Zanzibar Kempinski
03-30-2009 06:50 AM
I thought it was about time I shared more of my trip to Zanzibar in February.
I was there for two weeks with my girlfriend staying in three completely different areas/hotels. I have already blogged on one of them here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g488129 But now for my experience of the LL property we used :Zanzibar Kempinski which we stayed in for five nights. I was a bit wary of this one due to some negative reports on Trip Adviser and also that it was more of a resort hotel cut off from the “real Zanzibar”. The hotel is set in its own huge green grounds full of beautiful trees and plants (how they manage to keep them SO must be quite a job in the long hot dry season). On arrival,we were easily checked in and given a Terrace Room.All the rooms are in little blocks of around 6/8 rooms in separate buildings spread out through the grounds. Our block was the furthest away from the main reception area/restaurant/pool BUT right beside the lovely spa with its own infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean.It was a 2min walk away from our room and we were the only people ever to use it whilst there ! So,in effect,we had our own infinity pool! The room itself was lovely:huge 4 poster bed with lovely linen,great bathroom with big bath,indoor shower and outdoor shower,a small balcony AND steps up to a roof top terrace. We used room service for dining a few times:service was quick and polite and the food was good too(and reasonable prices).Breakfast was a buffet affair in the main restaurant: huge selection of items. You could sit indoors or in the courtyard area . The reception area had a nice pool table and free broadband internet access. The main pool was huge,clean and quiet too. There is a beautiful jetty out to the sea where,once again,the food was gorgeous and the views were delightful. At night they had lights on the water so you could see the tuna fish feeding. When the tide was out it was easy to go exploring around the rocks and little bays,watching the local kids play with their handmade boats or fishing. The hotel is atop a cliff and there are lovely landscaped walks all along. We seemed to be the only ones ever using it,never seeing other guests and only the occasional guard who we’d have a chat with and practice our Swahili. I got the impression that not many other guests even spoke to the staff. Just near our room was a gorgeous beach:truly magical which AGAIN,no one else used! The hotel does have a private beach about 20 mins walk or 5 mins in one of their golf carts. It’s a nice beach but we preferred “our” little beach. We also enjoyed two spa treatments from the nice Thai ladies there:so relaxing! For us,the best part of The Kempinski was the staff and the sheer beauty of the surroundings. Ok,It’s not the “real Zanzibar” (though you can easily go on trips from the hotel to explore Zanzibar) but for beauty and relaxed indulgence,it’s hard to beat ! 
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