Baraza Resort & Spa

Baraza is a luxury resort with a strong sense of Zanzibar. The design draws on the sultanate period — arches everywhere, hand-carved detail, brass lanterns, dark timber and local traditional furniture, blending Swahili, Arab and Indian influences. It is not the minimalist white island hotel that is everywhere now; from the lobby to the rooms it has a definite character — refined, but never letting you forget where you are.

There are only 30 villas, so the facilities are complete without the through-traffic of a big resort. The One Bedroom Villa we book as standard is around 148 m², with a separate living room, walk-in wardrobe, a large tub, a generous terrace and its own private plunge pool; for guests who genuinely want to unwind for a few days after the safari, that space matters. The other standout is service and food: it is all-inclusive, but not the big-buffet kind — you rotate between several restaurants, with Swahili, Indian, Arab and Asian influences on the menus. Recent reviews return to the food and the service again and again, and more than a few guests note that the staff are attentive without hovering.

The resort is on Bwejuu beach on the south-east coast, where the white sand is lovely, and it has a large pool, spa, yoga, diving, snorkelling and sailing. At low tide you can walk the beach or join a reef walk, and swim once the tide returns — the rhythm of the island becomes part of the stay.