A lot nicer than on the pictures. The area is amazing, very large property with real jungle vibes & so many cosy areas to relax. The restaurant is cosy and has a good offering of various foods. It's also very nice that you are still connected to the local life on the beach & the little boat restoration area next to the hotel. The sultan palace ruins are also beautiful. The owners are very nice and you can see they care about the property and surroundings, perserving as much as possible of the nature. We especially liked the outside shower with only lush green surrounding us.

The road there is bad, but it's worth it. The bed was two separate matrasses with a hard part in the middle which was not great. Food preparation takes a long time, but they inform you about this & advice you to order one hour in advance.

The hotel itself was wonderful the grounds are fantastic and my room was lovely. There are two bars and a good swimming pool. It is located on a small beach but the hotel has a lovely sandy area looking over the beach which is lovely and has great sunbeds. A beautiful hotel for totally chilling for a few days

The road to get to it is terrible, definitely needs sorting out. There is nothing else really around it so you have to eat and drink in their restaurant which I thought was expensive. There was a problem with electricity most days but this was a minor inconvenience.

The hotel is in an extremly beautiful location, amidst the tropical rainforest. Has a marvelous restaurant / café, with lush vegetation everywhere. You see the ocean from your table. The food is delicious and good value for money. The hotel has also a "lounge" where you can relax, with beds and sofas, very scenic. My room was very spacious, beatifully decorated. The tropical shower was a lovely experience! The place is quiet and you only hear the birds and the rain. The swimming pool was exquisite.

Yes, the road to the hotel is awful (the last bit). The driver called it "African massage" for the bumpings ;) The wifi doesn't work at the room, which is not terrible, helps you disconnect. The beach is not one of the best in Zanzibar, but is calm and you can see a nice sunset.

This property was like something out of The White Lotus!! A 5* resort without the insane price point! The attention to detail and attentiveness of the staff was amazing!! It’s incredibly hard to fault. If you’re thinking of staying just do it and give yourself a treat!! Eating dinner on the beach, the sunsets, the access to the beach (literally 2 steps off the hotel deck), the gorgeous pool, the bar, the access to facilities for transport (boat, taxi), the always polite and attentive staff and their willingness to go out of their way. Had a fantastic time here with the group I stayed with. Extra plus for the outside rainfall shower

Location is a plus or minus depending on your plans. A plus if you just want to stay at the hotel and relax, a minus if you want to explore Zanzibar (although never short of options to get to go exploring) and the only other thing is the dirt road to get to the hotel which is already well described in reviews but does give the hotel a certain character

The breakfast was excellent—fresh, flavorful, and a great start to the day. The location couldn’t be better, with easy access to everything and consistently good food throughout. The beach area was truly exceptional, offering stunning sunsets that were best enjoyed with a cold beer in hand. A perfect blend of relaxation and indulgence.

There was lots of bugs after sunset. No water in the rooms, you have to go get water at the restaurant by bottle. The worst road from the main road to the lodge i have ever seen, 20min drive (1km)

This is a lodge of a type that is unfortunately fast disappearing in Zanzibar: small scale, massive garden, locally owned and managed. I loved so many things about it: the rooms were very comfortable and large, the Inaya coconut & lime soaps, the restaurant with unlimited coffee and water, the food was prepared in a healthy way (not just fried stuff) and included lots of vegetables, the beautiful swimming pool, the chill beach vibe, the nice 'Zanzibari' smell in the room, the staff is kind and helpful. I didn't bring my kids this stay, but saw how staff interacts with children, they are very welcomed. Also loved seeing the kittens play, haha, although that won't be a given for any future visit. For people who have been to Zanzibar in the past: it reminded me of Mtoni Marine before that was sold and torn down.

The only thing that was not perfect was that the water pressure was on the low side. Note that road access is bumpy, just about doable in a bajaj, but fine in a car I think.

I had an amazing stay at Mangrove Lodge. The property is spacious and surrounded by nature, making it the perfect spot to unwind. On one side, the harbor is serene and offers a glimpse of local life, and on the other side, the beach is quiet and nearly empty—a true luxury. My room was large, clean, and thoughtfully designed (the outdoor shower was a highlight!). The breakfast was excellent, with a great variety—especially the delicious vegetarian options—and the other meals were just as tasty. A special thanks to the owners for the lovely conversations, and to the fantastic team for making my stay so enjoyable.

The place is beautiful, beautiful rooms, spacious, clean and confortable. The outside shower is amazing. Great sunset from the beach area ! The staff is extremely kind and friendly! Food was also nice, we always had dinner in the hotel and the dishes were delicious! I personally enjoyed the complimentary masala chai. Just to consider that the hotel is about 40 min distance from Stone Town (due to traffic jams), so transportation could turn expensive.

The excursions and taxis we booked through the hotel, were too expensive. The excursion to Nakupenda bis was too basic, the guys taking us there were far below the average in terms of service compared to the other things we did and booked on our own. The taxi who took us to the southeast side of the island where our 2nd hotel was located was charged 80USD and was booked by the hotel!!! While for coming back from the same area to the airport, we got a price of only 40USD. The price difference was huge! I would strongly recommend anyone to book excursions and taxis on your own.

Whilst there are a number of little things that could be done to improve the experience, it is certainly somewhere I’d consider coming back to. It is about 30 -40 minutes from Stone Town, the last ten minutes on a dirt track, but sign posted from the main road (if you are in a taxi/Uber). This last bit can get muddy in wet season. The restaurant view is of a creek and boat workshop, but the beach and pool view is idyllic - the photos on booking dot com are accurate. The staff are very attentive and proud of the establishment. Food is simple but well prepared and tasty, they ask you to order at leat an hour ahead. There is no alternative restaurant close by. Breakfast (included) is a buffet with eggs to order, perfectly adequate. The room was basic but very clean, well protected from mosquitos (with nets on the beds and windows) and plenty of power points. The bathroom was surprisingly modern and very clean. The shower is outside with a privacy screen, plenty of hot water if you remember to turn it on. Each cabin s sufficiently isolated and surrounded by vegetation so that privacy is guaranteed , although the are ‘semi detached’ - we had no neighbours during our stay. If travelling as a family this means you can effectively have adjoining rooms. Rooms are air conditioned and quiet. Noting that Mangrove Lodge is significantly cheaper than a lot of other hotels/resorts on the island, it is certainly worth consideration

Mosquitoes were a real issues in the dining area (that also has a relaxing area) and the ‘chill’ zone. Bring repellant. the hotel could consider mosquito coils at meal times. Notably, Wi-Fi is only available in public areas. One point to note is that any card payment, debit or credit, incurs a 5% surcharge. Airport shuttle is a little expensive at $40, but there is little option.

The location was absolutely stunning if you are wanting a natural, island life retreat. Sunsets were especially amazing as the sun sets on the sea. It was very safe, the rooms had a lovely old-school feel, and outdoor shower was amazing. We felt very safe, we didn't need to lock our rooms and spent early mornings alone on the beach without any concerns for safety. It's a great place to observe the local culture and lifestyle.

probably only the road leading into the property :-)...it was an adventure on it's own