Bluebay is one of the newest and largest beach resorts on Zanzibar, able to accommodate more than 170 guests. Appropriately named, it’s set along a beautiful stretch of idyllic palm-fringed white beach with deep-blue sea in the Kiwengwa area on the northeast coast. Unfortunately, the beauty of this region has attracted several other big resorts and Bluebay is almost in the middle of them. If you’re a fan of luxury beach hotels, with all the bells and whistles, which could be located in any tropical setting this won’t faze you one bit. But, for the adventurous traveller, there are wilder, more remote lodgings to choose from on Zanzibar which are more in tune with local village life.

That being said, the hotel itself is fantastic. Run and owned by Kenyan hoteliers (known for their professionalism) this is a slick and efficient hotel. The kind of place where everything runs as it should. You’ll find all the usual facilities and activities, including a state-of-the-art watersports centre, high-tech PADI-affiliated scuba centre, fitness centre, kiddies club, tennis court and disco. It’s also an ideal place to access some of Zanzibar’s best diving sites around the magnificent Mnemba Atoll. There’s also good snorkeling for non-divers.

Rooms:
Bluebay Beach Resort offers 88 sea-facing rooms, including 80 superior rooms, six deluxe rooms and two Sultan suites - with big price differences. The bungalows are thatched with makuti palms to blend in with the tropical environment. Although the rooms are positioned some distance from the beach (which keeps it pristine) on the green lawns, some have chinks of a sea view through the lush palm trees.

All rooms are tastefully decorated using reproductions of Zanzibar furniture (rather than the genuine antiques found elsewhere in Zanzibar) and a cool, white-and-blue colour scheme reflecting the dazzling sand and azure ocean.

DINING
With an Italian chef at the helm you’re assured of a quality dining experience.
There are two restaurants and bars at Bluebay.

The Makuti Restaurant has views over the swimming pool to the ocean beyond. Here you can enjoy leisurely breakfasts, lunches and glorious seafood buffets at night. There is the also the option of a barbeque (barbecue) around the floodlit pool while listening to live music. After dinner enjoy a nightcap or cappuccino at the main bar nearby. It offers a wide selection of South African and European wines, local and imported beers, spirits and minerals.

When you’re lounging about the beach during the day there’s the convenience of the informal Beach Bar and Restaurant. This thatched restaurant offers seafood, burgers, pizzas and other light meals.

Blue Bay at Glance:

Location: Bluebay Beach Resort is situated in the Kiwengwa area on the north-east coast of Zanzibar. It’s well under an hour’s drive from the airport and Stone Town.

General hotel facilities:
- Two restaurants and bars
- Air-conditioned fitness centre
- Floodlit tennis court
- PADI scuba diving centre
- Fully-equipped watersports centre
- Games rooms with table tennis, snooker and billiard tables
- Open-air discotheque
- Fresh-water swimming pool
- Open-air Jacuzzi
- Children’s paddling pool
- Children’s entertainment club (on demand )
- Well-stocked boutique and shop
- Fully equipped conference facilities and business centre
- Medical dispensary with doctor on call

Room facilities:
- Air-conditioner and ceiling fan
- Satellite television
- Mini-bar fridge
- Telephone
- Hairdryer
- Safe

Activities:
- Bluebay has all the land and watersports activities you could wish for. You can dive around the Mnemba Atoll or go snorkeling, windsurfing, canoeing and sailing. Arrange with the hotel to go deep-sea fishing with a local fisherman in an outrigger canoe.

Services:
- Room service
- Full laundry
- Childcare