If you are looking for the perfect place to enjoy your holiday on Zanzibar Island you don't have to look much further than Zanzibar Bandas. With sultry jazz inspired music accompanied with a five star culinary experience, Zanzibar Bandas awakens our inner Swahili spirits.
If the ocean breeze and rolling waves didnt make you feel like you were shipwrecked on a paradise island , the spacious tree house like bungalows certainly will. Sitting on a row along Matemwe beach, the bungalows are made out of all natural organic materials and look like they are taken right out of a Robinson cruise story; but with a luxurious spin. All the bungalows are woven out of palm frond which give them a unique style and creates a natural air conditioning driven by the sea breeze. Each bungalow has its own veranda decorated with tables and comfortable chairs. The verandas face the ocean making them perfect for enjoying a meal or a good book. The bungalows are sparsely decorated with a vanity and desk and a huge four post bed in the middle of the room. All bungalows feature modern showers and sinks made from the same coco wood as the rest of the bungalow.
Depending on which bungalow you choose, your shower could even be a palm tree rising through the floor and out again through the thatched roof.
“Your shower could even be a palm tree rising through the floor and out again through the thatched roof. ”
Bandas also offers yoga classes for no additional costs whenever there is an instructor present. There are also a variety of activities available for an extra cost such as snorkeling, stone town tours, beach excursions etc. Often locals can offer a cheaper price but the quality of the outing is more guaranteed through the hotel.
Bandas has a fantastic in house restaurant serving extraordinary meals true to Swahili flavors but with a western twist. Eating there is a culinary experience and it is without a doubt the best food we have had at any restaurant in the whole of Tanzania. One evening we ordered the catch of the day. We were served a beautiful filet of grilled fish (don’t remember what kind) with creamy mashed potatoes, grilled vegetables and the most interesting marinade. I have no idea what it was made of but it was out of this world. Our host Malik or Milky as he likes to be called joined us for dinner and explained how much effort the managers are putting in having the best restaurant. Milky works with the chefs and brainstorm new recipes to keep their menu fresh and have your taste buds exploding. Even the cocktails are perfectly curated by Milky and the staff. Being so remote, the quality of cuisine at Bandas is a saving grace. Travelers beware, there are few to no nearby establishments to visit within walking distance. There is only a very modest village located just outside the gates.
Another reason to visit Bandas is the live music that plays in the restaurant four times a week. Our favorite moments at Bandas, and where the passion of the staff really shone, were had here sipping house made cocktails and listening to the eclectic assembly of talented musicians. It is this special touch which makes Bandas less of a resort and more of an experience. Milky, prompted by his love for music and collaborative artistry has created what he calls the Kilima juu collective, a music collective which blends Swahili music with traditional west African tunes to create something unique to Bandas. As Milky said, bandas is not “just” a resort but a community where local artisans collect to create great music and great food under the thatched roofs of traditionally made “Bandas” ie bungalows.
After visiting once you will keep on coming again and again, we promise you that.
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