Highland Bungalows

Lovely staff, very clean, very nice rooms and pool, good breakfast, restaurant was also really nice.

Please read this review to protect yourself and avoid this place at all costs!

When we travel, we always choose hotels with private territory and security to feel safe and not worry about our belongings. This time, we followed the same principle—but unfortunately, something went terribly wrong. Please search YouTube for our video titled: “Highland Bungalows Zanzibar — $450 Stolen from Our Room (Hidden Camera Footage)”. It clearly shows why you should never stay at this hotel. While we were at breakfast, someone watched us sit down, then used a key to enter our bungalow and searched through our bags. A total of $450 was stolen. We filed a police report and showed the hotel management the video evidence. They promised to return the money—but the owner, Britta, just waited for us to leave the island. We gave them a week to resolve the issue quietly, but nothing happened. This is the first review I’ve ever written in my life, because I’ve never experienced theft in a hotel or such indifference from the management toward such a serious issue. We asked the receptionist: – Is this the first time guests have had money stolen here? – No, but you're the first ones with this kind of proof.

The food is good and the staff is friendly. The hotel is really modern and nicely decorated

The beds are really hard… we had some backpain the first nights.

It was great. Britta and the staff were very friendly and always ready to help. The food was delicious, and the prices were reasonable. The bungalows are designed to provide privacy. The pool is cleaned every morning. The beds and pillows are comfortable. The electricity often goes out, but that’s normal in Zanzibar.

- There are clubs nearby that play loud music until the early hours. - Ants come in through the windows and doors and roam around the room.

Nice and peaceful place, very good value for money.

Nice room and comfortable beds. Pool area was well maintained and nicely shaded. Good and generous breakfast. Reception staff was very helpful as we had a problem with our taxi as we were leaving. We ate and drank in the restaurant a few times and it's a nice space to be. Service was sometimes a bit confused but staff were always helpful and well meaning.

Due to frequent, though short, power cuts it was impossible to properly use the a/c. (The accommodation has it's own generator but the supply is not consistent). During every power cut (multiple times throughout the night) a/c would turn off and beep incessantly until you turned it on again, only for it to switch off and start beeping again the next time... Be aware that it's a full 10 mins walk to the beach (minimum, depends on which part of the beach) and there are no proper sidewalks (or shade, depending when you go).