The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar in Bwejuu

My husband and I have travelled extensively and stayed in lots of different hotels, but The Sands has to be among the loveliest that we have encountered. Situated right on the edge of a long pristine white beach (with its own private beach) on the turquoise waters of the Indian ocean, the setting could not be more idyllic. The accommodation is extremely spacious (the villa that we stayed in was over 100 square meters, with an outside covered terrace and situated right on the edge of the beach, with a stunning view of the sea). Furthermore, it was immaculately clean (as other reviewers state, the cleaners come in twice daily, and the sheets and towels are replaced regularly). The gardens are also beautiful, full of a range colourful plants and trees, and kept impeccable. We opted for a half-board formula (breakfast and evening meal) and enjoyed delicious breakfasts with a selection of fresh fruit juices, fresh tropical fruits, eggs, pancakes, waffles and pastries. Food in the evenings included a variety of vegetables and salads, and as well as a selection of meat and vegetarian dishes each evening, there was almost always fresh fish being cooked on the grill, which was delicious. One of the stand-out features of this hotel is the service. The staff and management are not only very friendly and helpful - nothing is too much trouble for them - but extremely professional. As other guests have mentioned, The Sands is a small boutique hotel (there were never more than 30-40 guests there during our stay) and very quiet. This might not suit everyone, but if you want a relaxing break in a stunning setting with great food and excellent service, then this is a great find. We are already thinking of returning there!

With a transfer of just over an hour from the airport the location was perfect for us. Overlooking the Indian Ocean the sun rise is beautiful. The bungalows are huge, with large seating area, kitchen, walk in wardrobe, bathroom with in and outside showers. We decided to go half board to cut back on cost which did suit us overall. The rooms are spotless cleaned in the morning generally fresh towels too, with a bed turn down service in the evening too with the floors again swept and tidied. The whole complex has 21 bungalows and only max 8 filled while we were there it was extremely quiet. Has limited board games, pool tale and a footie game, large TV that has sports mainly. The staff were absolutely fantastic smiling and greeting all the time waitressing where very quick to clear tables ready for the next course.The barman where very attentive and would serve at your subbed once order placed both drinks and food. A big shout out to John in guest relations, he arrange for us to visit a local restaurant one evening and another trip to watch the sunset made our trip a a tribute to the Sands team. Finally the food, not a expansive range but really great quality and well presented with fresh fish cooked to order every other night. The rustic feel to this place was second to none, will without doubt visit again !

With a transfer of just over an hour from the airport the location was perfect for us. Overlooking the Indian Ocean the sun rise is beautiful. The bungalows are huge, with large seating area, kitchen, walk in wardrobe, bathroom with in and outside showers. We decided to go half board to cut back on cost which did suit us overall. The rooms are spotless cleaned in the morning generally fresh towels too, with a bed turn down service in the evening too with the floors again swept and tidied. The whole complex has 21 bungalows and only max 8 filled while we were there it was extremely quiet. Has limited board games, pool tale and a footie game, large TV that has sports mainly. The staff were absolutely fantastic smiling and greeting all the time waitressing where very quick to clear tables ready for the next course.The barman where very attentive and would serve at your subbed once order placed both drinks and food. A big shout out to John in guest relations, he arrange for us to visit a local restaurant one evening and another trip to watch the sunset made our trip a a tribute to the Sands team. Finally the food, not a expansive range but really great quality and well presented with fresh fish cooked to order every other night. The rustic feel to this place was second to none, will without doubt visit again !

We have just finished our journey at The Sand and we already have nostalgia, an amazing location, few people, super "pampered" by a truly professional staff, a place for those looking for peace and relaxation, with unique cuisine, immersed in palm trees with a very white beach. The rooms are comfortable and are cleaned twice a day! Highly recommended place, we will definitely be back. Don't miss the breathless sunsets.

