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Laid tables stand beneath a palm strung with lights on pale gravel, surrounded by trees and shrubs under a blue sky

South-West Coast, Zanzibar

The Residence Zanzibar

  • Dhow & Lagoon
  • Villas Under Palms
  • Dinner on the Beach
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Our Assessment

Why we recommend The Residence Zanzibar.

A Cenizaro villa resort on the tranquil south-west coast: the most immersive way to inhabit Zanzibar without the tourist noise.

We know the property personally. The Residence sits on the quietest coast of the island: no comparison to the tourist activity in the north. Zanzibar begins and ends here with you. We recommend at least five nights: the first two you will simply need to arrive.

Ulrike & Christian Göbel Deluxe Travel

Fit & Season

When this property truly shines.

Best season
June to October (Kaskazi dry season): clear water, comfortable temperatures, ideal snorkelling conditions. December to February also good, slightly warmer.
Ideal for
Couples and honeymoon guests who want Zanzibar without the backpacker atmosphere; travellers looking for a place that does not feel like a hotel.
What stays with you
Dinner under palms in the illuminated garden: string lights above the table, the Indian Ocean beyond the foliage, no other guest in sight.
Climate on siteDaytime 27 to 32 °C, 1301 mm of rain a year

Top to bottom: daily high, night temperature, rainfall in millimetres.

  1. January31°26°57 mm
  2. February32°26°33 mm
  3. March31°26°113 mm
  4. April28°25°429 mm
  5. May28°25°220 mm
  6. June28°24°73 mm
  7. July27°24°41 mm
  8. August27°23°34 mm
  9. September28°24°29 mm
  10. October29°24°66 mm
  11. November30°25°103 mm
  12. December31°26°103 mm

Averaged over 2016 to 2025. This is not a forecast. Data: ERA5 (Copernicus) via Open-Meteo Opens in a new tab., CC BY 4.0.

  • South-west coast of Zanzibar: shallow reef lagoon, turquoise flats, no day-trippers; a different island from the north.
  • Beach bar with wooden swing seats: the most unhurried way to watch a Zanzibar afternoon disappear.
  • Private pool villas with direct sea views and mosaic floors: Cenizaro quality without chain anonymity.
  • Morning dhow excursion over the reef, rustic beach buffet under palms in the evening: two moods, one day.
A wooden sailing boat with a sun roof and white cushions seen from above, people and yellow cloths on board, surrounded by clear turquoise water over a dark reef

Climate & best time to travel

When it rewards you most.

Best time to travel June to October

The dry Kusi season from June to October brings clear water, steady sun and pleasant temperatures with highs around 30 degrees. The long rains in April and May are heavy and disrupt beach days the most; the short rains in November and December usually fall as brief showers between sunny spells.

  • June–October Kusi dry season with clear visibility and calm seas; the best snorkelling and diving conditions.
  • December–February Dry and warm, slightly more humid; a good second window with short rains in December.
  • April–May Long rains with the heaviest rainfall of the year; the least suitable time for beach days.

Gallery

Images for orientation.

