Kilindi Zanzibar

I went to Kilindi for lunch, as I was considering staying there for my last night in Zanzibar and (thankfully) decided to check it out first, since it's just a few minutes drive from Zuri where I'm currently staying. I called in advance and asked the woman that answered whether non-guests are allowed to come for lunch. She said yes, but it's $100. Expensive, but I thought OK why not. When I arrived at the gate, I was kept waiting there for over 15 minutes by the security guard, who was not only unapologetic but literally laughing at the fact that I had called ahead and yet was still not being allowed in. When I was finally allowed in, I was escorted to a reception area where I was told I had to wait for the return of the resort's 1 receptionist, who was currently on a "site inspection". The food ended up being average, the receptionist totally unapologetic (and demanded that I pay the $100 up front before I continued with my meal), and even the WiFi didn't work. Their beach is also terrible. I'm glad I went though because at least it saved me from spending a night there.

Kilindi Zanzibar is beautiful. The whole property is stunning, full of tropical flowers and amazing wildlife (Sykes' monkeys and greater galagos)! The villas are extravagant - our villa #15 was at the top far end of the property, incredibly private with a great view. Two (!) plunge pools, an air conditioned (!) bedroom with a mini fridge full of complimentary drinks, and an open air bathroom with a rain shower. The white washed architecture and design is beautiful throughout and the pool, paths, rooms, and spaces are kept absolutely pristine by the incredible team at Kilindi. I highly recommend a massage from Winifrida or Kathleen and a sunset dhow cruise (but note that you may need to wade out to the boat!). We also booked the spice and Stonetown tour and our great guide Abdullah was a lot of fun as well as extremely knowledgeable. Jacob was our terrific villa host who helped us book outings and ensure that our every need was met. The team at Kilindi works extremely long hours and we appreciated their efforts to provide an exceptional experience. The food was incredible and varied - everything was included from the welcome fresh coconut drink to the chips and guacamole that appear when you sit by the pool. You could choose from an a la carte menu or a multi course tasting menu and on our last night we were surprised by a spectacular seafood barbecue on the beach. We had an amazing stay!

Fantastico e Unico Fiquei hospedado com minha esposa no hotel no mes passado. Tenho por habito, ler os reviews de hospedes antes de reservar hoteis. Confesso que li alguns reviews que depreciavam bastante o hotel e fiquei um pouco inseguro, mas como estes eram uma minoria, resolvi confirmar a reserva. A experiencia no hotel foi fantastica, desde o momento que chegamos. Fomos calorosamente recebidos pela equipe do hotel, inclusive Andre, o gerente, que eh muito gentil e solicito. Tudo no hotel nos surpreendeu positivamente. A piscina, o restaurante, a comida, tudo uma experiencia muito agradavel e deliciosa. Mas os pontos altos realmente sao a Vila e as pessoas. A vila eh grande e magnifica, uma estadia realmente muito unica e especial. Descansamos e aproveitamos muito a area externa da vila, o quarto eh otimo e o melhor eh o banheiro aberto. Inesquecivel. Por fim, devo falar das pessoas, todos os funcionarios sao muito bem treinados, estao sempre atentos e prontos para ajudar e atender todos os desejos dos hospedes. Sao todos muito especiais. Definitivamente foi uma das melhores experiencias que ja tivemos em hoteis e recomendo fortemente.