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About
4.5
#3 of 14 small hotels in Kiwengwa
Location
4.5
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.7
Value
4.7
Marafiki Bungalows is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Zanzibar, offering a family-friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. Our hotel is meeting current expectations towards travel destination: the nature and beach destination, which combine relaxation with an environment conducive to social distancing and compliance to safety standards Marafiki Bungalows offers guests an array of room amenities including a refrigerator, kettle, safe box and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available. The small hotel offers a 24 hour front desk, room service, and beach chairs, to make your visit even more pleasant. The property also features a pool and breakfast. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking. When you’re feeling hungry, don't need to go anywhere - the best cuisine in the area is at Marafiki Restaurant & Bar. For a drink try out The Pontille, jetty bar with amazing view or Areana beach bar. Enjoy your stay in Kiwengwa!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Booked this place about a year in advance and they were very quick to respond and answer any questions I had or anything like that. The pictures on the website are exactly what this place looks like in person!! Marafiki exceeded my expectations I truly felt at home for the two weeks that we stayed here. The food was all delicious, the drinks were top notch, the staff were all so great and friendly!! Anything you need or want Marafiki will see to it that they make it happen within reason. They have hot water and very clean facilities. Yes the bugs are excessive but you’re in africa, kinda expected. I do want to touch on the noise complaints I saw people commenting. We had two sets of neighbors while we were here as we had a long stay and we never once heard them at all. Also Marafiki does not have air conditioning but we didn’t find it an issue. The hottest part of the day we were outside anyway so it didn’t bother us at all!! At night it was very breezy and felt great. As far as the beach in front of the hotel goes- yes it is rocky and dirty but they do have a guy who keeps the sand and all clean which is a big plus however once you make your way past the rocks and stuff there is some really amazing snorkeling right out in front of Marafiki. I was very shocked to find this due to all the negative comments about the beach here but I ended up being very impressed. I have snorkeled in several countries and was pleased to see so very much living coral, fish, crabs, beautiful shells, all kinds of marine life etc just right out in front on this hotel. We spent a whole day out here snorkeling it was great and all free!! Better than Mnemba atoll if you ask me, just not as blue. The reason I am not giving five stars is because there are a couple things they can work on. I know wifi isn’t good in Africa and I don’t go on vacation to sit on my phone but people who travel solo, or simply need to get in touch with their bank etc really need WiFi that is dependable. Marafikis WiFi is kind of slacking. The hotel next door however has amazing WiFi and we were lucky enough to have a room close enough to stay connected to theirs most of the time. Maybe Marafiki can see what their secret is!! The next thing was very shocking and we didn’t notice until close to our departure but something seemed to have eaten our clothes while we were here. (WE DID NOT HAVE ANY FOOD IN OUR ROOM) at first I thought it may be crickets but then I realized these holes were way to big to be crickets. This had to have been rats maybe. I’m not sure but our clothes were mangled with holes!!! This made me upset considering we spent so much money to stay here and then our clothes were all ruined. Not sure what Marafiki can do about this but it has to be addressed!!!! I also wanted to add the cleaning ladies were great! Fresh towels and clean fresh made beds daily meant a lot and the massage ladies were amazing as well. Highly recommend. And the staff I can’t express how much I miss all of them already!!! We will be back to see you all again one day.
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Date of stay: March 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.
After a long week of Safari’s in Maasai Mara we were in need of some relaxation and Marafiki provided that. It’s a beautiful place is great for a vacation, honeymoon or just some rest and relaxation. The staff was great, the room was great and the overall ambiance is worth the stay. Hussain, Peta (Peter?), Magda, Yousef and the other bartender during our stay were great! The service was amazing, we were also taught to play a game called Bao(?, bow?) that was really fun, relaxing and a great way to pass the time. The hotel is very pretty and green, you feel like you are on a secluded part of the island and it’s a good feeling. It’s quiet, clean and an overall great place to stay. The beach here isn’t one you can swim in exactly, there is a lot of seaweed in the shallow area but you can rent a bike (for free) and head about 15-20 minutes further down Kiwengwa beach for clearer water. Marafiki also offers activities through another company, we really recommend snorkeling! It was really beautiful and fun! We also rode ATVs around a part of the island, In my opinion this was NOT worth the price. Stick with snorkeling, diving and look into kite surfing if you are interested. There were some complaints about noise level in the bungalows (in the reviews) but we had people in the next bungalow over and hardly heard a thing. I loved Zanzibar! The culture and people are just beautiful.
