Tembo House Hotel

4.0 star property

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Tembo House Hotel

3 outdoor pools, open 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, sun loungers
Junior Suite with Balcony and Ocean view | Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe, desk
Aerial view
View from property
Couples treatment rooms, body treatments, body wraps, body scrubs

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Room service

Explore the area

Map
Forodhani Street, Zanzibar Town, 25524
  • Old Fort
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Forodhani Gardens
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Slave Market
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)
    ‪15 min drive‬

Room options

Freddie Mercury Apartment with Balcony and City view

  • 592 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Twin Room with Balcony and Sea view

  • 269 sq ft
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

Triple Room with Balcony and Sea view

  • 344 sq ft
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 3 Twin Beds

Junior Suite with Balcony and Ocean view

  • 323 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Double Room with Balcony and Sea view

  • 301 sq ft
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Family Room with Balcony and Sea view

  • 323 sq ft
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Double Room at Annex building

  • 237 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Twin Room with Balcony and City view

  • 323 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Queen Beds

Double Room with City view

  • 323 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

Triple Room at Annex building

  • 280 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Deluxe Suite with Balcony and Beach view

  • 323 sq ft
  • Beach view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Twin Room at Annex building

  • 237 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Large Twin Beds

Standard Double Room

  • 301 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Standard Twin Room

  • 269 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

Standard Triple Room

  • 344 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Twin Bed and 1 King Bed

Presidental Suite with Balcony and Ocean view

  • 323 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Family Room at Annex Building

  • 376 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 King Beds

Double Room with Balcony and City view

  • 323 sq ft
  • City view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Similar properties

About this property

Tembo House Hotel

4-star Zanzibar Town hotel, connected to a shopping center in Stone Town
Spend the day catching some rays at the beach, relaxing by one of Tembo House Hotel's 3 outdoor swimming pools, or pampering yourself at the full-service spa. Change of towels is available on request.
Tembo House Hotel offers 65 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. Beds feature Egyptian cotton sheets. 32-inch LED televisions come with cable channels. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations, designer toiletries, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.

This Zanzibar Town hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include complimentary bottled water and coffee/tea makers. Irons/ironing boards, change of towels, and change of bedsheets can be requested. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily.

3 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children's pool.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

The onsite spa has couples treatment room(s). Services include facials, body wraps, body scrubs, and body treatments. The spa is open daily.
For a convenient ride to the sand and surf, hop on the hotel's beach shuttle (surcharge). At Tembo House Hotel you can cool off in one of the 3 outdoor swimming pools and indulge in a pampering afternoon at the full-service spa.

A complimentary manager's reception is offered each day. The hotel offers a restaurant, a coffee shop/cafe, and a snack bar/deli. Wireless Internet access is complimentary. This Colonial hotel also offers a children's pool, a garden, and a terrace. Limited complimentary onsite parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tembo House Hotel has designated areas for smoking.

A complimentary manager's reception is offered each day.
Tembo Bahari Restaurant - This beachfront restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. A children's menu is available. Open 24 hours. Reservations are required.
Late night fare is available from 24-hour room service.

Languages

Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Beach shuttle (surcharge)
  • Ferry terminal shuttle (surcharge)
  • Shopping center shuttle (surcharge)
  • Limo/town car service
  • Free secured self parking on site
  • Free extended parking on site
  • Limited onsite parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily buffet breakfast available 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee: USD 15 for adults and USD 10 for children
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Couples/private dining
  • Free daily manager's reception
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • Tembo Bahari Restaurant

Things to do

  • 3 outdoor pools
  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • Children's pool
  • Farming classes
  • Foosball table
  • Full-service spa
  • Games
  • Library
  • Playground
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • 3 outdoor pools
  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Mini-fridge
  • Playground
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • ATM
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry facilities
  • Lockers
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Change of bedsheets (on request)
  • Change of towels on request
  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • 161 square feet of conference space
  • Business center
  • Meeting room

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels
  • Garden
  • On the beach
  • On the waterfront
  • Picnic area
  • Pool loungers
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Body scrubs
  • Body wraps
  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Facials
  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Massage
  • Spa open daily

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Low-height counter and sink
  • No elevator
  • Raised toilet seat
  • Tile flooring in room
  • Wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking

More

  • 100% renewable energy
  • 3 buildings
  • 3 floors
  • At least 10% of profits reinvested in community and sustainability
  • At least 80% lighting from LEDs
  • At least 80% of food locally-sourced
  • At least 80% organic food
  • Built in 1992
  • Colonial architecture
  • Comprehensive food waste policy
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Designated smoking areas
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Living plant wall
  • Local artist showcase
  • Local culture and ecosystem education
  • Locally-owned and organized tours and activities
  • No plastic drinking straws
  • Reception hall
  • Reusable cups
  • Vegetarian breakfast available
  • Vegetarian dining options
  • Water dispenser usage encouraged

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Egyptian cotton sheets

Bathroom

  • Designer toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 32-inch LED TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Mini-fridge
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Cleaning products are eco-friendly
  • Desk
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Electrical adapters
  • Free local calls
  • Heating (climate-controlled)
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Laptop workspace
  • LED lighting
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Water-efficient showers
  • Water-efficient toilets

