Kivuli Beach Resort Hotel in Paje

Well – we’ve been coming to Zanzibar for over 10 years now and have stayed more than 20 times. Most of the time, I don’t write reviews – but occasionally I do. Either because something was truly outstanding, or because there’s a lot of room for improvement. In the case of Kivuli, unfortunately, quite a few things need to be improved. So, what could be done better? I'm referring specifically to the Luxury Family Villas: Cleanliness/Condition: While the staff clearly puts in effort, the villa – despite being relatively new – is already in poor condition. It should have been built better from the start. Insects can get in everywhere, and using chemicals to fight them isn’t a sustainable solution. Privacy: In theory, you have a private villa all to yourself – which sounds great. But in practice, staff members are present in your private space throughout the day, which takes away from the feeling of seclusion. Costs: Yes, the villa comes with a large private pool, which surely drives the price. But we’ve never been charged for water in any hotel in Zanzibar before. Even though breakfast is included, things like coconut water are charged at a steep price. Staff: Extremely friendly – but consistently late for everything. Outdoor Shower: Unfortunately, the only shower option is outdoors. While some people might find that charming, we would have preferred to shower without the company of insects. Would we return? Probably not. We just don’t believe in the Kivuli concept – too much would need to change. And perhaps the real issue is expectations: when you pay over $350 per night, things really should be spot on.