Melia Zanzibar Hotel

The property originally opened under the name Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski in the late 2000s, before later being rebranded as Melia Zanzibar. The transition reflected a change in management to the Spanish hotel group Meliá Hotels International.

As a Melia-branded property, it has since been developed into a large-scale luxury resort with multiple restaurants, villas, and upgraded facilities. The core infrastructure is not new, but it has been continuously refreshed and repositioned as a flagship Zanzibar resort.

Yes, but the situation is slightly more nuanced than a typical “direct beach hotel.” The main resort sits on a coral cliff, while beach access is provided via a dedicated beach area called Gabi Beach, located a short buggy ride away.

Gabi Beach functions as the resort’s private beach club, with loungers, a restaurant, bar, and water sports. Swimming conditions depend on tides, which is normal for this stretch of Zanzibar’s east coast.

Melia Hotels International is a Spanish hotel group headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It operates hotels worldwide across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

So while Melia Zanzibar is located in Tanzania, it is part of a European hospitality chain rather than a locally owned Tanzanian brand. This often influences its operational style, which tends to be more standardized and large-resort oriented.

Calling Melia Zanzibar “the most luxurious” would be an oversimplification. It is a large, well-equipped resort with strong facilities, but its scale and structure make it more of a high-end international resort rather than an exclusive boutique luxury escape.

Zanzibar’s luxury scene is diverse, and true “top tier luxury” often depends on preference—privacy villas, boutique beachfront lodges, or ultra-personalised service properties may feel more exclusive than large resorts like Melia. It is better described as a reliable 5-star resort with extensive amenities rather than the island’s most exclusive option.

Yes, but “good” depends heavily on what you expect. It performs strongly for travellers who want structure, multiple dining options, pools, activities, and a predictable resort experience with international standards.

However, if someone is looking for quiet intimacy, authentic boutique charm, or a minimal-impact beachfront escape, this property can feel large, busy, and somewhat corporate in atmosphere. It is strong in facilities, not in seclusion.

Its scale is the defining factor. Very few properties on Zanzibar combine cliffside views, a separate beach club, multiple restaurants, and extensive gardens within one complex.

That said, scale is also its trade-off. You gain variety and infrastructure, but you lose the intimate, small-lodge atmosphere that defines many other Zanzibar stays.

The resort is approximately 50km from Stone Town and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. Transfers typically take around one hour by road, depending on traffic and conditions.

The route is straightforward, but not scenic in a dramatic sense. It passes through villages and rural areas before reaching the coastal resort zone.