Essque Zalu – Zanzibar

Overview

Essque Zalu Zanzibar occupies an unusual and appealing position on the island’s north-east coast: the turquoise Indian Ocean on one side, dense green coastal forest on the other, and a signature 200-metre jetty reaching out over the water to its own over-ocean restaurant. Architecturally it is one of Zanzibar’s most striking properties — a soaring makuti-thatched central pavilion, hand-carved Zanzibari detailing and a contemporary-Swahili aesthetic throughout. With 40 individual suites and 8 private villas, three restaurants and three bars, a full-service spa and a kids’ club, it manages to be both a design statement and a genuinely functional family resort. Guest ratings sit around 4.4/5 and 8.2/10.

About the Property

Set just outside Nungwi village proper, Essque Zalu is quieter than the beach-bar strip while remaining close enough to reach it easily — the hotel runs a free shuttle to Kendwa Beach three times daily, which is a genuinely useful perk given the resort’s own beach is more modest than Nungwi’s famous stretch. Suites are generously proportioned under traditional makuti roofs, all with private balconies or terraces facing ocean or garden; the eight villas add private pools and more space for families or groups. The 200 m jetty is the property’s signature, carrying The Jetty restaurant out over the water for what is arguably the most atmospheric dining setting on the north coast.

Quick Facts

• 40 individual suites plus 8 private villas
• Signature 200-metre jetty with an over-water restaurant
• Three restaurants (The Jetty, The Market Kitchen, à la carte fine dining) and three bars
• Large outdoor pool with poolside bar; full-service spa with sauna, steam room and hydro shower
• Kids’ club, childcare and family rooms — genuinely family-capable
• Free shuttle to Kendwa Beach three times daily
• Diving, snorkelling and windsurfing; event and meeting venues available
• Pet-friendly (unusual in Zanzibar); ~55–60 km from Zanzibar International Airport

Location

The resort sits on the north-east side of the Nungwi peninsula, about 2 km from Nungwi Beach itself and a seven-minute walk from the Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation Pond. The setting between ocean and forest gives it more greenery and privacy than the beachfront resorts along the main Nungwi strip, at the cost of a slightly less spectacular house beach — hence the complimentary Kendwa shuttle. Stone Town and the airport are roughly 55–60 km south, typically 1–1.5 hours by road, though guests note the final stretch of road can be rough.

Accommodation

The 40 suites are spacious and individually decorated, blending contemporary comfort with Swahili craftsmanship beneath makuti roofs. Each has a separate bedroom and living area, a separate dining area, air-conditioning, minibar, LCD TV with DVD player, premium bedding, tea/coffee facilities, safe, and a furnished private balcony or terrace with ocean or garden views; bathrooms feature a shower and bidet. The eight private villas add considerably more space along with private pools, making them the choice for families, groups or guests wanting maximum seclusion.

Dining

Dining variety is a real strength. The Jetty, set at the end of the 200 m pier surrounded by ocean, serves modern Arabic cuisine in the resort’s most memorable setting; The Market Kitchen offers a market-style culinary experience; and the à la carte restaurant handles fine dining. Three bars — the stylish 1506 Bar and Terrace, The Baobab Bar and the poolside bar — cover cocktails and sundowners, and a complimentary manager’s reception runs regularly. Worth noting: guest reviews on food are mixed, with some praising it highly and others finding it inconsistent relative to the price.

Facilities

Large outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers and poolside bar, private beach with direct access, full-service spa (aromatherapy, body treatments, facials, couples’ rooms, sauna, steam room, hydro shower), fitness centre, three restaurants and three bars, 200 m jetty, kids’ club and childcare, gardens, dive centre and watersports (diving, snorkelling, windsurfing), free Kendwa Beach shuttle, event and meeting venues, gift shop, airport transfers, room service, free Wi-Fi, laundry, daily housekeeping and free self-parking. The resort is smoke-free and pet-friendly.

Why Choose Essque Zalu Zanzibar

• Architecture unlike anything else on the island — the makuti pavilion and 200 m jetty are genuinely spectacular
• Over-water dining at The Jetty, the north coast’s most atmospheric restaurant setting
• Real dining variety: three restaurants and three bars, rather than a single buffet hall
• Between ocean and forest — greener, quieter and more private than the Nungwi strip
• Free Kendwa Beach shuttle three times daily for the north coast’s best swimming sand
• Family-ready: kids’ club, childcare, family rooms and eight private villas with pools
• Spacious suites with separate living and dining areas — closer to apartments than hotel rooms
• One of very few Zanzibar properties that welcomes pets

Amenities

Air-conditioning, separate bedroom, living and dining areas, furnished balconies/terraces, premium bedding, minibar, LCD TV with DVD player, tea & coffee facilities, safe, private pools (villas), free Wi-Fi, room service, daily housekeeping, outdoor pool, full-service spa with sauna and steam room, fitness centre, three restaurants and three bars, kids’ club and childcare, dive centre and watersports, free Kendwa shuttle, event venues, gift shop, airport transfers, laundry and free parking.

Activities

• Dining over the ocean at The Jetty — the signature Essque Zalu experience
• Swimming and sunbathing at the resort or on Kendwa Beach via the free shuttle
• Scuba diving, snorkelling and windsurfing, including trips to Mnemba atoll
• Spa treatments, sauna, steam room and couples’ therapies
• Sunset dhow cruises — Nungwi’s sunsets are the island’s finest
• Kids’ club activities, family pool time and childcare for parents’ downtime
• Visits to the Mnarani Marine Turtle Conservation Pond, a seven-minute walk away
• Excursions: Stone Town, spice farms, Jozani Forest, Prison Island and dolphin tours
• Weddings, events and meetings in the resort’s dedicated venues