Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Driving into Sea Cliff Resort & Spa you know you have found something special. The 4 km road through a coconut plantation that leads to the hotel is a reminder of the Zanzibar of old. Peace and tranquility, no other hotels or busy roads just open space and palm trees.As you enter the courtyard filled with tropical flowers and palms the view of the ocean stands before you. With our traditional makuti roofs and Arabic towers lit by brass lights you know this is not a typical hotel. Its an hotel built with our location in mind. It is a unique combination of modern facilities mixed with the original exotic architecture of historical Zanzibar. Situated on our property is the first and only world-class 9 hold 18 tee golf course in Zanzibar. We boast a full size driving range, practice greens, Pro-Shop with all our golfing needs and apparel, clubs to hire, carts and Club House on the beach. A golf pro is in attendance at all times. Sea Cliff Resort & Spa really is the place to visit.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Nestled in the serene landscape of Zanzibar, Sea Cliff Resort & Spa has earned accolades for its expansive amenities and immaculate grounds. Guests enjoy spacious, comfortable rooms with impressive views, although some have noted noise issues. The hotel's staff receives high marks for their warm and professional service, contributing to the resort's overall relaxing and inviting atmosphere.
While opinions on the value proposition vary, with some finding the resort expensive, the clean environment is consistently praised. However, the quality of food has received some criticism.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Relaxing
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Pristine
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Comprehensive
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveler reviews and learn more about how the site works.
A special thank you to Sea Cliff for an unforgettable experience in Zanzibar. A group of 3 friends, we arrived around 4pm and was pleasantly treated to welcome drinks, cold face towels and a seamless check in. I loved that even though we missed lunch the bar serves up a whole range of delicious tapas available until dinner. The all inclusive package was fantastic and full of variety, buffet breakfast, buffet lunch, buffet dinner and the bar snacks/cocktails were all delicious every day. The service at this resort is beyond 5 star, all of the bartenders, cleaners, waiters/waitresses, pool service, reception and reservations staff were impeccable. Every request is met with a smile and humbleness to make your stay the best possible. They say the best sunsets happen on this side of the island and without a doubt this is true. Watching the sun set every evening from the pool and deck that runs into the ocean was simply breath taking. The deck leads into the ocean and allows for swimming, the water is clear and reaches you at waist level. Drinks are also served on the deck. Even though there is no beach per se, the four infinity pools facing the ocean and the deck made this our best choice in resorts especially given that we had chosen a Safari Blue tour for beach time. With the help of Rahul Jain, Revenue & Reservations Manager, we were able to use the resort preferred tour company, Gallery, have a half day tour of Stown Town (includes stops at the Freddy Mercury House and Memories the main souvenir store) and a full day Safari Blue tour including lunch and snorkeling. We had on the morning made changes to our itenairy for which Rahul ensured we were not charged for and provided us with a refund which we greatly appreciated. We chose the ocean facing room which did not disappoint, the rooms were large and comfortable enough, they do show little signs of aging however nothing of which impacted our stay. The grounds are kept remarkablly well. A sincere thank you to the Chef who whipped us up a special prawn curry and rotis at a last minute request. The entertainment during every dinner was fabulous, they truly are a talented bunch of musicians. It was crazy hot during our stay and we appreciated that all the rooms and transfers had full air-conditioning. I had also misplaced my undercover phone cover at the pool which was kept safe by pool staff and returned to me the morning after. Wifi worked extremely well throughout the resort and throughout our stay. Thank you sincerely to every person at Sea Cliff, you are the reason that this vacation was unforgettable!
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sea Cliff was the second resort we visited on our trip to Zanzibar. I think we had the best room(513) in the resort with two balconies right at the Edge of the property overlooking the ocean and a jacuzzi bathtub up against the window. One night we were relaxing in the tub and the cutest Lemur like monkey came to stay hi right up to the window - it was magical.
This resort has plenty to offer, we enjoyed the bar deck out in the ocean and the restaurant by the beach the most. The beach is not the best but it is kind of private and you can enjoy a dip or sunbathe so it is a plus for guests.
