Reviews of Pongwe Beach Hotel
Wildlife sightings and reviews
95 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Pongwe Beach Hotel and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Mrs C.
Horsham
"An idyllic setting with wonderful facilities"
4 nights Arrived 22 Sep 2018
"This small beach resort was ideal for chilling and relaxing after safari. The food and wine were excellent. The room comfy with all needed facilities. The view in the beach front room was worth the extra cost. Staff were excellent."
See all these reviews: 5n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mrs C.
Beaconsfield
"Pongwe paradise"
4 nights Arrived 22 Sep 2018
"A lovely place to finish our holiday. Our room was literally on the beach. The communal areas were very pleasant but the high level of service, attention to detail by the staff and their permanently cheerful approach made our stay really great. We were so well looked after. Breakfast and dinner were excellent. There isn’t really much to do other than relax, swim and read (it was too windy for scuba diving) but it was what we wanted for the end of our holiday. It’s difficult to list all the great staff, but we loved Mary, Moody, Esther and Fatuma."
See all these reviews: 7n in Zanzibar; 5n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Mrs S
Leatherhead
"Stunning Beach and Wonderful People"
6 nights Arrived 23 Aug 2018
"After 4 days of safari Pongwe Beach was paradise.
Stunning white beach and beautiful clear water. Exploring the ocean bed when the tide went out, kayaking on the still waters of early afternoon then jumping in the waves in the evening - we had lots of fun.
The staff made us feel so welcome and we met some wonderful characters, by the end of the week they felt like friends. The food was fantastic and the main lounge/restaurant area a great place to relax, have a cocktail, play cards. The photos on their website do not do justice to this area of the hotel, it is much nicer than we expected.
The bungalows are right on the beach so you go to sleep to the sound of crashing waves. They are more basic than the public areas of the hotel, but are sufficient.
Highly recommend." See all these reviews: 8n in Zanzibar; 5n in Kenya
Stunning white beach and beautiful clear water. Exploring the ocean bed when the tide went out, kayaking on the still waters of early afternoon then jumping in the waves in the evening - we had lots of fun.
The staff made us feel so welcome and we met some wonderful characters, by the end of the week they felt like friends. The food was fantastic and the main lounge/restaurant area a great place to relax, have a cocktail, play cards. The photos on their website do not do justice to this area of the hotel, it is much nicer than we expected.
The bungalows are right on the beach so you go to sleep to the sound of crashing waves. They are more basic than the public areas of the hotel, but are sufficient.
Highly recommend." See all these reviews: 8n in Zanzibar; 5n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr Peter P
USA
"Pongwe Beach Hotel review"
2 nights Arrived 15 Aug 2018
"We had a fantastic time there.
Should have stayed at least an extra day.
Very good food and pleasant staff.
Great place to relax after the safari." See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania; 4n in Zanzibar
Should have stayed at least an extra day.
Very good food and pleasant staff.
Great place to relax after the safari." See all these reviews: 12n in Tanzania; 4n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Al & Jules
Australia
"Pongwe in the rain"
3 nights Arrived 29 Jun 2018
"Our feelings about Pongwe were coloured by the rain that seemed to persist for over half the time of our stay. Luckily the days here were mainly to wind down before the long flight back to Australia, so the weather didn't distract us totally.
As a beach resort, it's a bit limiting as for quite a few hours each day the tide is so low that swimming isn't possible. We also missed the options of nearby attractions, as the villages around had little except for their fishing/seaweed industries. Further to that, the cost of $US100 return to travel to Stone Town, or other tourist locations, was off -putting.
We enjoyed the menu and food options as well as the cheaply priced drinks." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 3n in Zanzibar
As a beach resort, it's a bit limiting as for quite a few hours each day the tide is so low that swimming isn't possible. We also missed the options of nearby attractions, as the villages around had little except for their fishing/seaweed industries. Further to that, the cost of $US100 return to travel to Stone Town, or other tourist locations, was off -putting.
We enjoyed the menu and food options as well as the cheaply priced drinks." See all these reviews: 8n in Tanzania; 3n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Average
Service:
Good
Activities:
Poor
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Average
Mr & Mrs D
Sydney
"Pongwe Beach Hotel review"
7 nights Arrived 9 Jun 2018
"Service was a bit amateur.
The staff all tried hard but there were many little things that just weren't quite right.
Lovely beach and location divine." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 7n in Zanzibar
The staff all tried hard but there were many little things that just weren't quite right.
Lovely beach and location divine." See all these reviews: 7n in Tanzania; 7n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Poor
Activities:
Poor
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Average
Mrs H
Bristol
"Returned after 7 Years - Even Better"
5 nights Arrived 11 Dec 2017
"We stayed at this hotel 7 years ago and really enjoyed it, so when an opportunity arose to return we decided to go for it - we were not disappointed. We stayed for 5 nights in December and had a great time.
