This past June I had the opportunity to stay and learn more about Zuri Zanzibar Hotel & Resort in Kendwa, Zanzibar. It is a "design-led" resort which basically means, in this case especially, that everything is done in a thoughtful, intentional and 'designed' way, for lack of a better word.
In the founding of Zuri Zanzibar they aimed to protect the landscape and 400 indigenous plant species in the area. During the construction they did cut down any of the iconically-African Baobab trees. They keep a Spice Garden and the whole resort is landscaped beautifully and very naturally. I'm such a sucker for tropical plants so I was in heaven walking along their pathways to the beach or to the huge bookshelf or the spa.
Don't get me started on the room because it was simply insane--so soft, luxurious and comforting. Their was customizable air conditioning within the bed itself! The outdoor bathtub put me over the edge.
Zuri offers such a unique experience, before I arrived that has just had a baby sea turtle release at their beachfront. They are working on desalination ozone technology to desalinate the ocean water, and will be working on phasing out plastic water bottles completely. Zuri was so intentional about protecting the environment and working to be sustainable that they were awarded EarthCheck Sustainable Design Gold Certified 2019, which sets Zuri at a very high standard by meeting high criteria in regards to sustainability, consumption, sourcing and more.
When I had been on a boat passing by this coastline earlier this year, I was observing the skyline at the other resorts in the area that are very prominent and exposed on the coast, while Zuri seems to just blend seamlessly into the beach and natural environment, that you can barely tell that it's there.
When asked about what Zuri Zanzibar does to incorporate or honor local culture, they explained that they work with local youth and counterparts on weekly clean-ups, or trainings or events and through this program they have actually been so well trained that they have been employed by the resort. They also work on educational initiatives to work towards sustainable development.
The five-course, plastic-free dinner was probably one of the most sophisticated and creative meals that I've ever had. It incorporated Gazpacho to pumpkin to locally-caught Red Snapper. It was very wholesome and did not feature any ingredients that came with single-use plastic. This is something that I would appreciate anywhere, but especially because of the ocean and the coral reefs surrounding the islands.
Everything that is done there is just so thoughtful and detail-oriented.
I'm so thankful to William Ruwa and the team that worked with me to have such a fantastic experience-- I feel like I have left with new friends!
I can't wait to visit again and I truly think it is one of the most outstanding designed experiences in East Africa. 10/10 - would reccommend.