Reviews of trips to Stone Town
354 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Stone Town.
EBL
Brookline
"My Feb 2017 trip"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 11 Feb 2017 and 26 Feb 2017
"The best recommendation I can give is that I would use Expert Africa again, and I would recommend them to anyone going to Africa.
I would also recommend Nomad Tanzania to anyone going to Tanzania. Expert (Eleanor and Olivia) did a great job during the lengthy period of planning the trip, answering questions, responding by email in a timely fashion, alerting me to details that I needed to complete, nudging where appropriate, offering unbiased advice.
In short, our two week trip to Arusha, Gibbs Farm, the Ngorongoro Crater, Southern Serengeti, Northern Serengeti (Lamai), Stone Town and Zanzibar beaches was terrific and I would do it again. Especially the Serengeti. And no question that Serengeti Lamai was the highlight of the trip. A unique spot. I found it very moving to contemplate the origins of our species a million years ago arising from the very same surroundings, surviving the challenges of hunter and prey, and literally standing up on two feet and becoming the dominant species of the planet. Really powerful.
Well done, Expert Africa!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
I would also recommend Nomad Tanzania to anyone going to Tanzania. Expert (Eleanor and Olivia) did a great job during the lengthy period of planning the trip, answering questions, responding by email in a timely fashion, alerting me to details that I needed to complete, nudging where appropriate, offering unbiased advice.
In short, our two week trip to Arusha, Gibbs Farm, the Ngorongoro Crater, Southern Serengeti, Northern Serengeti (Lamai), Stone Town and Zanzibar beaches was terrific and I would do it again. Especially the Serengeti. And no question that Serengeti Lamai was the highlight of the trip. A unique spot. I found it very moving to contemplate the origins of our species a million years ago arising from the very same surroundings, surviving the challenges of hunter and prey, and literally standing up on two feet and becoming the dominant species of the planet. Really powerful.
Well done, Expert Africa!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
SueD
UK
"Happy time"
I visited Zanzibar between 24 Jan 2017 and 30 Jan 2017
"I enjoyed the contrast between town and coast; my driver between the two was brilliant."
Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
Traveller1003
UK
"Trip to Zanzibar, January 2017"
I visited Zanzibar between 18 Jan 2017 and 31 Jan 2017
"We have been fortunate to have travelled a lot and found Expert Africa by researching potential companies and reviews. They accommodated our requirements and produced an itinerary that worked perfectly.
The good quality A5 wallet that was supplied made finding supporting documentation easier and was of manageable size.
The resorts were excellent and the staff brilliant. We would thoroughly recommend Expert Africa.
The website gives plenty of detail about the resorts and areas which is very helpful." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zanzibar holiday
The good quality A5 wallet that was supplied made finding supporting documentation easier and was of manageable size.
The resorts were excellent and the staff brilliant. We would thoroughly recommend Expert Africa.
The website gives plenty of detail about the resorts and areas which is very helpful." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs T
Goole
"An Experience to Remember"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 2 Jan 2017 and 12 Jan 2017
"Superb Holiday with three totally different experiences. Our Thanks to James Denny for listening to us and gauging us so well. Every part of the holiday worked from the locations to the transport in between. Many thanks"
Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs D
Cheltenham
"My Oct 2016 Zanzibar trip"
I visited Zanzibar between 16 Oct 2016 and 25 Oct 2016
"On the whole the trip was very good, apart from the problems with the flights out. Fisherman's Tours were reliable and efficient in transferring me from place to place. The people I met were charming, friendly and helpful.
The excursions seemed expensive, but I did enjoy them. I had a very good guide from Fisherman's Tours who took me on a tour of Stone Town and a boat trip to Prison Island.
I didn't do as much snorkelling as I would have liked as it was not feasible to snorkel at low tide. At high tide it would have meant swimming out quite a way to get to the reef. I did try near the shoreline, but could only see sea urchins and seaweed and the wind was churning up the sand making visibility poor." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zanzibar holiday
The excursions seemed expensive, but I did enjoy them. I had a very good guide from Fisherman's Tours who took me on a tour of Stone Town and a boat trip to Prison Island.
