Accommodation in Stone Town, Zanzibar: Tembo House Hotel

By: Marion Whitehead
17 June 2011
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Affordable accommodation in Stone Town, Zanzibar

Zanzibar's capital, Stone Town, is a maze of narrow alleys buzz with life, its markets are as busy and colourful as in ancient times and the sultan’s former palace is now the House of Wonders museum where you can climb to the top floor for a sweeping view of the harbour and old city, now a World Heritage Site. On a walking tour, visit the Anglican cathedral, built on the site of the old slave market to atone for the sins of the past.

Zanzibar’s exotic reputation was built on the old city and it’s worth more than a day tour. Ask your tour operator to book you a night or two's accommodation in Stone Town. Stay at Tembo House Hotel, a genteelly faded mansion, filled with antiques, right on the water’s edge in old Stone Town. It was the American consulate 180 years ago; now you can sip sundowners on the terrace and watch the dhows returning with their day’s catch.

The swimming pool is in a courtyard next to the restaurant and you can stroll across the sand to dip your toes in the sea. You sleep in a traditional Swahili bed draped with a mosquito net and enjoy modern conveniences such as air con, television, free wi-fi and a mini-bar fridge. It’s a few doors away from the posh Princess Serena Inn and half the price. Another option is its sister hotel, the Dhow Palace, the former home of a wealthy merchant deeper within the old city.

Cost of accommodation at Tempo House Hotel in Stone Town, Zanzibar

B&B is US$66 (about R460) a person a night sharing at Tembo House and US$54 (about R375) at Dhow Palace. Packages combining four nights full board at Karafuu Beach Resort with three nights B&B in Stone Town cost from R9 973 a person at Dhow Palace to R10 257 at Tembo House (including flights, airport taxes and transfers).