Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort — Nungwi, Zanzibar
About this property
Best for: Families, groups and couples wanting a full-facility beach holiday, first-time Zanzibar visitors, swimmers (Nungwi has minimal tidal variation), value-focused all-inclusive travellers, watersports and nightlife seekers
Overview
Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort is one of the north coast’s largest and best-known all-inclusive resorts: 124 rooms spread across nearly 20 acres of tropical gardens, opening directly onto the powder-white sands of Nungwi Beach. Where the island’s south-east coast is defined by dramatic tides, Nungwi’s deep water means swimming is possible all day — the single biggest practical advantage this resort holds over Zanzibar’s east-coast properties. Four free-form pools (including an infinity pool, a swim-up bar and a Jacuzzi pool), a full-service spa, multiple restaurants and bars, and a lively evening entertainment programme make it a natural fit for families and groups who want everything on site.
About the Property
The resort pairs traditional Swahili-style architecture — makuti thatch, arches, carved detail — with the scale and facilities of a proper resort. Low-rise room blocks sit among landscaped gardens and coconut palms, with the pool complex and beachfront at the heart of the property. Nungwi village, with its restaurants, bars, dive shops and the Mnarani turtle aquarium, is a short walk away, and Kendwa Beach is within about 15 minutes on foot — meaning guests can combine resort comfort with the north coast’s well-known social scene. Guest ratings sit at a solid 4.5/5 (Google) and 8.6/10 across booking channels, with staff friendliness the most consistently praised feature.
Quick Facts
- 124 rooms across several categories, including family-friendly connecting rooms
- Set on ~20 acres of tropical gardens directly on Nungwi Beach
- Four outdoor pools: an infinity pool, a swim-up bar pool, a Jacuzzi pool and a children’s pool
- Two restaurants and four bars/lounges, including a beach bar and pool bar
- Full-service spa with massages, facials and Ayurvedic treatments; yoga classes and fitness centre
- Swimming possible at all tides — a key advantage of the north coast
- Complimentary scuba lessons in the pool; diving and watersports arranged
- Evening entertainment, kids’ club and games room; ~15-minute walk to Kendwa Beach
Location
Nungwi occupies the northern tip of Zanzibar, and its west-facing beaches deliver both deep water for all-day swimming and the island’s best sunsets — the reverse of the east coast, where tides dictate the day and the sun rises from the sea. The resort sits directly on the beach with Nungwi village a short stroll away, Kendwa Beach about 15 minutes on foot, and the Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation Pond and Nungwi Sunrise Point within a couple of kilometres. Stone Town and the airport are roughly 55–60 km south, about 1.5–1.75 hours by road.
Accommodation
The 124 rooms are modern and comfortable, each with a private furnished balcony or terrace, air-conditioning, en-suite bathroom with shower and hairdryer, mini-fridge/minibar, LCD or premium-channel TV, safe, tea/coffee facilities and free Wi-Fi. Categories range from Superior Rooms through Superior Deluxe Rooms (generously sized, some with a separate bedroom area, sleeping up to three) to sea-facing and suite categories. Connecting/adjoining rooms and free cribs make the resort genuinely practical for families.
Dining
Dining runs across two main restaurants and four bars, with the Spices Restaurant serving open-air buffets with ocean views and à la carte options available at the beachfront venue. Mapenzi Bar, the swim-up pool bar and the beach bar cover drinks through the day, and evenings bring starlit beachside dining alongside live entertainment. Breakfast buffet is included on all rates; the all-inclusive plan extends to lunches, dinners, snacks and selected local-brand drinks.
Facilities
Four outdoor pools (infinity, swim-up bar, Jacuzzi and children’s pools), private beach with loungers, umbrellas and towels, full-service spa, fitness centre, yoga classes, two restaurants and four bars, kids’ club and games room, evening entertainment, beach volleyball, snorkelling and watersports, complimentary pool scuba lessons, dive-centre arrangements, gift shop, tour desk, 24-hour reception, airport transfers, room service, free Wi-Fi, laundry, daily housekeeping and free private parking. The resort is wheelchair accessible.
Why Choose Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort
- Swim whenever you like — Nungwi’s deep water avoids the east coast’s tide-locked beaches
- Four pools including an infinity pool and swim-up bar, plus a dedicated children’s pool
- Genuinely family-ready: connecting rooms, free cribs, kids’ club, games room and entertainment
- All-inclusive value on a 5-star-rated property, typically at or below the Nungwi average
- Big-resort facilities — spa, gym, yoga, watersports and a full activities programme
- Zanzibar’s famous sunsets directly from the beach, plus Nungwi village and Kendwa a short walk away
- Complimentary introductory scuba lessons in the pool before venturing to the reef
- Great launchpad for Mnemba atoll snorkelling and north-coast diving
Amenities
Breakfast buffet (all rates) with optional all-inclusive dining, private furnished balconies/terraces, air-conditioning, en-suite bathrooms with hairdryer, minibar/mini-fridge, TV with premium channels, safe, tea & coffee facilities, free Wi-Fi, room service, daily housekeeping, four outdoor pools, private beach with loungers and towels, full-service spa, gym and yoga, kids’ club and games room, evening entertainment, watersports and diving, gift shop, tour desk, airport transfers, laundry, 24-hour reception and free parking.
Activities
- Swimming and sunbathing on Nungwi Beach — deep water at all tides
- Snorkelling and scuba diving, including complimentary pool lessons and trips to Mnemba atoll
- Sunset dhow cruises — Nungwi is famous for the island’s best sunsets
- Beach volleyball, kayaking and watersports
- Spa treatments, Ayurvedic therapies, yoga and gym sessions
- Kids’ club, games room and evening entertainment
- Visits to the Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation Pond and Nungwi village
- Walks to Kendwa Beach (~15 minutes) for the north coast’s social scene
- Excursions: Stone Town, spice farms, Jozani Forest, Prison Island and dolphin tours
Amenities
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Location
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