Garden View).
- Watch out: the priciest stay on this list, and Kendwa’s beach is public, as all Zanzibar beaches are, so expect the odd vendor.
2. Zuri Zanzibar
Best all-round beach resort. Zuri’s 56 bungalows, suites and villas sit in spice-garden grounds on Kendwa, the north-west beach where you can swim at any tide. Three restaurants and four bars keep a week varied.
- Book: a Suite if space matters; the garden-view Bungalow is the value choice.
- 7 nights: about US$7,200 half board (Bungalow); Suite about US$13,200.
- Watch out: not adults-only, and the bungalows have no private pool.
3. The Residence Zanzibar
Best-value private-pool villa. All 66 villas have their own pool, from the 155 m² Luxury Garden Pool Villa to two-bedroom Frangipani villas, on a quiet stretch of the south-west coast. It was the lowest-priced private-pool stay in our check.
- Book: Luxury Ocean Front Pool Villa: the same size as the garden villa, facing the sea.
- 7 nights: about US$6,800 with breakfast (Ocean Front); Luxury Garden Pool Villa about US$4,800.
- Watch out: it is remote, so you will eat at the resort most nights, and breakfast-only rates add up.
4. Baraza Resort & Spa Zanzibar
Best all-inclusive villas. Baraza’s 30 villas all have private pools, and meals and drinks are included. It sits on Bwejuu’s powder-white beach on the south-east coast, about an hour from the airport.
- Book: Villa, 1 Bedroom, Sea View: on our dates it cost the same as the standard one-bedroom villa.
- 7 nights: about US$9,300 all-inclusive.
- Honeymoon offer: Baraza advertises a Superior Honeymoon Offer of seven nights for the price of five, with a bottle of wine, sundowners and 10% off diving. Ask whether your booking qualifies.
- Watch out: families are welcome (up to two children under 12 stay free in Garden View two-bedroom villas), and the east-coast sea retreats far at low tide.
5. Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa
Best for food and design. White Sand is a Relais & Châteaux resort with 19 private villas and three Cinnamon rooms on Paje beach, and it holds One MICHELIN Key for 2026. Dining is garden-to-table.
- Book: Garden Villa with Pool; the Garden Villa with Hot Tub costs a little less.
- 7 nights: about US$13,800 with breakfast (pool villa); hot-tub villa about US$12,900.
- Watch out: Paje is Zanzibar’s kitesurf beach, lively and windy in season, and strongly tidal.
6. Tulia Zanzibar Unique Beach Resort
Best small hideaway. Tulia has 16 bungalows and villas on a near-private stretch of Pongwe beach, with the Cobia restaurant, an underground wine cellar and a spa. Seafront villas come with or without a private pool.
- Book: Seafront Luxury Villa with Private Pool; the Deluxe Garden Bungalow to save.
- 7 nights: about US$12,800 with breakfast (pool villa); bungalow about US$7,000.
- Watch out: Expedia’s rate was breakfast-only, while safari operators sell Tulia fully inclusive, so compare like with like. Children under 12 are welcome.
7. Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar
Best-value adults-only all-inclusive. Riu Palace is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort on Nungwi beach, with a buffet restaurant, two themed restaurants and a range of suites and villas. Some junior suites have a small private pool on the terrace.
- Book: Junior Suite (Small Private Pool on Terrace).
- 7 nights: about US$4,900 all-inclusive; standard junior suites from about US$3,300.
- Watch out: it is a big chain resort, so expect busy buffets rather than intimacy. RIU’s newer Riu Palace Swahili in Nungwi is also adults-only.
8. The Mora Zanzibar
Best big modern all-inclusive. The Mora has 250 suites, four restaurants, six pools and The Pause spa on Muyuni beach in Matemwe, a five-minute boat ride from Mnemba Island. Two suite types have private pools.
- Book: Superior Suite King Ocean View with Whirlpool; for your own pool, the Executive Suite (6 × 3 m pool).
- 7 nights: about US$5,900 all-inclusive (whirlpool suite); Executive Suite about US$21,100.
- Watch out: 250 suites and a kids’ club for ages 3 to 12 make it lively, and the east coast is tidal.
9. Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa
Best Kendwa value. Gold sits right on Kendwa beach, where you can swim at any tide, and Expedia sells its rooms with breakfast or all-inclusive. Its villas add private pools.
- Book: Suite (with Pavilion) on the all-inclusive rate; the sea-facing Luxury Villa if you want your own pool.
- 7 nights: about US$7,900 all-inclusive (Suite with Pavilion); pool villa about US$15,300; rooms from about US$4,800 with breakfast.
- Watch out: rooms and suites have no private pool, and the public beach brings vendors.
10. Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Best value. Essque Zalu is a five-star resort at Nungwi, and Expedia sells a dedicated Honeymoon Garden View room on half board. Its private-pool villas are three- and four-bedroom houses, so couples book the suites.
