Where Arabic palace grandeur meets Swahili coastal soul on one of the world's top 30 island beaches, Baraza Resort & Spa transforms 30 villas into Zanzibar's most architecturally ambitious retreat. Unlike minimalist beach hotels sprouting across the island, Baraza commits fully to its sultanate narrative – every archway frames ocean views, every textile tells trading stories, every meal weaves Persian, Arabic, and Indian influences into Swahili tradition. The villas each feature hand carved cement decorations, brass lanterns casting golden shadows, and private plunge pools hidden behind carved wooden screens. Condé Nast Traveller recognized Baraza as one of the 60 best new hotels in the world, and once you witness this architectural tribute to Zanzibar's spice route era, you may understand why!
Awarded: Bronze
Location
Baraza occupies a prime position along Bwejuu Paje Beach on Zanzibar’s southeast coast, where powder white sand stretches for nearly 20 kilometres and low tide transforms the oceanfront into a natural aquarium waiting to be explored. The resort sits approximately 50 to 60 kilometres from Zanzibar International Airport, with transfers taking just under an hour along excellent tarmac roads – close enough for convenience yet far enough to feel properly removed from Stone Town’s beautiful chaos. The location places you in the heart of the island’s kitesurfing corridor, where consistent trade winds between May and October transform the shallow lagoon into a playground for beginners and experts alike.
Like all east coast properties, Baraza experiences dramatic tidal variations with water receding up to 1.5 kilometres at low tide, revealing expansive sand flats perfect for guided reef walks where you discover trapped octopi, colourful starfish, and coral formations normally hidden beneath the waves. The Rock Restaurant, that famous image of a restaurant perched on a rocky outcrop surrounded by water, sits just minutes away near Pingwe – though it looks best at high tide when waves lap against its foundations. The immediate area around Bwejuu village maintains an authentic feel despite tourism growth, with local fishermen still launching their ngalawa outriggers at dawn and the Tuesday market offering everything from fresh octopus to hand woven baskets.
Operated by The Zanzibar Collection, a family owned company dedicated to preserving Zanzibar’s spirit through close cooperation with local communities while maintaining world class facilities. Within the immediate Michamvi Peninsula region, sister properties include The Palms, an intimate adults only retreat with seven villas offering total seclusion; Breezes Beach Club, a relaxed 70 room resort perfect for families; and Zawadi Hotel, a contemporary clifftop sanctuary with spectacular ocean views.
Rooms
Zanzibar’s sultanate heritage lives on through Baraza’s 30 villas, where dramatic Swahili arches, hand carved cement decorations, and intricate brass lanterns create palaces in miniature. The design philosophy embraces maximalist luxury – no surface goes unadorned, no corner lacks character, with handmade furniture and antiques sourced from across the Indian Ocean trade routes creating spaces that feel collected rather than decorated.
The one bedroom villas span 148 square metres, featuring master bedrooms with walk in dressing rooms, en suite bathrooms with freestanding tubs, separate living areas with Sultan’s lounge beds (essentially ornate daybeds perfect for afternoon reading), and private terraces with plunge pools. The level of detail astounds – hand carved wooden doors that take two people to open, copper fixtures aged to perfect patina, and textiles that reference both Arabic geometry and Swahili patterns.
The two bedroom villas expand to 193 square metres, adding second bedrooms with twin beds and en suite shower rooms – ideal for families where children need their own space or friends travelling together. The extra room doesn’t diminish the grandeur; if anything, it amplifies the palace feeling with additional archways and carved details creating natural separation between spaces.
The single Royal Beach Villa stretches across 254 square metres with two master bedrooms, each with en suite bathrooms, plus a central lounge with uninterrupted seafront views and a larger plunge pool. This represents the apex of Baraza’s ambitions – essentially a private residence within the resort where every detail has been elevated, from the hand painted ceiling details to the antique doors sourced from Lamu.
What sets these villas apart isn’t just size but the commitment to creating fully realised environments. Air conditioning hides behind carved screens, televisions disappear into antique chests, and modern amenities integrate seamlessly into spaces that could have existed centuries ago. The private plunge pools, shaded by makuti thatch and surrounded by carved privacy screens, become secret courtyards where you can float while listening to the ocean just metres away.