A couple of things I would recommend to the hotel? I would add a few signs that say “snail crossing” or something. When it rains the snails on the island come out (on the sidewalks) in large numbers. They are very beautiful but I almost stepped on a few, which would have been awful.Having signs or letting guest know about the snails coming out would be great. I would also recommend reducing the price of the ATV tour. We paid $120 for two people but really felt like it was not worth that price. When we signed up we were told we would get a tour of the island, go to the caves, the beach and visit a few villages. We did not see the caves because of the rain, which is completely understandable, it was flooded. We went to Pongwe beach but the tide was extremely low so we couldn’t even get in or near the water. The beach was just rocks and seaweed, which was very disappointing, a waste of time in our opinion. Most of the parts of the island that we drove through was on the main road which we drove through on the way into the hotel and on the way to snorkeling, so that was disappointing. Lastly, we were not told that we would need to buy stuff to give to the village children until we got to the tour, we only brought a few dollars with us and no gifts so we had to round up the few dollars we had to buy pens for the village children. We had no issue with buying items and helping the village children, the issue we had was not being informed that this was expected ahead of time. Additionally, for $120, these gifts should really be included. I would say this tour is worth maybe $60-$80 for two.
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Date of stay: January 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 Joanna Frenkiel, Właściciel at Marafiki Bungalows
Responded May 28, 2020
Thank you very much for you detailed revue. So happy to know you had a great holiday in Marafiki, enjoying our friendly atmosphere created by our always smiling team. The price of ATV tours doesn't depend on us but I forwarded your remarks to the supplier. You had bad luck with that trip, the itinerary was different than planned so instead of beautiful off road trip you stayed at main road. Although it's mentioned about the gifts in the excursion folder, the person you booked this trip with, should have explained it to you clearly. Back to Marafiki - thanks for the tip with "nail crossing " sign. Once it's ready I will post a picture on facebook. All the best for you!
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If you want a cookie cutter experience international hotel chain experience with robotic staff, identical rooms and a big screen TV, go elsewhere. If you want tasty international and local food made to order by chef Ziad and the rest of the kitchen staff, and personalised service with a beaming smile from waiter Hussein and barman Yusuf, peaceful rooms in a lush garden setting and helpful owners on site, stay at Marafiki. The hotel is small and charming and a great base for exploring Zanzibar.
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Date of stay: December 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 Joanna Frenkiel, Właściciel at Marafiki Bungalows
Responded Dec 14, 2020
Dear Alex, Thank you for your kind words, we really appreciate your great review! It is true that Marafiki is a peaceful and unique place to spend your holidays at, and our staff makes sure to always put a smile on your face. We hope to welcome you again in the future! Best regards, Marafiki Team
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Stayed in the honeymoon room, a single bungalow, front row to the sea with a small private garden, even smaller pool and best sunrise views. Although there is no direct access to the beach (there is a 3m drop) the view and privacy are worth it. The room was clean and spacious. Bed was also big and confortable, with mosquito nets. The beach dissapears with the high tide, but it is nice on the low tide. You need wet shoes, but Marafiki can lend you some for free! To relax, they have a sort of private beach, with sand and deck chairs. They also have a double canoe so you can paddle around on the high tide. The whole Marafiki complex is a lush garden with bungalows built following local style, very charming. The rooms are decorated with care. Marafiki also has 3 resident cats and a galago that visits everyday at dinner time. The restaurant is another great point. The menu includes both healthy and consistent options, nice quality and adequate quantities. The price is fair. They also have a changing daily menu worth tasting. The cocktails are light, not much alcohol content, but refreshing and not expensive. Try the "young coconut" available on the restaurant counter, very nice on a hot day. During our stay Marafiki organized a Swahili dinner for all the guests, with typical dishes, songs and dancing. First time this sort of event did not make me feel ashamed/embarrased!! You could feel the authenticity! The staff were literally dying to join the dancers (and they did). The staff are another wonderful point on this place: friendly, helpful, always smiling, make you fell confortable and welcomed. If you needed anything, you could just ask the staff! Reception offers multiple activities for guests, they kindly arranged a Mnemba Atoll diving visit with a nearby PADI certified centre. Airport transfer was also perfectly arranged, even when the flight was delayed. If we come back to Zanzibar, we will definitely stay here again.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Pole pole... The food is cooked upon ordering so expect 30min of wait!
