Mangrove Lodge Hotel in Zanzibar

We were looking for a place near stonetown but still on the beach. The views of Mangrove Lodge Zanzibar were great from the restaurant, the rooms were nice, spacious and clean! The landscaping of the mangrove is absolutely gorgeous!!! Seriously it is amazing.

The beach was just ok. Which was fine for us because we didn't really want to lay on the beach the whole time. When we did want to sit on the beach the nice staff members brought out very comfortable chairs for us.

The staff was very friendly and personable. Everything was very laid back and relaxed and the food was really good. The power was out a couple times but we expected that! And the staff was great in giving us lanterns to use.

Fabulous welcome and I was very sad to say goodbye!

The world goes on but I leave a piece of my heart there, forever watching over the tropical gardens.

Mangrove Lodge for me was a home away from home, and I wish the world could be a little more like Mangrove Lodge, my stay was fabulous.

I was alone, but didn't feel lonely in the family atmosphere. The bungalows have their own private enterance and I had breakfast most mornings on it. Watching the humming birds and butterflies.

The simple style rooms, with white tiled bathrooms are with ceiling fan, dark wood cupboards and beds with mosquito nets. The rooms were cleaned daily and sprayed by the cleaner, so I had no bugs.

The sandy pathways are well kept and the diversity of plants is incredible, each plant is totally different from the next, and walking through the avenue paths you can see the care taken by the gardeners upkeep.

I drank a sundowner on the beach whilst swinging from the Zanzibar style swing beds most evenings. I liked the beach because it was secluded, there is a pier to jump from, and unlike the west coast you can swim all day as the tide doesn't go out. I chilled out, had massages, read books, swam, snorkeled, sunbathed and explored Zanzibar.

The location is great because you can go into stone town and enjoy a day or night out, and get a taxi back for $10-15..

Spice tours, snorkeling and all excurions can be organised from Mangrove.

I went on day trips all over the island, both by taxi and dala dala bus and was able to return still intime for sunset.

If you stay on the east coast it is over 2 hours to the north of the island through the road network.

The owners let me know of any music festivals, beach parties going on in other parts of the island, and we would all drive together.

There was not a monopoly on keeping me in the lodge, they were happy to advise me to explore with envaluable advice from them. Often I got a lift to the main road, got dropped off and hailed a bus, for $1 to the north, or $0.50 to Stone Town to meander down the medieval streets.

Sometimes I would go to sleep at 8pm, tired after a day doing nothing on the beach, or stay up until 1am chatting with the owners and other guests.

I liked that when I did yoga on the beach in the morning, there was no one to watch me, no hassle from beach boys etc.. no one wanting to sell me paintings or be my best friend.

There is free internet available with wireless both in my room, and in the coral clad restaurant, which overlooks the sultan's palace ruins..

Overall I would recommend the mangrove if you are looking for a relaxed laid back holiday. Oh and their recommended driver Omar wad great!

Thanks again for everything!!!