Tables laid with white cloths and woven chairs on a gravel square between palms and trees, lit strings of lights overhead and lanterns and ground cover along the edges
Strings of lights glow between the palms above the laid tables on the gravel
A wooden sailing boat with a sun roof and white cushions seen from above, people and yellow cloths on board, surrounded by clear turquoise water over a dark reef
The dhow glides over the reef, a narrow wake foaming behind it in the turquoise water
Large pool with a glass side wall on a pale stone terrace, a white building with round arches and restaurant tables, loungers, parasols and palms behind
The water glows turquoise behind the glass wall of the pool, and palms stand before the arches at the far end
White pavilion with round arches and a dark roof among tall palms, restaurant tables with timber chairs and parasols in front, loungers to the right and a pool with a mosaic edge and steps in the foreground
Palms lean over the tables in front of the white arches, and water spills over the pool edge in front
Terrace with round tables, timber chairs and large parasols beneath palms, small trees with pale branches to the left, white beach with loungers and turquoise sea beyond
The timber chairs stand ready beneath the parasols, and the sea glows turquoise beyond the pale branches
Villa complex seen straight from above, with brown roofs and private pools amid thick woodland, linked by winding paths, a long pool to the left and a pale beach at the bottom
Winding paths lead through the woods to the villas and their pools, and the grounds meet the beach at the bottom
Long rectangular pool between palms seen straight from above, villas with brown roofs and small pools amid gardens and curving paths to the right
The long pool lies like a blue ribbon between the palms, and next to it the villas have pools of their own
Long pool with a glass end wall on a pale terrace, palms, loungers and steps on both sides, a restaurant with round arches and parasols to the left and a grassy path at the far end
Between the rows of palms the water stretches all the way to the lawn at the far end
Villa with a brown hipped roof seen from above, a pale terrace with loungers under parasols and a pool in front, surrounded by palms and dense shrubs
Palm fronds hang over the villa's pool terrace, and shrubs and trees close in around it
Beach bar with a counter of white stone under a reed roof, wooden seats hanging on ropes in front and a bartender behind the counter, white sand, a leaning palm and the sea to the right
The swing seats hang on ropes in front of the stone bar, with the white beach beyond
White rope hammock with beige cushions between palm trunks, a pool with mosaic tiles, a terrace with a table and chairs and the open glass front of a villa behind
The hammock is strung between the palms, and the pool glitters in front of the villa behind
White sandy beach with loungers under straw parasols, low villas between tall coconut palms and trees behind, turquoise blue water in front under a blue sky with clouds
Behind the white sand the villas crouch beneath the palms, with straw parasols in front
Pool with blue mosaic tiles in front of a sandy path with two loungers on it, lawn and palms on both sides and the turquoise sea at the end
A sandy path runs from the pool between the palms straight to the sea, with two loungers halfway along
Long pool with blue mosaic tiles beside a white villa with a terrace, seating and a daybed, loungers on sand to the left and a hammock, palms and the sea behind
The mosaic pool runs alongside the villa towards the garden, and a hammock hangs between the palms
Palms and a white beach with straw parasols seen from above, a wooden boat at anchor in the turquoise water, a long jetty into the sea to the left and clouds above
A wooden boat lies at anchor off the beach, and further back a long jetty runs out into the turquoise water
Coastline seen from above, with a white beach, palms, villas and lawns, a long timber jetty with a pavilion over shallow reef water and wooded coast in the distance
A pavilion stands over the reef at the end of the long jetty, and the wooded coast runs on to the horizon
Coastal strip seen straight from above, greenish sea to the left, a narrow white beach with parasols in the middle, villa roofs among trees to the right and a pool at the top
A narrow white beach separates the greenish water from the villas in the woods
Buffet with chafing dishes, fruit and labels on a wooden boat hull in the sand, a chef in a toque behind it, palms, strings of lights and backlight, a jetty in the sea to the left
The buffet is laid out on the hull of a wooden boat, and the low sun shines through the palms
View from a four poster bed with white drapes and pillows into a living room with a timber sofa, a coffee table and a black and white picture of a sailing ship, a bedside lamp to the right
The white drapes of the four poster bed frame the view into the living room, where a black and white sailing ship hangs on the wall
Open restaurant hall with white pointed arches, a timber ceiling with fans, laid tables and timber chairs with cane seats, palms, beach and sea through the arches
The tables are laid beneath the pointed arches, and palms stand on the beach outside
Bedroom with a four poster bed under white drapes, a desk with a wooden chair and dark louvred shutters, a pool, lawn and trees through a glass door
From the four poster bed the view runs through the glass door to the pool and the garden

Experiences

What you come here for.

  1. Dinner under palms in the lit garden

    In the resort's garden, dinner is served under strings of lights and palms, the Indian Ocean behind the greenery and no other guests in view.

  2. Snorkelling at Chumbe Island Coral Park

    Off the southwest coast lies Chumbe, one of the most strictly protected reefs in East Africa, accessible only on a guided tour and intact accordingly.

  3. Dhow sail along the southwest coast

    A run on a traditional dhow over the lagoon, timed for the afternoon and the soft evening light of this quiet coast.

  4. Morning in Jozani Forest with the colobus monkeys

    A short morning trip into Jozani Forest reveals the wild Zanzibar red colobus monkeys, an endemic species that leaves a lasting impression.

Local Experiences

What shapes the stay.

  • Stone Town: UNESCO World Heritage Site, spice market and dhow harbour; half a day is enough if you start early.
  • Snorkelling at Chumbe Island Coral Park: one of East Africa's most protected reefs, accessible only on guided tours.
  • Jozani Forest: the last wild Zanzibar red colobus monkeys; a short morning excursion with a lasting impression.

Location

South-West Coast, Zanzibar

Inquiry

Inquire about The Residence Zanzibar with us.

We review travel dates, room logic, arrival, and alternatives before shaping a specific proposal.

+49 6251 1797-0 WhatsApp Opens in a new tab. Send inquiry

Mon-Fri, 9 am-1 pm and 2.30-6 pm · Response within one business day

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