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Tembo Palace Hotel

4.0 star property
Recharge by soaking up some sunshine on our beachfront location then treat yourself to a rejuvenating massage.

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Located near Old Fort, Tembo Palace Hotel is a beachfront paradise with sun loungers and 3 outdoor pools to soak up the sun. Relax at the onsite spa, indulge in local cuisine at Tembo Bahari Restaurant or grab a coffee from the café. Guests can also unwind on the garden terrace, read up in the library or take advantage of free WiFi.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 4 of 4 rooms

View all photos for Superior Double Room

Superior Double Room | Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Superior Double Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Flat-screen TV
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
Coffee/tea maker
  • 22 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Superior Twin Room

Superior Twin Room | Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Superior Twin Room

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
  • City view
  • 22 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Twin Beds

View all photos for Superior Triple Room

Superior Triple Room | Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Superior Triple Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
  • City view
  • 32 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 King Beds

View all photos for Family Suite

Family Suite | Premium bedding, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Family Suite

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)

Highlights

Separate sitting area
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Flat-screen TV
Ceiling fan
Premium bedding
Private bathroom
Shower/tub combination
  • City view
  • 40 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 King Beds
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About the neighborhood

Located in Stone Town, a neighborhood in Zanzibar Town, Tembo Palace Hotel is in a shopping district and on the beach. Old Fort and Slave Market are notable landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Forodhani Gardens and Chapwani Island. Christ Church Cathedral and House of Wonders are two other places to visit that come recommended. With scuba diving, boat tours, and fishing nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water. Visit our Zanzibar Town travel guide
Map
3974, Zanzibar, Zanzibar Town, Kenyatta Road, Shangani

What's nearby

  • Old Fort
    Old Fort
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Forodhani Gardens
    Forodhani Gardens
    3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • House of Wonders
    House of Wonders
    3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Slave Market
    Slave Market
    8 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Hamamni Persian Baths
    5 min walk - 0.5 km

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ)
    18 min drive

Restaurants

  • Forodhani Park
    4 min walk
  • House of Karafuu
    2 min walk
  • Livingstone Beach Restaurant
    2 min walk
  • Zenji Garden Café
    4 min walk
  • Mama Mia Gelato - Stone Town
    2 min walk

About this property

Tembo Palace Hotel

Upscale hotel near Old Fort
Located close to Forodhani Gardens and House of Wonders, Tembo Palace Hotel provides a terrace, a coffee shop/cafe, and a garden. With amenities like a beachfront location and sun loungers, this hotel is the perfect place to soak up the sun. Treat yourself to a massage at the onsite spa. The on-site local and international cuisine restaurant, Tembo Bahari Restaurant, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition to a hair salon and a library, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.
Other perks include:
  • 3 outdoor pools and a children's pool, along with sun loungers
  • Free self parking
  • A roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), smoke-free premises, and a 24-hour front desk
  • A TV in the lobby, free newspapers, and luggage storage
Room features
All guestrooms at Tembo Palace Hotel include comforts such as 24-hour room service and premium bedding, in addition to thoughtful touches like air conditioning and separate sitting areas.
More amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with shower/tub combinations and free toiletries
  • 41-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels
  • Separate sitting areas, electric kettles, and ceiling fans

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free offsite parking
  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Restaurants on site

  • Tembo Bahari Restaurant

Things to do

  • 3 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Full-service spa
  • Library
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • 3 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Hair salon
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Turndown service

Outdoors

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels
  • Garden
  • On the beach
  • Outdoor entertainment area
  • Picnic area
  • Pool loungers
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Massage
  • Spa open daily

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Wheelchairs on site

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Private bathroom
  • Shampoo
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Slippers
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 41-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • 24-hour room service
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Separate sitting area

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 24 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Dining and recreation facilities are located across the street at Tembo Hotel.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 30.0 per day

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 5.00 per person, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 15 per vehicle (one way)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 30.0 per day

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, a first aid kit, and window guards
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Pool access available from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
Alcohol is not served at this property
A car is not required for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Annex Tembo hotel Zanzibar Town
Annex Tembo hotel
Annex Tembo Zanzibar Town
Annex Tembo
Tembo Palace Hotel Hotel
Tembo Palace Hotel Zanzibar Town
Tembo Palace Hotel Hotel Zanzibar Town

Frequently asked questions

Does Tembo Palace Hotel have a pool?