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 Joanna Frenkiel, Owner at Marafiki Bungalows
Responded May 4, 2023
Thank you so much for your detailed review. It's so helpful for other travelers. I hope you will schedule one more travel to Zanzibar and we will have the pleasure to host you again! Many sunny greetings!
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This place was truly amazing. So glad we found it. We had a family bungalow which had loads of room - two beds upstairs, a double and single and one double downstairs. It was in the garden which was beautifully kept and very peaceful. We saw bush babies there and a rufus elephant shrew. The beach was great with a large hammock in the sea which was fun to swing on when the tide came in. The swimming pool was lovely and in such a scenic location overlooking the sea. There were no hawkers there to hassle you. You could use the bicycles at the hotel to go to the near village or caves, or use the Kayak. The staff were what made the place. They were so friendly, happy and helpful. One day they arranged for us to have a special family meal, there were 9 of us and they put a table on the beach and provided us with lanterns and fed us the most amazing seafood, octupus, squid, lobster, prawns etc. We enjoyed all our meals there and because there was nothing much else around we ate nearly every meal there. Breakfasts which were included were great. There was a wide choice on the menu, and lots of vegetarian options. They made lovely cocktails too. I cannot fault the place. The only slight minor issue was the shower did not drain very well but everything else was absolutely perfect. I would not hesitate to return or recommend it to friends. I had an amazing massage there on a platform overlooking the beach. They also laid on informal entertainment a couple of evenings. One with an incredible saxophonist and singer, another swahili evening. I read on some sites that you cannot pay there by credit card, only cash, that is not true. They accept both Mastercard and Visa. One other thing to note - the hotel has European plugs so make sure you take a travel adapter.
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Date of stay: August 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Both sea and garden bungalows are great.
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.
During my entire stay, I have not experienced one single detail that I would have personally changed about the staff nor the placement. I made friends one hour after my arrival both with locals and tourists which really highlighted my stay as we went snorkelling together, we would stay at the bar four hourrrs! We even rented the bikes the hotel offers and went around the neighbouring villages. The mix of culture on the island is something I have never seen anywhere else and the way Marafiki Bungalows welcomes you to this peaceful and dream-like location was something I still think about daily. Asante Sana and see you very soon!
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
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 Joanna Frenkiel, Właściciel at Marafiki Bungalows
Responded Jun 1, 2020
Hi Thekla, I was a pleasure to host you at Marafiki! I'm glad to know you had good time. Marafiki Bungalows was created as a place to make friends and stay among friends, thus the name: "Marafiki" means "friends' in Swahili. Take care! Greetings from the whole team :-)
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Managerial staff are just plain rude. They do not treat their staff with respect who work extremely hard and are lovely. Management had no time to fix our room issues including repairing of the safe. She Completely disregarded my girlfriends specialised diet and said some extremely patronising things to her.
The walls in the bungalows are just paper thin and you can hear everything next door which limits sleep. The bungalows are also teeming with bugs so you’re constantly getting bitten. The bed sheets were also filthy and had stains including dried blood stains which occurred daily when changed.
The price of the food is just completely overpriced. Only positive was the free breakfast/coffee included which was outstanding.
We do not recommend staying at marafiki for the the price we paid (over £1K) or staying in kiwengwa as the food prices are extortionate.
Zanzibar is a beautiful country though - stone town in stunning as is Nungwi!
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Date of stay: September 2019Trip 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 Joanna Frenkiel, Właściciel at Marafiki Bungalows
Responded May 28, 2020
Dear guest, I'm so sorry to read you had bad time at Marafiki. Usually our guests enjoy at lot the natural environment. The bungalows are placed in a beautiful tropical garden, thus some bugs and lizards appear sometimes in the rooms. To minimize it, housekeeping ladies are spraying rooms every evening. We do our best to ensure cleanliness at the highest level. I asked the new manager to put even more attention to this issue. The lady who was managing our hotel during your stay is no longer a part of Marafiki team. Regarding the food - Marafiki is well known for best cuisine on the east coast of Zanzibar. The prices are at the same level like in other international hotels. Probably, if you eat in a beach restaurant, run by locals, it will be cheaper but definitely more risky. Nungwi and Stone Town are completely different places, with more tourists and night life. Marafiki is a small, quiet place, immersed in African nature, perfect to relax. We build it as an ideal place of holiday rest, far from civilization, preserving African characteristics, in harmony with nature and local culture.