The location is what made us pick this resort as it is 30-40mins from Stone Town and other attractions which is ideal. They have cash facilities of $100 per day from the reception which is good because it is near impossible to get cash and no places take card!
The food was average, we stayed over the eid weekend and they had guests celebrating to which they catered to with Indian foods. The staff was so nice and offered us ala carte menus as we were just not keen on the buffet.
We tried out the spa, definitely an area for improvement. I think my lady got tired half way and I had to tell her where and how to massage. For the international prices that are being charged ($165 per couple) an international standard is expected. Definitely a retraining is needed and some hygiene measures need to be put in place.
We recommend our driver Haj, he is reliable and does not overcharge and has Whatsup: +255 773 825 047
Overall our stay was pleasant, the staff are nice and the property is well kept.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relation Executive, Other at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded May 30, 2021
Dear Valued Guest, Dear valued guest, thank you for taking the time to review your holiday experience at Seacliff Resort & Spa Zanzibar, we are delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your overall stay with us. We have noted the point that you have mentioned about the spa on your feedback and we will definitely look at amendments to our service delivery. I have shared your excellent review with the team and we all look forward to welcoming you back again on future stays. Best Regards, Diana Livingstone.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveler reviews.
This resort is truly beautiful, with two levels of infinity pools that both overlook the ocean and stunning pier. The grounds are made up of lush greenery and include a squash and tennis court, well-equipped gym, club house, jumping castle, kids playroom/daycare, pool table, table tennis table and probably so much more we didn't see. You also have free access to kayaks, SUP boards and a small catarina boat ride. The rooms are simple but sizeable enough, clean and satisfactory.
You best option is to go for a half board inclusive, that's breakfast and dinner (assuming you'll spend most of your day exploring the island). Everyday is a different food theme, i.e. grill, Indian, seafood etc and honestly it is really high standard considering it's all buffet foods.
Interesting tidbits: >They charge for water during meals (really expensive unless you're working with a strong currency) but you get complementary water in your room bar fridge, so basically carry your water with you if you know you'll be drinking water. Just seemed weird to me to charge for water during meals at an all inclusive -personal perspective. >Smoking is allowed everywhere (except for inside the restaurant). Just be prepared for the cloud of second hand smoke you'll experience while you're lying out at the pool, or sitting out on your balcony, or sitting on the edge of the restaurant, or the bar. I wasn't a fan, wish there were dedicated areas. >There are cats everywhere, not just at the resort (only outside, don't worry) but just around Zanzibar in general. I personally didn't mind but if you are severely allergic this may be something to take note of. >Cocktails are average.
Overall great service, great people, great resort. My hubby and I had a really good time there. No real complaints to be honest, so it was super!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:If you can, choose a bottom floor beach facing room.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaCliffManagement, Guest Relation Executive at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded Mar 26, 2020
Dear Nyarai, Thank you very much for choosing to stay at Seacliff Resort and for taking the time to send us your valued feedback, we greatly appreciate any comments by our guests and constantly strive to achieve the highest quality standards. We are glad that you could enjoy all the facilities and services in the resort, such as Resort area with exclusive swimming pool, Mangapwani restaurant with grilled fish over the view. We have noted all the points that you have mentioned about the water during dinner and cats on your feedback and we will definitely look at amendments to our service. On behalf of the entire team thank you very much for your recommendation and we are looking forward to welcoming you back. Diana on behalf of the whole Seacliff team.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is located in the West of the island. Ideal for breathtaking romantic sunsets. You can choose to relax in the infinity pool or have a fresh cocktail at the bar on the boardwalk during the sunset
The hotel lies in a location with rather unspoiled nature. If you’re lucky you can spot monkeys.
Rooms are ok according to African standards. Plumbing is an issue in the toilet system. Musquito nets are a standard above the bed and the room is sprayed before dusk to be sure to keep away those annoying flying bugs. Anyway we did not had a lot of problems with musquitos during our stay.
Staff is really helpful in every way. When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted by Mr. Khamis. He helped us with every question/issues we had in a very professional way. With a mindset of going beyond we felt like VVIPS. Mr Khamis did every day his best and with a smile. Very happy with this person!!