Yes, this property has 3 outdoor pools and a children's pool. Pool access is from 8:00 AM–6:00 PM.

Is Tembo Palace Hotel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property; nearby parking is also free.

What time is check-in at Tembo Palace Hotel?

Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at Tembo Palace Hotel?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Does Tembo Palace Hotel provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of USD 15 per vehicle applies.

Where is Tembo Palace Hotel located?

Located in Stone Town, this beachfront hotel is in the historical district and within a 5-minute walk of Old Fort, House of Wonders, and Forodhani Gardens. Hamamni Persian Baths and Christ Church Cathedral are also within 10 minutes.

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Reviews

Tembo Palace Hotel Reviews

8.4

Very Good

8.6

Cleanliness

9.2

Location

8.8

Staff & service

8.2

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 55 out of 137 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 64 out of 137 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 137 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 137 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 137 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Abiy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Excellent breakfast buffet and great location
Stayed 8 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sydni

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We were super happy with our stay at Tembo Palace, we could use the facilities at both hotels, close to everything 5 minutes walk away from the night market. The hotel is on the beach front which is perfect, restaurant and drinks was great and staff were really efficient and friendly. Breakfast was great, buffet and omelettes/waffles made on request. Rooms were cleaned every day. Would recommend this hotel
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Karim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good location in the center of Stowntown. but no lift, incase u have walking issues, and no liquor license of bar!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Wonderful stay!

This hotel is perfectly located for an easy walk all over town. Choice of three pools and fantastic restaurant with breakfast included. Lovely breakfast buffet! The building is immediately across the street from its sister hotel, which is right on the beach and provides beach access. Rooms are spacious and clean. Hotel staff is wonderfully accommodating and attentive. We would definitely return here! Architecture and decorating is classic Zanzibar and charming!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mumtaz

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hotel is in a good location staff very courteous very clean rooms Just one thing no elevators lots of stairs to climb elevators should be added otherwise excellent
Stayed 1 night in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Seamless check in with exceptional service. I failed to do my due diligence and got a room that faced alleys with adjacent dwellings that had much desirable walls requiring paint and garbage below. I would still recommend Tembo Hotel but ensure you select one with city view and/or balcony as the property does have multiple sections. Don't hesitate to reach out to them as they do respond back. People in general are very humble and respectful.

10/10 Excellent

Karim

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The check in and the service by staff was exceptional. I would, however, advice any guests planning to stay at this hotel to ensure they select the section which provides a balcony and/or city view. I missed doing my due diligence and ended up in a room with pretty bad views of the alley where one can see garbage also. The hotel was fully booked hence nothing else was avaliable for us to switch. Otherwise I would recommend this hotel and the plus point being Forodhani was within walking distance. Safe with no issues. People in Zanzibar are humble and respectful.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

WAYNE

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The breakfast was bad, and the hotel was under construction. The beds were vey hard.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

John Henry J

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beautiful centrally located hotel fun for kids

We picked this hotel for convenience to the ferry terminal and Stone Town. It seems to be the main hotel in Stone Town, centrally located to tourist areas, beach, and restaurants. It is also artistically very beautiful in terms of architecture and layout. We were in apartments adjacent to the main hotel, accessed via an alley. Kids in our group loved the three pools at both buildings, as well as the billiards and foosball table, which together provided many hours of fun. Staff in both buildings were friendly and eager to help. Rooms were beautiful and clean. We used this as a launching point for a sandbar visit, a snorkeling excursion, and a walking tour. The hotel very kindly accommodated us with a changing room to use after checkout after returning from an excursion -- much appreciated. Note that a small tax has to be paid locally - USD 15 per person per night. The only downside was that the area outside the hotel is full of vendors who aggressively seek customers almost 24/7.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely after a dodgy start

