Karafuu Hotel Beach Resort

Karafuu is ideally located on a blissful stretch of palm-fringed beach on the east coast with white sand and dazzling blue water - just what you’re after in a beach resort. The spacious, cool reception area under makuti (palm thatch) is impressive, especially when you're visiting the resort for the first time. You instantly know you’re in a top-notch hotel. There is an enormous pool around which you’ll find guests soaking up the sun. The clientele is largely international, so you’ll hear a variety of accents. A little further along is the beach with a generous strip of sand with sun lounges set a good distance apart from each other under the palm trees. 

Warm hospitality comes naturally to the Swahili staff, who are impeccably dressed in long, robed uniforms. You are welcomed with the traditional greeting of karibu and we found there was always someone on hand to assist with a smile. The service is excellent. 

The air-conditioned hotel has all the expected facilities: fully-equipped dive and watersports centre,  boutiques, tennis courts and satellite television. The rooms are extremely comfortable and styled in a modern Zanzibar theme. They provide a welcome relief from the sun when you’ve spent the day by the pool or diving and lazing on the beach. 

The eastern side of the island is greatly influenced by the tide. You can sunbathe on the beach and slip straight into the water and swim far out when the tide is high. When the tide recedes, there is a specially constructed walkway on which to walk out to bath in a natural sea pool. There is also a sparkling swimming pool with pool bar in which to cool off during low tide.

If you’re fond of buffet meals, you’ll be pleased to know that Karafuu serves buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner so there is always good variety.

The hotel opened in 1995 and is aptly named after the Swahili word for cloves, karafuu, which are grown in abundance on Zanzibar (especially on Pemba). 

Special features: Thinking of getting married on a paradise island? Ourselves and Karafuu will give you exciting ideas for a romantic wedding and honeymoon. 

The hotel has 89 rooms, divided into 26 Junior Suites, 35 Cottages and 28 Garden Rooms. The best rooms are the Junior Suites, all with generous sea views situated along the beachfront. These are the only rooms with sea views and are positioned at the top of the slope in the lush tropical gardens – so ensure to upgrade to one of these if a view over the ocean is on your priority list. 
The Garden Rooms are a little smaller and situated at the back of the hotel, while the cottages are positioned at the top of the slope in the lush tropical gardens. All the rooms have easy access to the long stretch of beach. 
All the rooms have makuti (palm-thatch) roofs and are decorated in a modern style with some Zanzibari characteristics. They are very clean, well-maintained and comfortable. They all have air-conditioners, ceiling fans, mini-bars, telephones. The junior suites and cottages have impressive en-suite marble bathrooms. Each room has its own veranda and the beds have mosquito nets. In order not to spoil the romance of a beach holiday there are no televisions in the rooms. If you need to catch up on news or watch a movie, there’s a satellite television room in the main lodge.

We obviously recommend the Junior Suites with sea views, but these are more expensive. If you're not really fussed about the view then the cottages are perfect. If you're not really fussed about the room size or the view, then the garden rooms are just as good.