Communal Areas
Baraza’s communal spaces read like a dissertation on Indo Arabic architectural fusion, with every pavilion, terrace, and pathway contributing to the sultanate narrative. The main swimming pool stretches alongside the beach, flanked by the Frangipani Spa featuring its own lap pool with underwater music, indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, plus treatment rooms where therapists from Thailand, Bali, and India practise their crafts. The spa’s Sultan’s Bath – the signature couples’ treatment – transforms bathing into ceremony with rose petals, essential oils, and private pavilions overlooking the ocean.
The dining venues scatter across the property like separate palaces, each with distinct character. The Livingstone Terrace operates as an open air restaurant serving breakfast daily and dinner on select evenings, with views across the pool to the ocean beyond. Sebule, the lunch venue, offers lighter fare including daily specials and pizzas between 12:30 and 2pm. The Sultan’s Dining Room elevates dinner into theatre with menus drawing from Arabic, Indian, Persian, and Swahili traditions, while the Dhahbu Bar & Lounge provides the setting for sundowners and digestifs.
The Water Club, positioned directly on the beach, serves as headquarters for all water based activities. Here, equipment for various sports awaits, while instructors prepare beginners for their first kitesurfing attempts or guide experienced sailors through the channels between coral heads. The fitness centre and tennis court occupy a discrete corner of the property, far enough from villas to avoid disturbing the peace yet convenient for those maintaining routines.
The kids’ club reflects Swahili culture’s embrace of children with dedicated facilities including toys, games, and supervised activities that range from sandcastle competitions to junior cooking classes. The genius lies in its location – close enough for easy supervision yet separate enough that adults seeking child free tranquillity never hear a sound.
Activities
As Zanzibar’s first approved kite school with IKO certified instructors, Baraza’s Water Club has established itself as the island’s premier water sports centre, where state of the art equipment meets perfect learning conditions in the protected lagoon. The shallow, warm waters between the beach and reef create ideal training grounds for beginners, while experienced kiters can venture further out where stronger winds and deeper channels provide proper challenges. Kitesurfing lessons and equipment rental (additional cost applies), along with windsurfing instruction and sailing lessons on Hobie Cat boats (both additional cost applies), run throughout the season with professional guidance. Kayaking through the mangrove channels that line parts of the coast comes included with your stay, offering peaceful exploration at your own pace.
The Rising Sun Dive Centre operates as Zanzibar’s only PADI 5* Gold Palm and National Geographic Dive Centre, taking small groups of maximum six divers to explore the surrounding reefs (additional cost applies). The coral reefs around Zanzibar host over 500 marine species, with the famous Mnemba Atoll – roughly an hour by boat – offering encounters with turtles, dolphins, and between September and December, whale sharks. Night dives reveal entirely different ecosystems with Spanish Dancer nudibranchs, hunting lionfish, and bioluminescent plankton creating underwater fireworks. Diving courses from complete beginner to professional levels run throughout the year.
The daily reef safari at low tide has become Baraza’s signature experience (included), with expert guides leading walks across the exposed reef, pointing out octopi hiding in coral crevices, demonstrating how starfish regenerate lost arms, and explaining the complex ecology of these tidal pools. Snorkelling trips venture to different spots depending on tides and seasons, with equipment provided and instruction available for nervous swimmers – all included in your stay.
Cultural activities weave throughout the weekly schedule – Swahili lessons under palm trees, palm weaving workshops, cooking classes focusing on spice use, and Bao games (traditional African strategy game) in the evening. Excursions venture beyond the property to Prison Island’s giant tortoises, spice farm tours exploring Zanzibar’s aromatic heritage, Jozani Forest to spot rare red colobus monkeys, and Stone Town’s labyrinthine streets (all additional cost applies).
The beach itself provides endless entertainment, from morning jogs along firm sand at low tide to sunset volleyball games organized by staff. Traditional Swahili dancers perform regularly, while the resident Taarab band plays music that would have entertained the Sultan’s court in the 1880s – an effort to preserve this iconic art form for future generations.