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Very peaceful hidden spot in Kiwengwa. This is definitely a location for those that want to be away from the hustle and bustle of a busier city center. We were able to go to tours from this location, with Stone Town being about an hour away, but we enjoyed spending time lying lazily by the pool. The restaurant had good food and the staff was very kind and accommodating.
Three quick things that I wish I would have known, but didn't ruin the trip...… 1) If you book an ocean view, do not expect to open the sliding door and walk right out to the beach…I may be the only one that through this lol. You will see the beach, but the beach is down a walkway. Also, if you want a more direct ocean view, ask for rooms 1A-B or 2A-B. We stayed in 3 and it was more of a partial ocean view, still beautiful, but partial. 2) The beds are extremely hard….I mean HARD. The people are very nice so maybe there is a way to request some kind of solution for this.....buutttt, the bed was almost a deal breaker. 3) Like some other comments mention, yes, the walls are thin and I could hear my neighbors, but again, it didn't ruin the experience.
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Date of stay: July 2021
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.
Our experience at Marafiki Bungalows was truly delightful, offering a serene retreat amidst lush greenery, immaculate gardens, and well-maintained facilities.
The resort is exceptionally child-friendly, making it a perfect destination for families seeking relaxation and adventure.
The staff went above and beyond to ensure our comfort, providing attentive service with a genuine smile.
The culinary experience was exceptional, with delicious meals served in a picturesque setting. Evening entertainment, including local music performances, added to the overall ambiance and cultural immersion. Special themed nights, such as Swahili Night featuring local delicacies and music, were highlights of our stay.
The pool was a refreshing oasis, inviting us to unwind and soak up the sun in a clean and inviting environment.
Marafiki Bungalows serves as an ideal starting point for any journey, allowing guests to unwind and acclimate to the warmth and humidity of the island.
However, there are a few minor inconveniences to note. The restaurant closes between breakfast and lunch, as well as between lunch and dinner, which can be inconvenient if you find yourself hungry between meals, especially with no options for nearby shopping.
Also, bear in mind that the beach, while scenic, features a rocky seabed, making it less suitable for swimming.
TIPS: Look for the local tour operator, Ali, who operates near the beach umbrella. He is a fair and knowledgeable guide who exceeded our expectations and fulfilled all agreements.
Plan for 2-3 nights at Marafiki to truly unwind. While the resort offers tranquility, there are limited activities and attractions in the immediate vicinity.
Consider booking the suite for a private retreat, complete with your own small pool and stunning ocean views.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip 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.
We had one of our Best vaccations at this place and we have travelled a lot. The staff is great and made os feel really good and welcome. They helped os in every Way and played with our kids and made us laugh every day. Thanks Houssain, Mussini, Peter and Jackson. And Magdalena and all the staff who every day made our vaccation great. They are one of our Best vaccations memories. The bungalows were nice and clean with great local interiour. Very stylish. Breakfast is fresh and healthy and the ala carte has great options for vegetarians. The place is very calm. Maybe because the beach is not for swimming. But you can walk to the left 10 minutes ans then you have a reasonable Beach with watersports. We hired a local woodboat from the Beach at the hotel to take us out snorkling. One of the nicest experiences.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip 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 Joanna F, Właściciel at Marafiki Bungalows
Responded Feb 11, 2020
Dear Charlotte, It was so heartwarming to read your revue! It really means a lot to us, to know you and your family had excellent time at Marafiki. I know there are so many places to visit, but please consider coming back to Marafiki. The whole team would be happy to welcome you again. Greetings from Zanzibar! Marafiki team
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Marafiki Bungalows is located on the east coast so you can only admire the sun rising over the ocean.
The beach is sandy, partly rocky. The wide "post card" beach with coconut palms is in walking distance from the hotel.
Marafiki is not the best location for swimming in the ocean. During low tide, the ocean escapes sometimes almost 1.5 km away, so you can swim only during high tide.
But the infinity pool facing the ocean is amazing :-)
The best is the the Honeymoon Suite! it's a separate ocean front villa with a small private pool on a big tarrace.
You could have the birthday dinner on your tarrace.
Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates1,282 contribution123 helpful votes
The restaurant in the hotel serves good food. I have seen at least one chicken dish in their lunch and dinner menu. Yes there are no restaurants in the neighborhood outside this hotel. But the restaurant within the hotel should suffice. Their breakfast, lunch and dinner menu are good enough with a daily special dish.
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