During our stay we had a couple of chats with Heidi, the manager who is really friendly and was keen to hear how we were finding our stay compared to 7 years ago. We told her that over the 7 years Pongwe has got even better. The beach is just as lovely, but the bathrooms have been upgraded and the food and restaurant service has definitely gone up a notch (or 2!!). The bar has also been extended giving the whole place a more spacious feel. The staff are also really friendly and are always around offering to do anything they can for you. We loved it so much we didnt leave the hotel during our 5 nights there. We left feeling truly relaxed and pampered.
Hopefully it wont be another 7 years before we return" See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
During our stay we had a couple of chats with Heidi, the manager who is really friendly and was keen to hear how we were finding our stay compared to 7 years ago. We told her that over the 7 years Pongwe has got even better. The beach is just as lovely, but the bathrooms have been upgraded and the food and restaurant service has definitely gone up a notch (or 2!!). The bar has also been extended giving the whole place a more spacious feel. The staff are also really friendly and are always around offering to do anything they can for you. We loved it so much we didnt leave the hotel during our 5 nights there. We left feeling truly relaxed and pampered.
Hopefully it wont be another 7 years before we return" See all these reviews: 9n in Tanzania; 5n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs R
Ashbourne
"Idyllic beach stay"
4 nights Arrived 21 Oct 2017
"Beautiful location, quite a distance if you want to visit island attractions but ideal for those, like us, wanting to relax and take in the stunning views.
Staff very accommodating and welcoming." See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya; 4n in Zanzibar
Staff very accommodating and welcoming." See all these reviews: 8n in Kenya; 4n in Zanzibar
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs R
Aberdeen
"Another great stay at Pongwe Beach"
3 nights Arrived 14 Sep 2017
"This was our second visit to Pongwe Beach hotel. We were apprehensive about whether we would enjoy it as much as our first stay.
Our apprehensions disappeared when we were welcomed home and recognized from our first visit by reception. Our stay this time was in one of the hotels new sea-view suites that we really liked. We initially thought the suite's plunge pool was too cold until we learnt to appreciate it during the heat of the day.
The hotels location, beach and infinity pool were all still stunning. the staff were amazingly friendly and service excellent. We could not fault the standard of food and had an wonderful seafood platter on the beach on our last night
.
We will go again as this beach hotel really suits us" See all these reviews: 14n in Tanzania; 3n in Zanzibar; 1n in Kenya
Our apprehensions disappeared when we were welcomed home and recognized from our first visit by reception. Our stay this time was in one of the hotels new sea-view suites that we really liked. We initially thought the suite's plunge pool was too cold until we learnt to appreciate it during the heat of the day.
The hotels location, beach and infinity pool were all still stunning. the staff were amazingly friendly and service excellent. We could not fault the standard of food and had an wonderful seafood platter on the beach on our last night
.
We will go again as this beach hotel really suits us" See all these reviews: 14n in Tanzania; 3n in Zanzibar; 1n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Ms I
Oakland
"Chilling on the beach in Pongwe"
5 nights Arrived 10 Sep 2017
"The food at Pongwe was spectacular. When you consider that they have a captive audience who they are distracting with a stunning view of the Indian Ocean, they could get away with much less delicious food. Everything - right down to the morning uji - was prepared with thoughtful attention to flavor, composition, and presentation.
The beach is lovely, and the rooms were beautifully appointed. The staff was a mixed bag - some fantastic, some irritating (say hakuna matata to me again and I'll scream!), and some a little checked out. We had understood that it wasn't an outstanding snorkeling location, and it was indeed pretty unimpressive.
Walking during low tide out to the sides of the resort and looking for shells was a fun adventure." See all these reviews: 9n in Zanzibar; 7n in Tanzania
The beach is lovely, and the rooms were beautifully appointed. The staff was a mixed bag - some fantastic, some irritating (say hakuna matata to me again and I'll scream!), and some a little checked out. We had understood that it wasn't an outstanding snorkeling location, and it was indeed pretty unimpressive.
Walking during low tide out to the sides of the resort and looking for shells was a fun adventure." See all these reviews: 9n in Zanzibar; 7n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
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Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Matemwe Lodge
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Shooting Star Lodge
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Mnemba Island Lodge
Mnemba is a private island resort with 11 chalets, fringed by some of the best coral reefs in the Zanzibar area.
Matemwe Retreat
Matemwe Retreat is one of the most exclusive lodges on Zanzibar, with four split-level villas each with their own veranda, sun terrace, plunge pool.
Sunshine Marine Lodge
Sunshine Marine (sister of Sunshine Hotel) is located in a secluded part of the east coast, with a first-rate, in-house dive centre.
Zoi Hotel
Located right on the beach, with bright rooms and a colourful garden, the Zoi Boutique Hotel has a lively, relaxed atmosphere.
Zanzibar Pearl
Formally known as Matemwe Beach Village, Zanzibar Pearl Boutique Hotel is one of the newest properties on the island
Melia Zanzibar
Melia Zanzibar is a very large resort hotel on Zanzibar’s east coast and is well equipped for business and leisure trips.
Tulia Zanzibar
Tulia Zanzibar Beach Resort is a 16-room boutique beach hotel that opened in 2016 on Zanzibar's east coast.
