Essque Zalu Zanzibar

Hotel details

Situated in a natural cove overlooking the Indian Ocean and flanked by a white sand beach and palm trees, the Essque Zalu resort in Zanzibar is an exceptional and truly exotic way to discover the African continent.

Guests can choose from 40 ultra-luxurious suites, all with picturesque views over the lush tropical gardens or the ocean. Built from locally sourced renewable materials, with traditional pitched Makuti roofs, these beautiful villas come with terraces or balconies, multiple rooms, solar showers, four-poster beds and private swimming pools.

For adventure lovers, the hotel provides personal guides who can organise a trip to scale Mount Meru, Tanzania’s volcanic mountain and Africa’s fifth-highest peak, or help you follow in the steps of the intrepid Dr Livingstone while taking a historical tour of the island that includes visiting the famous spice plantations that put this island on the map, in the height of its trading glory.

These very spices figure largely in the cuisine provided by the the resort’s three superb restaurants. Leaning heavily on local produce, the restaurants specialise in mixing African and Arab tastes to spectacular success. The hotel’s ‘A La Carte’ eatery is certainly worth visiting, especially for its legendary char-grilled steaks.

For those with less time or energy, this is the ideal place to relax, to languish in the grand infinity pool or indulge in a hydrotherapy treatment at the resort’s excellent spa. Or simply sit on your private terrace, a glass in hand and watch an unbelievable African sunset.