Good quality of drinks and food. Buffet is changing every day. Breakfast can be a bit better. I expected more variety of fruits in the morning. Also breakfast is served until. 10 am which is quite a early closing for a holiday resort.
Beautiful unspoiled nature around the hotel makes sure you get the tranquility and peace you look for on holiday.
Good for sports: gym (With AC), tennis court, squash facility and one of the most beautiful Golf course I’ve ever seen. Well maintained and up to standards. World class.
Keep up the good work!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaCliffManagement, Guest Relation Executive at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded Mar 17, 2020
Dear Trvljo, Thank you very much for choosing to stay at Seacliff Resort and for taking the time to send us your valued feedback, we greatly appreciate any comments by our guests and constantly strive to achieve the highest quality standards. We are extremely pleased that you posted your excellent feedback regarding to quality of service. Our entire staff is always striving to deliver the best experience possible and it is our pleasure that you had that feeling. We have noted all the points that you have mentioned about the Breakfast and Fruits on your feedback and we will definitely look at amendments to our service delivery. Diana on behalf of the whole Seacliff team.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We are currently on our honeymoon at Sea Cliff and all we can say is WOW! Everything is perfect, the staff is amazing always making sure we are comfortable and have everything we need. The food OMW so delicious! Breakfast is lovely evening you expect and the breads and savories yummy, lunch and supper change up everyday wich is fantastic, you bite into a burst of flavour with every single meal.
The rooms are super clean and air-conditioning is amazing. After Breakfast and activities as well as supper you get back to a clean and cool room and this just adds to the high standard of service at Sea Cliff.
Overall facilities are absolutely immaculate, pools so beautiful! We really enjoying the the three bars, cocktails are delicious. There is no beach at the resort itself but we took a golf cart to the beach at the golf course yesterday and oh was it an adventure, really adds a very special touch you won't get at many other resorts. The beach has a bar and lovely furniture to relax and watch the sun set.
The only area of improvement is the entertainment in the evenings. Wish there was some entertainment after dinner, most guests go to their rooms directly after dinner because of the lack of entertainment. Could be because of covid but just something to improve on in future.
Thank you so much for making our honeymoon so special! We will be returning very soon and highly recommend Sea Cliff to those looking for a relaxing, effortless, immaculate holiday. Thank you Sea Cliff keep up the amazing work.
Nicole and Dino
Read more
Date of stay: March 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relation Executive, Other at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded May 19, 2021
Dear Nicole & Dino, Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience about your stay at our hotel. We truly appreciate your kind words about our hotel location, Quality, and the management. I am glad we could meet your needs and expectations. We will certainly pass on your feedback to the team. Also, thank you for recommending our hotel to other travelers and we look forward to welcoming you back in the very near future. With kind regards, Diana Livingstone.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I must compliment this resort for there service, it started from the time I was doing my booking. There was a slight issue with my card as I booked on the hotel website the reservation Manager Mr Rahul was very helpful and said I can do the payment once at the resort though the booking was a special rate and immediate payment. The service on arrival was excellent, from check in. The staff where warm & welcoming. You are seated as soon as you enter and not made to wait at the reception desk, a consultant comes to you to collect all relevant documents and than brings your room details to you so you do not stand at the reception desk. The staff in the entire resort are amazing, friendly & helpful, service in every department is excellent. The food in the restaurant is wonderful and having all 3 meals is a great advantage. Every night there is a different theme with live stations which is wonderful and a wide spread of food & desserts. The sea is just wonderful and the amazing part is the horse riding at the resort thats done in the sea which is wow. The rooms are heritage and very clean, bathrooms are little old and need a bit of an upgrade. Staff like Mr Dashpal n Mr Rahul where really helpful and wonderful and always there to assist clients. I would recommend this resort any time
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaCliffManagement, Guest Relation Executive at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded Feb 6, 2020
