The Island Pongwe - Adult Only

For my 50th birthday, my partner treated me to a week on this island paradise. As soon as informed, the staff made a point of marking the occasion by offering us three-quarters of our stay in the Sultan suite instead of the bungalow we had booked. We were also offered a bottle of wine or whatever else we chose. We were impressed by the exceptional welcome we received from all the staff, who were constantly on hand to make our stay an unforgettable one. Services such as massages are exceptional.the food is everytime a moment of discovery and real pleasure. Visits are organized down to the last detail to make every moment an exceptional one. But above and beyond this paradise on earth, what we remember most of all was the warm welcome we received from these people, who have very little compared to what we have in France, but who nonetheless offered us all their warmth, kindness, happiness and smiles. I'll never forget my 50th birthday, that's for sure! Michaela, Raphael, Anna, Maria, Susana, and all the others, be assured of our eternal gratitude and friendship.

We just returned from an unforgettable 13-night stay at Pongwe Island Lodge in Zanzibar, and we couldn’t have dreamed of a better place to unwind. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by Margarita, the lodge manager, whose kindness and professionalism truly reflect the quality of the entire team. After our third night, we were pleasantly surprised with a complimentary upgrade to a stunning villa with ocean views. This gem was tastefully decorated in local style, featuring Maasai statues and traditional masks — a true immersion in Tanzanian culture. The villa was spacious, beautifully designed, impeccably clean, and well maintained. The lodge is located on a private island and features only six accommodations, offering absolute peace and total privacy. If you’re looking to escape from the noise and crowds and fully reconnect with nature, this is the place for you. The staff was incredibly attentive. Whether it was Raphael, Juma, Anna, Irina, Susana, Ignas, Charles, Amani, the housekeeping team, the security staff, or the kitchen crew — everyone contributed to making our stay seamless and special. A special thank-you to the head chef, who went out of her way to create diverse and high-quality meals throughout our long stay. When we mentioned we’d love to have Red Snapper, she and the team went above and beyond to prepare us a truly memorable dinner. Margarita even surprised us with a complimentary day trip to the Gold Zanzibar Beach House in Kendwa, a magical experience that was a true highlight of our trip. Everything — excursions, transfers, recommendations — was organized wonderfully. You simply get to relax and enjoy every moment while being guided by a caring and professional team. We 100% recommend Pongwe Island Lodge to anyone seeking authenticity, relaxation, personalized service, and a paradise setting. The combination of comfort, understated luxury, and cultural richness is rare and precious. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to Margarita and her exceptional team for making this such a magical experience. One thing is certain: we’ll be back as soon as we can! Claire and Laurent

We were not guests at the hotel but visited the restaurant twice during our stay nearby because we thought the food, drink and service was so exceptional. The location really is amazing and is particularly atmospheric for dinner when the tide is low. The food was the best we had during our two-week honeymoon trip which took across Tanzania and Zanzibar - the bruschetta starter was particularly impressive. Amani was a very good waiter during our first visit. We were also very taken with the adorable cats who live on the island!

Pongwe Island Lodge Ethos. Bespoke eco friendly, unique holiday experience that may not be for everyone but was exactly what we had imagined. Open your hearts and minds to embrace a vacation that is a little bit different from the generic holidays on the market. A holiday creating memories which will last a lifetime .Tranquility and relaxation is what this holiday offers. We would repeat this experience in a heartbeat. Arrival By taxi straight to the beach on mainland literally a couple of minutes walk away. Security controlled with porters to take your luggage to the island. Although Zanzibar is considered a very safe country to visit. If the tide is in a little boat is waiting for you. The Welcome Frank is eagerly awaiting your arrival. My partner and I were greeted by name with big smiles, fresh heavenly scented towels and refreshing chilled coconuts. Checkin is seamless with a tour of the island . You are taken to your individual lodge within a blink of an eye. The Lodges There are only 5 individual lodges and a restaurant on the island. Each with its own patio and outside seating area. All traditionally furnished with carefully considered amenities. Every requirement is catered for exactly what you would expect from a 5 star hotel. We were treated like royalty and upgraded to the astounding Sultan Villa which was massive . It even had our very own Masai warriors to protect us whilst we slept . Two huge sculptures side by side. A gigantic bath tub overlooking the sea, a walk-in shower, a curtain draped comfy bed, a fridge with mini bar, tea and coffee making station. A double sink unit uniquely created out of an old Dhow boat stocked with locally made soaps, shampoo and conditioner, scented hand and body lotion also added. A double chaired seating area and ottoman bed . The Views Overlooking Pongwe Beach seaweed farm. You can watch the kind gentile friendly Zabaria People going about their daily business. Ladies collecting seaweed , fishermen launching their dhow boats, Masai men ready to show you the colourful starfish species. Masai ladies selling their jewellery. With smiles and hellos a plenty you can walk amongst them along the beach. This is not a beach you sunbath on but a fascinating eco system, a photographers dream. The colours of the sunrise and sunsets are just spectacular. The atypical sunbathing beaches are just a few minutes away if this is what you wish for. The Restaurant Sympathetically furnished, decorated with beautiful traditional artwork. The views of the sunset are breathtaking . We were lucky enough to witness orange moon. The food is all al la carte all fresh and organic and cooked to order, no buffet or pre-made food here. Although the menu is small it is carefully curated for everyone’s taste. For staying guests there is a daily breakfast and dinner, chefs special menu. We were happy just trust in the chef to try many dishes we were not familiar with. It was just a culinary delight. In the 10 nights w

We’ve had a romantic dinner prepared by Susana and it was delicious. Everything served with love and with all the details. We highly recommend this beautiful paradise in this little island.

This was a magical experience, the hotell itself is such a stunning place. The service is very good and attentive with such nice staff. A special thanks to Raphael who is very helpful. The food is excellent, we had full board which I would recommend. The room itself is nice but a bit to rustic, the lighting inside is subpar and the room is quite dark (although you spend most of the time on your own private patio so you barely notice). There was no schampoo or conditioner which is a negative.