Seasons Lodge Zanzibar

Cottage was secluded with a very nice view. The food and drinks were amazing. Customer service was spectacular.

Overall it was a really nice stay here! Staff is very friendly and helpful. The chef is extraordinary good! The rooms are very big and clean, some need little renovating. Beach is ok, better use water shoes for swimming. It's only possible on high tide.

The positives: The pictures do not do it justice. The rooms are nicer than depicted and the beach is lovelier - greener and bluer hues. It really is lovely. The reception area is stunning and having your own private beach - great. The drawbacks: The shower water is straight from the sea so you can never get totally clean. It ruined my hair and I felt I could not shower for the whole time which was not pleasant. The restaurant staff are really slow and if you complain, they just ignore you. One lunchtime, we were the only guests and we ordered a simple sandwich and a soup. After 45 minutes we asked where the food was and we heard the pinging of a microwave. They had forgotten and then brought the food in 1 minute. We were sitting outside the kitchen and there were 4 of them in there. Sadly this was not an isolated incident. One evening, we purposely ordered our dinner 1.5 hours before dinner started. It was still late. The restaurant staff were sulky and uncooperative most of the time. The trips they provide are expensive and not good value. We paid a fortune to go snorkelling and the local company was disinterested, dived in to see dolphins ignoring us and were not concerned with our safety. Our expensive trip to Stone Town, the guide was on his phone the entire time and not talking to us over lunch. He knew nothing about local shops either. The couples massage was 120 Euros and they told us (rather than asked) they were using a certain oil, it turned out this was the super luxurious, expensive one and I paid 120 USD for 2 massages. The Massai tribespeople on the beach are very very pushy and do not leave you alone. you want to take a nice beach walk and end up getting roped in to looking at someone's paintings on the hotel's private stretch of beach. It was very non-relaxing. Due to the sea water (we stayed in other places that didn't pump water straight from the sea) and the attitude of the restaurant staff I would not stay here again, but if these things do not bother you and you are not intending to do any trips, then do stay here!

This hotel is as good as it looks in the photos. It’s in a quiet part of the island, which suited us, and there weren’t many people in the beach. The staff were very helpful, and when we asked for a taxi, the drivers were reliable and safe. I highly recommend this hotel.

We stayed at Seasons Lodge for 7 nights in one of the private lodges. It is a little private paradise, with great view, easy access to the fantastic beach and water. Great food and drinks, excellent service and the staff is wonderful. Always helpful and flexible. We give our warmest recommendations.

WOW! What a place, this was an absolutely beautiful place and made extra special to know that it’s is run and was built by the local community!! The food was amazing, the beef stir fry is an absolute must! It is so peaceful and our room overlooked the beach, views were incredible and watching the sunrise was truly wonderful!

We had an excellent stay in a picturesque oceanfront cottage. I think they have just nine of these private and spacious bungalows that open directly onto the ocean. No TV or AC, just the sound of the waves to lull you to sleep. Absolutely idyllic. We had one problem that management quickly resolved. All the staff were super helpful and friendly. Breakfast was fine as is dinner although with limited offerings. There are a very small number of restaurants within walking distance with greater selection. The tide at this beach is just amazing to watch how the vast amounts of water move hundreds of meters. Wild! This is an uncrowded area with all the exotic remote tropical vibes you're looking for!

I enjoyed my place, the food, the staff, the presence of Disco and Taxi - the 2 dogs of the property. I enjoyed the privacy of my "villa".. I liked that every day was a new menu for dinner. I also liked that at the bar is no music, so we could hear the ocean and the birds.

Wonderful Zanzibar. Karibu. We stayed at the seasons lodge in Pongwe and all we can say is we had a fantastic time. The manager and staff are exceptional and we’re very kind, courteous and caring. Nothing was too great for them and the beds were changed everyday, simply the best. The lodges have their own private beach and the view is stupendous with natural beauty all around you. The hues of blue are so tropical that you cannot be disappointed as the sea beckons you to swim amongst the ripples and waves. Seasons Lodge is located in Pongwe which is away from it all but an hour in taxi to Stonetown if you really need the hustle and bustle that is. To be honest we were glad we stayed in Pongwe. We are not keen on shopping and the beaches are known for mass tourism whereby the locals try to sell their goods to make a living for themselves. The struggles are real in Zanzibar but at seasons lodge you are protected from the outside and that’s a good thing as I have a big heart and money was being spent based on kindness to help the local economy and the many disadvantaged. However at seasons lodge the beach is practically your own where we had some lovely swims with no hassle at all. The sea is lovely and warm (bath tub) and in November this is a wonderful treat considering it was -2 in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. They have kayaks and paddle boards on site for those a little more adventurous and they are a shared commodity plus the pool table is a good addition so for those who may find themselves bored then they have an activity to do. There is even table tennis in the lobby area so plenty to do or just do nothing and relax . The lodges are comfortable, they are a little sun faded but to me this adds to the charm and I’d describe it as a rustic and chic boutique experience. It has everything you need and even a bath which was an added touch should you wish to relax after a trek in the jungle. They have a safe and hairdryer and plenty tables and chairs in the room. I would highly recommend a stay here and for me it delivered a good balance of nature and commercial necessities without the extortionate prices and when budgeting this is a perfect example of what is on offer on the island. I must say the one thing seasons lodge should be proud of is their chef. The meals are lovely and very tasty with plenty to choose from on a daily basis. Do not forget to try the lobster and prawns. My friend is a vegetarian and there was plenty of options for them daily. The fruit is so tasty and not like the rubbish we are served in the UK. The pineapple especially is yummy. I would have loved to have seen a coconut or two on the menu, for drinking or munching but you can get these outside the complex so no hardships there. Once again this place is a little gem hidden away, and very very quiet. If you are looking to relax this is perfect piece of paradise but the attractions such as turtle swimming and forest treks are not too far by taxi. We have experienced many things on