Dear Moosa, First of all, thank you so much for the time spent in posting your review on TripAdvisor. We are totally thrilled to hear your feedback and to see that, once more, the friendliness and professionalism of our team made the difference. its great to read that you found the quality exceptional, from the facilities to the food options.We have already shared your commentaries with Mr. Rahul and Mr Deshpal and all the team. Seacliff Team will be definitely looking forward to your return in the future. Diana Livingstone.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We spent 5 nights at the Sea Cliff Resort and Spa and it was fabulous! We absolutely loved every minute of our stay and will definitely be back. Staff were amazing at this resort, super friendly, always smiling, helpful and willing to chat to you showing a genuine interest in who you are, and where you are from. The pools are the centre stage of the resort and are a great place to lounge around while having a cocktail whilst viewing the most outstanding sunsets. We loved all the meals and found the food to be incredibly tasty, great variety and good wine choice for dinner. Luckily there was a great gym where we able to work off those extra calories. The rooms are a bit tired and could do with a revamp, but they are still comfortable with all the modern amenities you would expect from a hotel of this caliber. There are many activities provided by the resort if you are the adventure type and want to explore the island more. We took a day visit to Nungwi beach which was unbelievable, looks like paradise and a great beach to swim in the sea, have a cocktail, sunbathe and just relax. I would definitely recommend this resort for couples just looking to relax and spend quality time together.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaCliffManagement, Front Office Manager at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded Apr 8, 2020
Dear MJRaddall, Thank you for choosing to stay at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa and we are glad to have you with us. We are indeed pleased to know that you had a memorable and enjoyable stay and have appreciated our warm, friendly and personalized service that is consistent. Also, we are happy that you adore all our services. We are truly delighted that we have met all your expectations and thank you for your genuine recommendation. Warm regard. Deshpal Singh Front Office Manager
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I don’t usually give bad reviews... but I seriously cannot give this place more than 2 stars. They earned the 2nd star by the view and the pool. I only stay at 5 Star resorts and this is defiantly not one. 1) our room felt like I was in a Best Western in Canada, and not one of the top best westerns 2)we didn’t sleep a wink at night because the power kept cutting in and out and every 30 minutes and the tv would turn on and wake us up every time the power would kick back on. I tried to phone the reception but the line would cut short. I went and spoke with reception in the morning about this situation and they could barely apologize and said they will try and fix it.... what does it matter if they fix it now when we only stayed one night? They also did nothing to comp the situation. 3) I’m surprised no one has shut the restaurant down. The amount of wasps and bees in the food flying around made it so appalling to eat. I didn’t eat breakfast because they were everywhere. When I brought it up, they said “oh they just like the honey” there were hundreds of them flying around. (See attached photos) 4) lastly- my boyfriend made me a spa reservation a week ago for 2 treatments, I show up and they only had me down for one treatment and told me to come back tomorrow....
I cannot recommend this place. I will not recommend this place. If you call yourself 5 star, please make yourself 5 star by reading up on what 5 star is.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relation Executive Manager, Other at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded Mar 3, 2021
Dear Mrs. Chloe, Thank you for sharing your feedback, we appreciate your helpful and constructive criticism, which will help our service become better in the future. We sincerely regret the inconveniences that you experienced due to the power outage that occurred during your visit. It was an uncommon instance and usually, it takes only a couple of minutes for the commercial generator to start. For the bees, we’ve put some measures in place after consulting a beekeeper such as placing honey containers to capture and remove and lately the number of bees around is minimal. Regarding the spa experience, we are making a full investigation in order to take the necessary measures. You have stayed with us for one night only, but we hope that we can convince you to change your mind about another visit to our property. Please reach out to us directly at gm@seacliffzanzibar.com if you would be willing to give us a chance to turn your experience around. It would be such a pleasure to welcome you back at our beautiful resort! Diana Livingstone.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
It was good. Breakfast great as always. Every meal fresh and better than most seafood restaurants I visited. Their seafood was still the best I ate last week.
Wifi access is a HUGE problem. We had a week long meeting but the access to wifi messed is the meeting a lot so much so that we had to buy an alternative wifi source to bring others into the meeting remotely.