We loved our stay. We had a triple room in Tembo Palace, which is about a minutes walk from the main Tembo Hotel. It has its own pool (which is smaller but quieter than the main one) but breakfast and the restaurant is in the main hotel. Our room was huge with three king-sized beds and a large bathroom. A/c and fans were effective. Both hotels are beautifully restored buildings. The alley leading to ours didn’t look great initially but we always felt safe walking back and forth. It’s about 30 seconds from the Freddie Mercury museum. The staff were brilliant throughout with a special mention for Pieter, our waiter on a couple of occasions. Breakfast is awesome with lots of choice and eggs made to order. Our only disappointment was on arrival when the bathroom was covered with what looked like large flakes of paint - bath, floor, basin, loo - everything. It was 3am so we really couldn’t be bothered to report it then. When we did next day, it was quickly cleared but it was a disturbing reflection on how rooms are prepared. Having said that, the actual bedroom seemed clean. Oh, and it had a fridge - lovely for keeping water and juice cool.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Margaret

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great property and staff.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Sanne Mussa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Breakfast was outstanding
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was nice very busy hotel
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Monica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Just beautiful and perfect
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Beth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This is a very fun place to stay. It has lots of Zanzibar character. The three pools are amazing and the view is incredible
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Demetria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Zanzibar

Staying at Tembo palace was amazing. Staff were friendly and very helpful. Breakfast was nice every morning.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Aristeidis

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
We had an appartment next to the main building, it was enormous, with great bathroom. Great value for money, right on the beach, next to the top class hotels. Tasteful breakfast, for all likes.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

6/10 Okay

Mike Doreen

Liked: Staff & service
Decent value hotel, nothing special - ran out of water for short periods of time both days we stayed - but quickly corrected when we contacted the desk.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Danielle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful staff that were helpful and accommodating in many ways. I needed to store my luggage for a few extra days and they graciously agreed and it was kept safe. No elevator, but the porters were so helpful during check-in/out that it wasn’t a problem. The breakfast area, pool and beach were beautiful and overall this was a very convenient location. Room was huge and clean with adjustable air conditioning. I would definitely recommend and stay there again!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Julia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Lovely converted palace with a great spot on the beach. One friend had issues with water and a/c but they got fixed.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveler

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Not a good stay!

The hotel is on the beach. Little did I know that we would get a room in another building behind the hotel. Air condition did not cool enough. The safe did not work…they tried to fix it… they could not. Only 3 towels, only 3 water bottles. We were 4 people. Bathroom not clean. Floors not clean. Not nice pillow. Restaurant got everything about our order wrong. Food not nice. The smell of diesel when we had lunch was horrible. Sorry to say, but I Can not recommend this hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

2/10 Terrible

jamila

Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
If you have the choice DO NOT waste your money on this property. Rooms are claustrophobic, no proper ventilation, washroom is a senior nightmare with all the steps, stray cats peeing on the restaurant floor. They have the ocean front and another hotel behind and if you don’t know the difference and you book for the other it is at the back, in a hot room with no elevators (they made my senior parents climb 2 flights of stairs) until their changed out room…then made us wait until 9pm after travelling to get a room with the staff attitude. The wifi hardly works. To add to it the restaurant when you order a meal gives you the option to pay in US or local currency. They change more for the conversion than the live exchange!! It is an antique looking building but that isn’t an excuse for the dirt. Their mosquito nets have the same dead bugs on the top for days. Additionally there is zero sound proofing. Waste of money! We couldn’t not get out of there fast enough!!!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

8/10 Good

Richard

Helt kurrant! God beliggenhet, kurrant hotell.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Linda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stora rum och helt ok sängar. Tyvärr var jag sjuk under min vistelse men övriga sällskapet tyckte frukosten var rätt tråkig. Frukt och sötsaker
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Isabelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service

1 jour à stone town

Hôtel plus que convenable Grande chambre, par contre nous avons été mis ds un autre bâtiment. Assez vieux Salle de bain immense Près de la plage.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024