Malaika Bungalows and Hotel in Zanzibar

Do not believe anyone who tells you Malaika Bungalows in Zanzibar has burned down/ been sold to a hotel chain/ changed its name to another etc etc.

We encountered several of these tales but none of them are true!

Malaika is an absolute gem. It's best to book ahead because there are only 2 rooms (though we called on the day and got lucky).

Both are incredibly spacious and very clean.

The Tanzanian owners extremely friendly and helpful.

Delilah even accompanied us to the medical clinic when I got sick and then arranged special food to be brought to our room while I recovered.

Malaika is down the south end of the beach, near a little forest and much quieter than the hive of activity in the middle of the beach, but within easy walking distance if you want that.

Other Hotels and Beach Vacation Lodges in Zanzibar

It's right on the sand but the rooms don't have views.

Though it was actually quite nice to have such a cool shady refuge from the intense sun, so in the end we didn't mind not having the view.

The asking price for the room and breakfast was $40 per night but we arranged a discount because we stayed for a while.

This was the cheapest price we found on Kendwa and by the sounds of things, others were paying more for lower standard rooms.

The owners also quoted prices well below those offered by the tourist info centers for snorkelling trips and the like.