The beach was amazing! It was the nicest beach on the island, in our opinion. Even at high tide, we had lots of beach to play on. And the sand was the finest, softest, coolest sand we have ever experienced. We booked a snorkelling excursion straight out from the resort and enjoyed a fun ride in a dhow, followed by a wonderful hour of exploring the reefs and seeing so many beautiful fish. The Indian ocean is warm and crystal clear. The breakfast was great! There was a wonderful selection of dishes, and we especially appreciated the omelet/pancake/crepe station. Coffee was delicious and the staff was lovely. We ate a few meals at the restaurant and all were excellent, and good value for the money. There were two nights of entertainment. On the first occasion, we were introduced to traditional Maasai dancing which included guest participation. And on another night there was a band of musicians performing while a few young women showcased their dancing talents. Our "room" was more like a two bedroom apartment; very spacious, with two bathrooms (awesome!) and a lovely private courtyard. It was much nicer than we had anticipated. There is onsite 24 hour security on the beach and at the entrance, so we felt very safe. One more thing . . . we arrived in the wee hours of the morning and were pleased to find that the staff had left two trays of pastries and fruit for us so we could sleep in and not have to worry about missing breakfast. We realize that many people prefer to stay in Nungwi or near Stone Town but we would highly recommend Pongwe for the peaceful setting and beautiful beaches.

$3 USD for 750 ml of water. We recommend buying water at a local store. We were able to purchase six 1.5 litre bottles for $4 USD. One night we had cold water for our shower, but this was the only time.

We have just returned from a truly wonderful stay at Pongwe Bay resort. We paid for beach front accommodation and were thrilled with our room (301), in our opinion 'the best' the views from our very large and comfortably furnished balcony were breath taking. Staff were attentive and friendly and our room kept spotlessly clean with change of bedding and towels daily. The pool was beautiful and never crowded. We particularly enjoyed our breakfast, good choice with fresh fruit, cereal, pastries, hot food selection and freshly cooked omelette and pancakes to order. We also liked that the hotel was small and was wonderfully laid out with direct access to the beach. The new restaurant built on the jetty was beautiful. We would recommend for anyone wanting a relaxing carefree stay away from the hustle and bustle of busier resorts. The only thing to note is that the beach is tidal and when the tide is out you are not able to swim; we loved this because we were able (with beach shoes) to walk around the bay and enjoy the stunning rock pools and colours that are a dream.

There was absolutely nothing not to like. We had a fabulous time.

For solitude it is great. The spa is wonderful but for activities, there's absolutely nothing to do. It's an hour drive to everything. The property always provided transportation when requested. The tour operator on site will customize anything you want. The low tide is so far out, you can't swim in the ocean. It's a nice property with one restaurant but I wanted activities and the ability to swim in the ocean. The staff was wonderful!!

No activities. Can't swim in the ocean

The staff were super nice and friendly. The room was clean and comfortable. The food was delicious.

The resort is in front of the ocean but the ocean is very low tie and it is not possible to swim there are also many rocks. This is not the hotel’s fault though. You can take private tour from the hotel with the local boats to go deeper and enjoy the beauty of the ocean. Moreover, there is a very bad smell when you turn on the shower . This could be improved.

Just returned from an amazing stay at a hotel in Pongwe Bay, Zanzibar, and I can’t stop thinking about the view! The room had a breathtaking sea view—waking up to that turquoise water every morning was unreal. The pool was a highlight too—clean, beautifully designed, and perfect for lounging with a cocktail. The beach was quiet and peaceful, almost like a private paradise. Staff were super friendly and always ready to help with a smile. The food was fresh and delicious, especially the seafood. If you’re looking for a relaxing, picturesque escape, this place is a gem. Would definitely go back!

Everything was perfect

Amazing stay! Huge thanks Mr Manjeet and his staff. A warm thank to each and everyone we encountered. Everyone is so welcoming, smiling and caring. My fiancée and I liked very much learning Swahili words with staff. Thank you Lucy for your big smiles since 9am at the morning. We stayed at a bungalow. It’s super clean. Bed is surrounded with a anti-mosquitoes net. I have asked for a special welcome gift for my fiancée birthday and they delivered. It was amazing! Room service came twice even 3 times a day: to clean and apply anti-mosquitoes product. There are lots of insects outside but none inside the bungalow. That was super important for my fiancée (haha). Electricity is often cut in the middle of the night but 2 minutes laters it was back on. I don’t know if there was a lot of people but we often enjoyed a calm moments with 3 to 5 people in the area with us. It was super calm. Swimming pool is clean and nice. Service by the pool is great. You need to wait a little bit for someone to show up but it’s fine. Beach installations are very nice! Last comment, about breakfast, lots of local cuisine mixed with foreign one. It was delicious and it will surely make you happy when you finish.

Very nice pool and beach area, super big rooms with very good bathroom and well-functioning shower. we liked the big terrace and the sea view. Sunbeds are very comfy!

You have to register for dinner in advance (and it’s pricey) so we did not eat at the hotel. Pier in front of hotel is out of order at the moment so no swimming during low-tide. But our main concern - and really the reason why we would probably not come back despite the great facilities - is that this hotel really doesn’t have a vibe. You do not get a sense of family between the owners and the staff and the music they play (exact same playlist on two days) sounds more like Thailand than Africa. We felt more African and welcoming vibes in other hotels in Zanzibar, but that might just be us. :-)

The Mediterranean style this place was designed was lovely. Bridging elements of color, African inspired aesthetics and natural air and light. For a beach resort they nailed it. We walked barefooted freely everywhere of the resort which felt homely and relaxing. The breakfast was a wide selection and changed everyday. The Club at the pier was fantastic with a view of the ocean as well as the beach. The tides were low in the morning but by 12pm they'd be back. The endless smiles of Leilah at the reception and Suri our waiter together with the rest of the service and friendly masai made us feel really warm and welcome The rooms and change of beddings was done frequently and the garden view was just magical. This place for the price was really worth it.

The price of water was high (5$).The menu selection and cocktail wasn't very broad. The cocktails were not as strong and felt like we were taking mocktails. I recommend a little generosity in the alcohol quantities in the cocktail and wider food options. The WiFi not so stable. The water pressure in the toilet was low but we managed this by using as little toilet paper as possible. Not something to cause alarm. All in All I'd recommend someone to try this out.

We really enjoyed our stay at Pongwe Bay Resort! The staff was very friendly and helpful. The outside areas were beautiful, close to the beach. We also enjoyed the food and the evening events organised by the Resort. Once I told them it was my husband's birthday on one of the days, they also prepared a cake and the staff put up a great show by signing the Happy Birthday song!

During our stay there was some problem with the WiFi. They fixed it however even after that it was quite slow in some areas.

Quiet, rather small and very well kept resort with a nice pool and private beach access. The bungalow was very spacious. The food (breakfast buffet and dinner menu) was great at well. The staff was very friendly and accommodating and I really liked the ayurvedic massage at the spa. The pier + restaurant is also super nice, especially in the evening/just before the sun sets behind the resort.

Nothing really to mention on the negative side. There is not much around, i.e. you can swim (and kayak) but will need to book tours to get out of the resort and see other places. But I guess most people stay here for a few days of relaxation and don't need to get out 😀.