All Inclusive
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
- Excellent
- Good
- Poor
DRY SEASON
A brief interlude of dry and sunny weather before the long rains arrive in late March.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY SEASON
A brief interlude of dry and sunny weather before the long rains arrive in late March.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY TO WET SEASON TRANSITION
The beginning and end of the rains varies each year, but generally this period is the wettest time of the year. This wet season is often characterised by overcast skies, consecutive days of rain, and relatively strong winds. Water clarity is also quite poor.
Overall, this is a poor time of year to visit, though bargains can be found with the relatively cheap low season rates.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY TO WET SEASON TRANSITION
The beginning and end of the rains varies each year, but generally this period is the wettest time of the year. This wet season is often characterised by overcast skies, consecutive days of rain, and relatively strong winds. Water clarity is also quite poor.
Overall, this is a poor time of year to visit, though bargains can be found with the relatively cheap low season rates.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY TO WET SEASON TRANSITION
The beginning and end of the rains varies each year, but generally this period is the wettest time of the year. This wet season is often characterised by overcast skies, consecutive days of rain, and relatively strong winds. Water clarity is also quite poor.
Overall, this is a poor time of year to visit, though bargains can be found with the relatively cheap low season rates.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY SEASON
A more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY SEASON
A more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY SEASON
A more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY SEASON
A more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
DRY SEASON
A more stable and predictable time of the year, usually with clear skies.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
WET SEASON - 'SHORT RAINS'
This is a rather unpredictable time of the year, with occasional heavy showers or thunderstorms interspersing the sunny spells. While technically the wet season, the rains are not as intense during this period as during the long rains. November can therefore still be a good time to visit. Water clarity can be surprisingly good, making it possible to go scuba-diving and snorkelling.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
WET SEASON - 'SHORT RAINS'
This is a rather unpredictable time of the year, with occasional heavy showers or thunderstorms interspersing the sunny spells. While technically the wet season, the rains are not as intense during this period as during the long rains. November can therefore still be a good time to visit. Water clarity can be surprisingly good, making it possible to go scuba-diving and snorkelling.
Its proximity to the equator and position on the Indian Coastline means that Zanzibar has a tropical climate with consistent warm-to-hot temperatures throughout the year. The midday temperature averages around 32°C/90°F through the majority of the year. Mornings are more pleasant at 22°C/72°F on average.
There are two wet seasons in the majority of Tanzania, and Zanzibar is no exception. The first, known as the ‘long rains’, takes place between March and May, while the milder short rains take place between October and December. Between these, there are two drier spells, January – February and June – October.
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What People Say
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The personalised service provided was far beyond my expectations. A three week trip visiting four countries in Africa, multiple game reserves, wineries and much, much more was flawless. While a close encounter with a leopard and her cubs…
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We got in touch after hearing about Hide & Seek from a friend. Have to say hats off to Jamie, he was so patient throughout, even through our indecisiveness! Ultimately we ended up with the most incredible holiday of our lives. Thank you again, we will be back!!
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Thank you for arranging our Safari holiday in Kenya and Tanzania for us. It was to celebrate our 40th. Wedding anniversary which was on July 1st. 2018, and through your arrangements, we have had a holiday that we will never forget...
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Thanks so much for a truly unforgettable once in a life time holiday. Hopefully we will be in touch again soon!
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Spot on in terms of itinerary . We not disappointed by any of the suggestions and had the best holiday ever! Thank you!
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Jamie was very helpful throughout the booking process and recommended the perfect holiday. There was nothing we would change having now been out to Tanzania. I would highly recommend Hide & Seek to friends and relatives.
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Jamie was excellent. Once I described what we wanted I knew he would come up with the business. ..and he did!!! 5 stars
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We spoke to numerous travel agents over the period we looked at booking our honeymoon and only hide and seek gave me the confidence I was looking for. Really pleased with our decision.
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Hide and seek dealt with our last minute travel plans extremely well. Obviously, our accommodations shifted as availability diminished but ultimately they came up with a vacation that we will never forget.
