Xanadu Villas & Retreat in Bwejuu

Xanadu, saved our first vacation to Zanzibar. We had booked 11 nights elsewhere on the Island and checked out after 7 (see Mora report). Xanadu was a completely different experience and one which we hope to repeat. The arrival sets the scene, a broken road leads to a hidden gate house, then slightly beyond a mysterious gate opens to a memorable welcome from Leigh (GM) and Jessica (Private Butler). This was like arriving at your favourite family’s home, instant joy and happiness. We had booked the Umande Villa, perfectly fine, but for a small upgrade fee we were introduced to the Alfajiri, a whole different level of design and space, of course we couldn’t say no. All Villas are uniquely designed, private and served by a pool with a short walk to the reception area or the beach. Then whilst our room was readied, we were treated to lunch at the Ocean view beach hut, which became our favourite spot. This first impression set the scene for an amazing 4-night experience. Cuisine A S. African couple run the kitchen and in my well-travelled, yet humble opinion, in any other place would be operating a Michelin stared restaurant. The best quality food was carefully prepared and served in sensible proportions by the ever-smiling Jessica. Each night there was 3 to 4 offerings, paired with more than acceptable wines, mainly from the Cape. Lunch and breakfast were equally catered for, with most of the produce grown or caught right there. The late evening bar had plenty on offer, a for a small fee provided premium liquor. We were on the other hand more than content with the local all included options. Jessica arranges everything, we did force ourselves to go visit Stone Town, (Birthplace of Freddie Mercury). A significant excursion, though frankly, next time we would not tear ourselves away from the Xanadu oasis. Unless you have the resource to reserve all nine villa’s, which I will do when I have the financial muscle and Nine others wanting to share space with, this is a couples only retreat. For that it is beautifully and peaceful. Thank you Xanadu team, and a big shout out to Jessica, who has a special place in our hearts.

We had the most beautiful stay at this stunning, hidden gem in Zanzibar. The photos do not do this resort justice; it's serene, extremely private and ultra luxurious with your every need met by your own personal and a very dedicated staff that appear to always be available. Each villa has an oversized luxurious bedroom with either an upstairs or downstairs indoor/outdoor living room and plunge pool. Our teenagers could enjoy their own villa and space and we came together as a family for all three decadent meals each day, which we enjoyed either on the private beach, beach deck, in one of our villas or around the breathtaking main pool. Thank you to GM Lee who took excellent care of us (including organising our tour to Stone Town) and to our very kind and extremely attentive butler, Abel - we could not have asked for a better way to end our magical three week safari in East Africa.

We have just returned from an amazing stay at Xanadu villas where we were lucky enough to stay in the presidential villa. The staff are incredible nothing is too much trouble and you are always greeted with a smile. The food was exceptional with a different menu every day. Your meals could be taken at your villa or different locations around the resort all secluded and private. We had very few times when walking on the beach where we were approached by local vendors, we learnt to not engage in conversation and in fairness to them they then left us alone. The beach stretches for miles and is very quiet and when the tide is out you can go reef walking which was really interesting. The transfer is straightforward on tarmac roads. We had the pleasure of meeting Leigh the general manager and Eileen the owner who were so welcoming and made us feel at home the moment we arrived. If you are thinking of visiting this little piece of paradise don’t hesitate you will be delighted!!

We had an amazing stay this September with friends. The villas were beautiful, spacious, and perfectly designed for comfort and relaxation. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made us feel truly welcome. The views, especially at sunset, were breathtaking, and the peaceful atmosphere made it the perfect escape. Everything about our stay felt effortless and memorable, we can’t wait to come back!

Xanadu delivers the fairytale. The design, setting, food, and service were truly exceptional, and the experience far exceeded our expectations. We had a fantastic family holiday filled with unforgettable moments, and we simply cannot wait to come back. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a magical escape in Zanzibar!

Xanadu in Zanzibar is pure paradise! The staff are warm and attentive, the food is exceptional, and the entire experience feels magical from start to finish. Highly recommended!

Xanadu is pure magic. The private beach is pristine, the rooms are spotless, and the service is flawless—always there when needed, yet never intrusive. The three-course meals and freshly made juices were a daily highlight—no need to dream about Michelin stars restaurant, you get it here. The spa was outstanding, and our kids loved the complimentary SUPs and kayaks. Huge thanks to Jessca, our fun and attentive personal butler, who made everything feel effortless. A perfect mix of barefoot luxury, relaxation, and family-friendly fun. We can’t wait to return!

Outstanding luxury! From the moment it was a magical experience. The accommodations, the exquisite food and every single person there were outstanding. From Lee the manager, to Muambo our butler/entertainer/guide and host, the ocean guide and our safari guide Tim Leperes, everyone was so knowledgeable, professional, genuine and kind. Fantastic experience!

I cannot recommend Xanadu Luxury Villas more. My husband and I celebrated our honeymoon there, and as a regularly anxious and type A person, traveling to Zanzibar and the continent of Africa the first time was something that made me lose sleep ahead of the trip. Once we arrived, that changed completely and I didn't worry a singular time for 8 days. We were promptly picked up from the airport, taken directly and safely to where we needed to go, and were welcomed once we arrived at the villa. Even though we were quite early on our check in day, our villa was ready and we were able to get in and relax immediately. Throughout the trip, excursions were extremely organized and fun, and we were delighted to be surprised while at the beach by being asked if we wanted to tour the reef (Haji is the BEST) and caves at the edge of the tide when it went out. Juma, our driver, was extremely polite and prompt the entirety of our stay, and Leigh, the GM, was a delight to chat with! The star of our trip however, was Mwana our butler. Having never stayed anywhere all inclusive, we had never had a butler or anyone outside of room service taking care of us, but Mwana was top tier. Not only was she timely and came with great recommendations, but we LOVED conversing with her and found that she had a killer sense of humor. She quickly became one of the things we looked forward to every day we woke up. "I wonder what Mwana thinks of this" or "I can't wait to ask Mwana about this Swahili word." As a bonus, our villa, Alfajiri, was one frequented by the red colobus monkeys that run around the resort, and we got to interact with them extremely closely, as they liked to peek in our windows around lunchtime. Xanadu is somewhere we would go again and again if we could. Working high stress and long hour jobs, the level of relaxation and peace my husband and I were able to experience during our stay was not only cathartic but extremely beneficial for us. I would recommend to anyone going to Zanzibar, or really anyone looking to truly experience island life and the beautiful local culture.

Nice place never been for a bad luck Room, garden,stuff, and management so cool They help me to dolphin and nice snorkeling with captain BRAHIM at KIZIMKAZI place the captain escort us to see turtlles cave in KIZIMKAZI and the village tour also from there