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in is available for a fee
Contactless check-in available
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the ferry terminal and airport (surcharges may apply); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
5 children, up to the age of 1, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 35.0 per day

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 5.00 per person, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Fee for buffet breakfast: approximately USD 15 for adults and USD 10 for children
  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 15.00 per vehicle (one-way)
  • Airport shuttle fee per child: USD 15.00 (one-way), (from 5 to 10 years old)
  • Early check-in is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 35.0 per day

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Pool access available from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
Alcohol is not served at this property

Property is also known as

Tembo House Hotel Apartments Zanzibar Town
Tembo House Hotel Apartments
Tembo House Zanzibar Town
Tembo House
Tembo House Hotel Hotel
Tembo House Hotel Apartments
Tembo House Hotel Zanzibar Town
Tembo House Hotel Hotel Zanzibar Town

Tembo House Hotel Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 398 out of 818 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 298 out of 818 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 74 out of 818 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 27 out of 818 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 21 out of 818 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Abe

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very well kept with antique feeling and very friendly staff
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Edward

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Great facility but disappointing service.
My wife and I stayed for part of our honeymoon. The hotel was great, the room was lovely, brilliant location with amazing pool and views over the beach. Very disappointed with the service, getting frustrated emails when my flight was delayed by 5 hours and I was trying to rearrange my taxi, then being accused of not paying for it. Minor heads up, they don’t serve alcohol in the hotel so no chance for sunset cocktails. This wasn’t clear until check in.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brett

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Fimo

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Sebastiano

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dalila

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very good
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Shawn, Gatineau

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Amenities
The building as a piece of Zanzibar history is an asset, are as the friendliness of morning staff. It stops there. Upon checkin we were provided a room adjacent to the eating area, where there is no privacy as the room opens onto people eating. The window looks put at a wall, the bathroom window is at street level and the a/c was not working. Despite efforts to fix the a/c, this was not successful and we requested another room. Upon being informed there was no other rooms available we left the sauna that was our room to walk along the beach. The pictures on the website of the beach area and the reality that the private beach is simply the length of the lounge chairs partitioned by a small room from the very public and very busy beach. Since it's a commercial area for tour boats and other vessels, you can't move without being harassed to buy something or tour to Prison Island. Plus it's not an ideal area for swimming. Upon return to the hotel we were informed a room was found, which turned out to be worse than the original room. It was next to the pool, so no privacy and the beach area is quite busy at night, so no sleep. The next day we found other accomodations and checked out of Tempo House Hotel. For anyone wanting to drink, there is no alcohol sold at this property. Further, people are coming and going without vérification they are guests, which is a safety concern. This property is a high price hostel. Period.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Jakob

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

4/10 Poor

Melanie

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Overpriced Very old hotel, rooms and hotel not well cleaned, chaotic check-in
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Per

Traveled with family
Allt var ok. 3 stjärnigt hotell
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Andre

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fabulous
Really beautiful location with great pools. Right on the ocean. We loved it! The breakfast was incredible!
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Alicia

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elaine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great place
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

4/10 Poor

Rizwan

Business traveler
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was noisy, dirty. The only good thing about this hotel was the pool on first floor. The AC in the room did not work properly. Due to noise and heat during night, I couldn't sleep properly. The registration ladies do not know much and booked me for three more days and then cancelled without informing me. thank God, they cancelled it and I moved to good hotel.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hamid, San Diego

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It is centrally located with amenities and wonderful service. We have a stayed here before and came back because of location and comfort.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best place in stone town
As usual it was an excellent stay at Tembo house. The breakfast is amazing and the rooftop pool is agreat please to see fishing boats going out or coming in during sunset. Chef Haji is amazing when it comes to the spices and the overall friendliness of the staff and manager is great. Home away from home!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Arlene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I loved every thing about the property. The food was great They need to offer more Zanzibar foods The people were so hrlpful.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Maria

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Maria

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jonathon, Carrollton

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great beachfront historical property.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Jayantha, New Westminster

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Internet was not good, very weak. Our room was not too spacious. No chair or table in our room. Good location. Staff always there to help you. Beach front is a good place to watch locals in the evening time. staff make sure all the areas are clean all the time. Good breakfast buffet! Hot water and A/C very good. Enough TV channels. Family friendly.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Diane

Traveled with group, Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff were exceptional. Pools beautiful location perfect. Staff consistently went out of there way to make you happy.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Katja

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Overnight in Stonetown
We spend an amazing 2 days at Tembo house. It is a historic hotel with lots of charm. Service is nice and the rooms are large and comfortable. I would come back.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good - and not so good
+ The hotel is placed in the middle of everything, the room was nice and had lots of space and a great balcony. The madrass were very good and aircon/fan was working around the clock, so the room was always in temperature. All the pools were perfect. - I would have loved to know - in advance- that my room was placed in another building, as I travel alone. At breakfast my table were cleaned (even for food) and my table given to someone else when I was getting a refill. The breakfast were good, but food "a la carte" was no good
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024