Some colleagues had challenges in their rooms including no access warm/hot water. I also changed rooms cos of the AC that didn't work same issue of AC not working persisted in the new room but they sent a technician to fix it very promptly.
Staff were as friendly as ever though.
The Spa - which had moved in from the mall next door since my last trip - was really, really good. Every service was great from facials, to massages, pedicure, body scrub... the works. Money well spent.
The gym was well equipped and quite popular with colleagues.
Pls maintain the facilities and add vegetables to the breakfast. It was difficult for me as I am huge on vegetables at breakfast.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SeaCliffManagement, Guest Relation Executive at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded Feb 11, 2020
Dear Aranyak, Thank you for taking time to write a review about your recent stay at Seacliff Resort my team is happy that you have appreciate the hotel's staff and variety of food. Please allow me to apologize on average quality of Wifi and room you have experienced during your stay with us. Please note that this by no way reflect the proud service and quality we are usually proud to offer. The entire team joins me in sending you our warmest regards and we truly look forward to welcoming you back. Diana Livingstone.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
If it was possible I would have given Sea Cliff Zanzibar a 10 Star Rating.
I am writing this review on behalf of 95 people who all agreed that Sea Cliff Zanzibar deserves 10 stars ratings. I am the owner of Mike One Travel and I traveled to Tanzania and Zanzibar July-August of 2022. Our journey took us from the safaris of Tanzania and then to 8 days of relaxation at the beautiful Sea Cliff Resort. The resort is beautiful. The rooms are clean, spacious, and very inviting. The beds are comfortable, and the housekeeping staff was very attentive to your needs. Our request was attended to without delay. The food was appetizing, portions were very generous, and they were prepared by creative chefs who did not fail to surprise us night after night. We had some special requests for our group, and they did not hesitate to grant us our requests far beyond our expectations. The resort grounds were pristine. The trees and shrubs blend perfectly with the building and recreation areas. The pools were always clean and filled with fresh water. Nightly entertainment: The nightly entertainment was very good. The performers were very professional and talented. The music was entertaining and crossed many genres. For some reason, they manage to keep the volume at the right level and to me this was magical. I was able to hear and enjoy the music from the nightly performance while engaging in comfortable conversation at my dinner table. The resort even provides free shuttle service to Stonetown (Zanzibar’s shopping district). After checking out, our luggage was stored in a secure area, and we were allowed to use the resort facilities until it was time to travel to the airport. We were allowed to remain at the resort 10 hours after our check-out time. As I said before I am the owner of Mike One Travel. I have been in business and have been traveling the world for over 15 years, and when I travel, I look for the good and bad in the resorts I visit. At the Sea Cliff Resort, I did the same. I found nothing negative at Sea Cliff. You would enjoy staying at this Sea Cliff whether you are staying as a family, individual, or as a large group. I wrote this review on behalf of 95 people in my group who share the same sentiments. Consider this review 95, 5-star ratings.
Thanks
Read more
Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Guest Relation Manager, Other at Sea Cliff Resort & Spa
Responded Sep 4, 2022
Dear Mike, Thank you very much for your feedback and for the time invested to share it on TripAdvisor. We are truly delighted to see that your experience in the Island of Spice has been nothing but wonderful! From the relaxing atmosphere to the attentiveness of our staff your compliments are much appreciated. I will personally make sure that Lilian reads your comment as I can guarantee she will highly value it. We can’t wait to welcome you to back Seacliff Zanzibar with the. Diana on behalf of the whole Seacliff Team.
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I stayed all inclusive It's a fabulous buffet for breakfast lunch and dinner.
To be honest I don't know the individual cost But you could contact the Hotel to enquire.
There are more places to choose from in the Kama area.
PRICE RANGE
$180 - $357 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sea cliff resort and spa, sea cliff hotel zanzibar
LOCATION
TanzaniaZanzibar ArchipelagoZanzibar IslandKama
NUMBER OF ROOMS
120
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Are there any historical sites close to Sea Cliff Resort & Spa?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Mkunazini, Urban West, Zanzibar (8.9 miles), David Livingstone's place of rest (8.7 miles), and Tippu Tip's House (9.0 miles).
