Nungwi Dreams by Mantis Hotel in Zanzibar, Tanzania
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Located on the northern tip of Nungwi Beach on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, Nungwi Dreams by Mantis Hotel is a beach lover’s paradise that’s a world apart from the hustle and bustle of Stone Town and worlds away from the mainland safari circuit.
How to Get to Nungwi Dreams by Mantis Hotel
Or take a two-hour ferry from Dar Es Salaam to Stone Town, Zanzibar. Note that the ferry crossing can be rough depending on the season.
Nungwi Dreams is approximately a one-hour drive from the airport and port in Stone Town.
Fly to Zanzibar Stone Town Airport (ZNZ) from a variety of airports including Dar Es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), JFK, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
Rooms at Nungwi Dreams by Mantis
This beachfront resort is located in Nungwi, on one of the most pristine beaches on Zanzibar island and many of the rooms are oceanfront or feature an oceanview. The resort is home to 56 rooms and one four-bedroom villa that has a private infinity plunge pool and rooftop lounge.
The rooms are spacious and bright, combining modern architecture with subtle Swahili elements, and feature room amenities such as minibars, air conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. The king bed was comfortable, the room was clean, and my shower had excellent water pressure. My standard view room overlooked the pool with the ocean behind it and despite being near the pool bar, it was peaceful and quiet.
There are no phones in the room and you communicate with the staff via WhatsApp. When bad weather cancelled the planned outdoor Beach BBQ for dinner, I was notified via WhatsApp and informed of the alternate dining locations, which was incredibly convenient.
Resort Amenities
The standout amenity is the white sand beach with Indian Ocean views that’s just steps from the resort. Nungwi Beach, a popular destination for guests, is also nearby and offers various activities and experiences. However, the beach is rocky and sea urchins are frequently found on those rocks, so pack your water shoes!
The resort boasts two infinity pools that overlook the ocean, which were my favorite places to spend time while at the resort. The pool by the bar was my preferred one and I love that the servers came to the umbrella-shaded chairs and took drink orders.
The Healing Earth Spa features treatments that are inspired by traditional spices and use ancient healing philosophies of African culture. If you must work out while you’re on vacation, there is a 24-hour gym with cardio equipment and free weights.
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort.
Let’s Go on Safari!
Dining
Take your meals at the resort’s sea view restaurant, Rooftop Sky Bar, or Pool patio with a poolside bar and outdoor dining area. Sky Bar boasts a 360-degree view of Nungwi and stunning sunset views, however, it can be a bit windy up there as it was during my visit
Monday evening is Swahili Night, featuring East African cuisine, and Wednesday is Asian Night, featuring Asian flavors with local spices. Have sundowners on the roof Friday and enjoy chill vibes provided by a local DJ. A beach BBQ on Saturday showcases fresh seafood and live local entertainment.
The food is reasonably priced for a tourist area, however the options are a bit limited. I was only there for three days, but I can imagine that if I stayed for a week, I’d be wishing for more options.
Price
Starting from $198.40 USD/night for two for a standard room with a king bed in low season with breakfast included.
As someone who has spent a significant amount of time in the Caribbean, I feel like Nungwi Dreams by Mantis would cost easily double that in the Caribbean and not include breakfast.
Sustainability
Nungwi Dreams by Mantis emphasizes sustainability with programs including composting, recycling, beach cleanup, removal of non-native vegetation, and reusing old cooking oil as biofuel.
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Lori Barbely
Hi, I’m Lori. But you can call me Lors. I’m a middle-aged New Jersey-born gal, currently based in Orlando, Florida. My background is in editorial travel photography and writing and I've been to more than 30 countries. I’m obsessed with tropical locales and my favorite city is Tokyo. Have camera, will travel! I’m a Disney adult, Lord of the Rings fan, certified crazy cat lady, and sushi addict! I hope this blog inspires your wanderlust. Feel free to follow me on Instagram for snippets of daily life on and off the road.