This IS Paradise Paradise on Earth does Exist at the The Sands Beach Resort on Dongwe Beach...I know from experience as me and my partner just returned as guests of this amazing resort hotel for 8 glorious nights and 9 amazing days. We began each day at 7 am: sipping on fresh brewed African coffee and watching the sunrise from our villa balcony viewing amongst one of the most dramatically beautiful island coastlines on the entire planet! If you're lucky the helpful and colorful Maasai tribe people on internship from the Tanzania mainland will take you on a journey through low tide exploration of marine life. It is like walking inside a huge aquari and totally safe and other worldly... def NatGeo worthy. People that criticize the beach do not do their research and realize that this beach experiences a rare earthly marvel twice daily!! TWO humongous shifts from high tide to low tide. The sea shimmers the most beautiful colors of the Indian Ocean in all its beauty. Lol, don't miss the point of this location...it is amazing and very secluded. The service of the hotel is 5 star, from front desk check-in with Khakiem and continued excellent service from Hassan and the entire FD team.  Also amazing daily restaurant service from Christopher and the entire restaurant team. Dinner each night was varied and 'Michelin Star-worthy' quality led by Chef Edgar and his entire team and Cassiano and his team kept the drinks flowing. Almost every night there was a different theme, and substantially large fresh fish caught daily and many nights prepared and grilled right near your table by the Chef: Imagine one night Blue Marlin, next night Jackfish, next night Dorado, the following night Tuna cooked on the grill to your liking, etc.  You get the message...simply amazing!  One night even a traditional Swahili buffet with live music and performance!!   John head of Guest Relations GR pays amazing detailed attention to all of his guests, and truly makes you feel that you are the most important person on a truly amazing getaway vacation. People came and went as we were there for 9 days and the average stay is 3 or 4 nights -- but we saw this hotel completely full on a few nights and you still felt like you were the only guests on the property. And the massages by Diane. Omg...I am healed. If given the chance we will be back for another amazing restful welcoming stay at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar.

You will be treated with warm, welcoming service from the moment you arrive and throughout your stay. The food included with the half board is very good with quite a few made to order items including omelets, waffles, and crepes at breakfast and fresh catch of the day fish and pasta at dinner. The rooms are glorious! We had the ocean view villa and it was HUGE!!! It was easy to find lounge chairs by the beach, and they all have shade umbrellas. It was so peaceful and beautiful out there. Warning: I did get sunburned even in the shade on the last day!! The beach does have a pretty varied tide, and the hotel provides reef shoes for low tide, which I recommend because there are sea urchins. There is also seaweed in the water near the shore. You will be provided with 2.5 liters of purified water in your room each day, and water is included at breakfast and dinner. Outlets are all British style 3 prongs, no USB. Power did go out intermittently but never interfered with anything. WiFi is good out at the beach, pool, and lobby but was spotty in the room. This is a quiet area north of Paje, so no other restaurants other than the resort. It was more reasonably priced than our American resorts with $15 pool drinks. They do use purified water for the ice in the drinks and the ChatGPT says they use purified water for all food prep too.

I’ve stayed at many resorts around the world, but The Sands Beach Resort ranks among the best. For my first time in Africa, I wanted a place that felt safe, genuine, and peaceful—and this boutique property delivered far beyond expectations. The resort has only about 20 villas, each surrounded by lush, tropical gardens that feel like a private oasis. The setting is serene, the beach pristine, and the tidal changes are fascinating to watch. Walking across the ocean floor at low tide was an unforgettable experience, full of color and marine life. The food was excellent—fresh, flavorful, and always prepared with personal attention. The chef even checked in daily to tailor meals to guests’ preferences. Every corner of the property felt cared for and loved. As a solo female traveler (later joined by my partner), I felt completely safe and supported. The staff were genuinely kind and professional—more like family than hotel employees. And then there’s John, the Guest Relations star. His warmth, positivity, and attention to detail transformed a great stay into something extraordinary. He anticipated every need, connected effortlessly with guests from all cultures, and made sure everyone left smiling. He is the heart of The Sands. If you’re looking for peace, authenticity, and personal connection rather than crowds or commercial chaos, this is your place. I would return in a heartbeat. Zanzibar is beautiful—but The Sands makes it unforgettable.

I had an absolutely wonderful stay at this resort! From the moment I arrived, the staff made me feel so welcomed and taken care of. The check-in process was smooth and quick, and I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and professional everyone was.