- Book: Honeymoon Garden View; the Seafront Suite for a sea view.
- 7 nights: about US$3,400 half board (Honeymoon Garden View); Seafront Suite about US$3,900; from about US$2,900.
- Watch out: no private pools for couples, and garden rooms have no sea view.
Also worth a look: booked direct, not on Expedia
Zawadi Hotel
Twelve villas on the Michamvi peninsula, each with a private plunge pool; all-inclusive, minimum age 16. A small cove lets you swim at any tide. Expedia showed no rooms for two on our dates.
The Palms
Seven villas on Bwejuu beach, each with a sunken private plunge pool; all-inclusive and adults-only. We could not find it on Expedia.
&Beyond Mnemba Island
Twelve beach bandas on a private island off the north-east coast, all-inclusive from about US$1,650 per person per night plus a US$100 conservation fee; minimum age 12.
Which coast suits you
| Coast | Beaches | Swimming at low tide | Sunsets | Feel | Resorts here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North-west | Kendwa | Yes, at any tide | Over the sea | Easy and romantic | Kilindi, Zuri, Gold |
| North tip | Nungwi | Mostly, on the west side | From the west side | Busiest, most restaurants | Riu Palace, Essque Zalu |
| North-east | Matemwe, Pongwe | Limited at low tide | Sunrise side | Quiet, close to Mnemba | The Mora, Tulia |
| South-east | Bwejuu, Paje, Michamvi | No: the sea retreats far | Sunrise side (Michamvi’s west shore has sunsets) | Laid-back; kitesurf at Paje | Baraza, White Sand, Zawadi, The Palms |
| South-west | Kizimkazi | Limited at low tide | Over the sea | Remote; dolphin trips | The Residence |
Add a night in Stone Town
Most couples spend one night in Stone Town at the start or end of the beach stay. Park Hyatt Zanzibar sits on the Stone Town seafront; Expedia showed about US$440 a night before taxes on our February dates.
Check Park Hyatt Zanzibar on Expedia
What a honeymoon week costs
On our February check, seven nights for two ranged from about US$2,900 (Essque Zalu, half board) and US$3,300 (Riu Palace, all-inclusive) to about US$14,400 (Kilindi’s ocean-view pavilion, all-inclusive), before flights. For transfers, the mandatory Zanzibar insurance and a full budget, see the Zanzibar honeymoon cost guide.
How many nights should you stay?
For complete trip shapes rather than hotel-only advice, compare our Zanzibar honeymoon packages, including Stone Town + beach, all-inclusive, private-pool and safari combinations.
For a beach-only Zanzibar honeymoon, seven to ten nights gives you enough time to relax without feeling trapped in one resort. After a Tanzania or Kenya safari, five to seven nights is usually enough. If you have more than a week, spend one night in Stone Town and the rest at one beach resort rather than changing beach hotels.
If Zanzibar is the beach half of a bigger trip, compare our Tanzania & Zanzibar honeymoon and Kenya & Zanzibar honeymoon itineraries.
Start with the coast, then decide whether your priority is a private pool, adults-only, all-inclusive ease or sunsets. Our Zanzibar destination guide ties the pieces together.
Read the Zanzibar honeymoon guideZanzibar honeymoon resort questions
What is the best Zanzibar honeymoon resort?
Elewana Kilindi, if the budget allows: it is adults-only and all-inclusive, each of its 15 pavilions has a plunge pool, and Kendwa lets you swim at any tide. For less, The Residence has private-pool villas from about US$4,800 a week with breakfast, and Riu Palace is adults-only and all-inclusive from about US$3,300 a week.
Which Zanzibar resorts are adults-only?
Elewana Kilindi and Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar, both bookable on Expedia. The Palms is adults-only and Zawadi has a minimum age of 16; both are booked direct. RIU’s Riu Palace Swahili in Nungwi is also adults-only.
Which Zanzibar honeymoon resorts have private pools?
Every unit at Elewana Kilindi, Baraza (30 villas) and The Residence (66 villas) has one. White Sand, Tulia and Gold have private-pool villas, and Riu Palace and The Mora have some suites with their own pool. Zawadi and The Palms, booked direct, give every villa a plunge pool.
How much does a honeymoon week at a Zanzibar resort cost?
On our February 2027 check, seven nights for two cost from about US$2,900 at Essque Zalu on half board and US$3,300 at Riu Palace all-inclusive, up to about US$14,400 for Kilindi’s ocean-view pavilion all-inclusive, before flights.
Which side of Zanzibar is best for honeymooners?
Kendwa on the north-west is best for swimming at any tide and for sunsets. The east and south-east coasts are quieter, with strong tides, and the south-west around Kizimkazi suits couples who want privacy.
How many nights are enough for Zanzibar after safari?
Five to seven nights is a good beach extension after safari. For a standalone Zanzibar honeymoon, seven to ten nights works better.
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