I didn't do as much snorkelling as I would have liked as it was not feasible to snorkel at low tide. At high tide it would have meant swimming out quite a way to get to the reef. I did try near the shoreline, but could only see sea urchins and seaweed and the wind was churning up the sand making visibility poor." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Good
Ms J
Denmark
"Fall, 2016"
I visited Tanzania and 2 other countries between 13 Oct 2016 and 6 Nov 2016
Overall trip
Excellent
Miss TL
SW London
"My Oct 2016 trip"
I visited Zanzibar between 12 Oct 2016 and 24 Oct 2016
"I thoughly enjoyed my trip and would go back to Zanzibar and both hotels again. The trip lived up to my expectations and I found Zanzibar to be a very warm and a welcoming place to be. I just hope that there is not too much large hotel development allowed as this would, in my opinion, spoil the fabric of what is Zanzibar today.
Both the hotels were excellent and very good value for money. The staff were very friendly and helpful and both Russell and Heidi need to be commended on the staff and the service provided.
The guide who was booked for me by Expert Travel to do the walking tour of stone Town was very good, knowledgable and gave a good insight into Zanziabr and it's history.
The taxi driver was the same one who picked up form the airport, drove me to Emerson Spice and to Pongwe Beach and to the airport again. It was lovely it was the same gentleman who was very friendly and keen to show me the island and culture.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I found Expert Africa to be excellent at what they do. I was provided with all the information I could want and nothing was too much trouble.
My questions were answered in a timely manner and I liked and found the guide book and folder that was provided for holding tickets etc to be very useful.
I would definitely use Expert Africa again and would recommend you as a tour company to other people.
I am thinking of going to Namibia next year and will definitely be in contact with you if I decide to go." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zanzibar holiday
Both the hotels were excellent and very good value for money. The staff were very friendly and helpful and both Russell and Heidi need to be commended on the staff and the service provided.
The guide who was booked for me by Expert Travel to do the walking tour of stone Town was very good, knowledgable and gave a good insight into Zanziabr and it's history.
The taxi driver was the same one who picked up form the airport, drove me to Emerson Spice and to Pongwe Beach and to the airport again. It was lovely it was the same gentleman who was very friendly and keen to show me the island and culture.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I found Expert Africa to be excellent at what they do. I was provided with all the information I could want and nothing was too much trouble.
My questions were answered in a timely manner and I liked and found the guide book and folder that was provided for holding tickets etc to be very useful.
I would definitely use Expert Africa again and would recommend you as a tour company to other people.
I am thinking of going to Namibia next year and will definitely be in contact with you if I decide to go." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Teddington
"A wonderful safari and an excellent holiday"
I visited Tanzania and 2 other countries between 6 Oct 2016 and 23 Oct 2016
"Our trip was truly wonderful. We had an amazing safari in Botswana a few years ago, but this beat it, both in terms of the range of game we saw and the quality of the accommodation.
Everything went like clockwork, it was very relaxing but also an intense safari experience.
Our final week on the Zanzibar beach at Pongwe Beach Hotel was the ultimate in exotic pampered chilling out - very informal and laid back with just the right mix of excellent service, great food, and wow location.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
As everything worked so well, and the advice we were given was so good, I can't think of anything to improve it - just keep it up!" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Everything went like clockwork, it was very relaxing but also an intense safari experience.
Our final week on the Zanzibar beach at Pongwe Beach Hotel was the ultimate in exotic pampered chilling out - very informal and laid back with just the right mix of excellent service, great food, and wow location.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
As everything worked so well, and the advice we were given was so good, I can't think of anything to improve it - just keep it up!" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr/Ms S
Seattle, WA
"Our Zanzibar Trip - September 2016"
I visited Zanzibar between 25 Sep 2016 and 1 Oct 2016
"On the whole, our visit to Zanzibar was delightful and the holiday arrangements made for us by Expert Africa were very satisfactory. We applaud James Denny for his assistance and responsiveness throughout our planning process and trip. We cannot say enough good things about Matemwe Lodge -- it is a fabulous retreat. Our initial disappointment with our room at the Zanzibar Palace Hotel was quickly addressed with a move to a better room. Our thanks to James and the Expert Africa staff for their assistance."
Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
The HBs
London
"Tanzania trip September 2016"
I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 14 Sep 2016 and 26 Sep 2016
"A very well thought out trip for which we received excellent advice from Expert Africa (James Denny). In particular, the order of visiting the camps was perfect in that, had we visited Mwagusi first the sheer volume of game in Ruaha may have led us to be a little disappointed in Selous. That said, our guide at Impala Camp was truly outstanding in that we saw more than others staying at the same time due to his patience and desire that we understood the animal behaviour. By spending time observing the animals with him, we saw the full story of a lion kill from them first being alerted to a wounded wildebeest to the kill itself and the subsequent family hierarchy in action for the "feast". Often we were the only observers of significant wildlife events which made it very special.
In addition the choice of camps suited us much better than, for example, the Serengeti. We wanted quiet and remote and that is exactly what we got, combined with plenty of wildlife action. A nice bonus is that both camps were better than we had expected, from facilities to food to service.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Our whole experience with Expert Africa has been excellent.
Nothing springs to mind as needing improvement which tells you a lot about the service you have provided to us." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
In addition the choice of camps suited us much better than, for example, the Serengeti. We wanted quiet and remote and that is exactly what we got, combined with plenty of wildlife action. A nice bonus is that both camps were better than we had expected, from facilities to food to service.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Our whole experience with Expert Africa has been excellent.
Nothing springs to mind as needing improvement which tells you a lot about the service you have provided to us." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
354
reviews of Stone Town by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
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Where to stay in Stone Town
Our suggestions for places to stay in Stone Town
Zanzibar Coffee House
The Zanzibar Coffee House is a small quiet hotel tucked away in the back streets of Stone Town, with lovely, simple rooms.
Serena Inn
Now trumped by the nearby Park Hyatt, the Serena Inn, in its historic building, was formerly Stone Town's only international-style hotel.
Zanzibar Palace Hotel
The Zanzibar Palace Hotel is a highly regarded boutique hotel with very personal service and just nine rooms, all of them Zanzibari in style.
Beyt al Salaam
The Beyt al Salaam is a pleasant, boutique hotel with only six rooms and atmospheric and stylish Zanzibari décor.
Dhow Palace Hotel
The Dhow Palace is a very good-value, mid-range hotel, full of Swahili character, and the pool makes it appealing to families.
Emerson Spice
Emerson Spice is a beautiful small hotel in the heart of Stone Town with individually designed rooms adorned with gorgeous fabrics.
Kholle House
Kholle House offers an atmospheric Stone Town stay in a historic building, and is very good value for money.
Jafferji House
Jafferji House is a converted old house that blends modern facilities with traditional style. The ten, unique rooms are show great attention to detail.
Swahili House
Swahili House is a traditionally styled boutique hotel furnished to a high standard with a convenient location in the centre of Stone Town.
Tembo Hotel
The Tembo Hotel is a good-value, family-friendly hotel right on the seafront in Stone Town, with 36 rooms and a good-sized swimming pool.
Emerson on Hurumzi
Emerson on Hurumzi was Stone Town's first boutique hotel, featuring antique furniture, unique, stylish rooms and a superb rooftop restaurant.
Mbweni Ruins Hotel
Mbweni Ruins Hotel is very convenient if you want to stay on the beach, but very close to Stone Town, or visit Chumbe Island.
Maru Maru Hotel
In the heart of Stone Town, Maru Maru combines contemporary style and creature comforts with a Zanzibari twist.
Park Hyatt
The Park Hyatt Zanzibar is a high-quality example of this group, with excellent facilities and service.
Kisiwa House
Kisiwa's central location in the heart of Stone Town's Shangani area makes it a great base to explore this fascinating town.
Seyyida Hotel
The Seyyida is a characterful old hotel near the seafront in Stone Town, with the rare bonus of a swimming pool.
