Bella Vista Resort Zanzibar

We stayed at Bella Vista Resort Zanzibar and had a truly wonderful time. From the moment we arrived, we felt well taken care of; especially by Sharleene, the resort manager. She is an incredible person: kind, professional, and always ready to help. ❤️ Definitely talk to her about excursions, she really knows her stuff. Everything felt relaxed and easy: the driver would wait for us, there was no rushing, and the whole experience was very laid-back. The food was great, and the resort itself is absolutely beautiful. We stayed in a beachfront bungalow, and the view was simply breathtaking. A small note for future travelers: it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with Zanzibar and the local village life, and to keep your expectations flexible. Power outages can happen, and not all fruits or vegetables from the menu are always available; but that’s part of the authentic island experience. Embrace the beauty of Zanzibar and enjoy the warm, positive energy of the local people. It’s truly a special place. 🏝️☀️

I just returned from a two-week stay at Bella Vista Resort. I regret not booking a longer stay; everything about this place is perfect. The view, the atmosphere, the food, and especially the people who work there are incredibly kind and professional. Sherline, the manager, is a wonderful woman who knows the area very well and is always willing to give advice on what to see. I recommend this place to everyone; I felt right at home there. This certainly wasn't my last visit to this magical place.

This little haven of a hotel is in the perfect location on a small beach set in beautiful gardens. So peaceful and quiet inside and a perfect retreat to get away from the busy tourist places of Zanzibar. The room was perfect with all the facilities I needed. Great value for money and the staff are amazing from Della in the restaurant to Matilda on reception they couldn’t do enough to ensure you have a great stay. Sharlene the guest manager is always around, so friendly and helpful and knows every guest by first name. If you want a picture perfect Instagram hotel with Luxury then this is not the place for you. The locals are on the beach early preparing their boats for tours and fishing. You are in the village and among locals which for me was perfect to experience the real cultures and people of Zanzibar. Don’t expect electricity 24hrs a day this is Africa it’s an experience that must had.

Bella Vista was the accommodation I chose to stay at in the south of Zanzibar, and I truly loved the experience. The property is wonderful: the rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the accommodation offers a beautiful sea view. There are two swimming pools: a larger one, perfect for swimming, and a smaller one, ideal for relaxing and unwinding. It is located close to a fishing village that still preserves the authentic essence of Zanzibar, and very near Salaam Cave, which you can easily reach on foot. The location is excellent for those who want to explore the southern part of the island. I rented a car and was able to explore the southern beaches very easily, but the accommodation also helps organize transportation, which is great for guests who prefer not to drive. There are stunning beaches in this area that truly deserve to be discovered. Bella Vista is also close to other tourist attractions, such as Kuza Cave and Malaam Cave. During my stay, I joined a tour to Pongwe Island organized by the accommodation, and I absolutely loved it. We swam a lot, and unlike the Safari Blue experience, there were fewer people, which made it feel much more special. When it comes to meals, I recommend dining at the accommodation: the restaurant is always open, and the food is consistently good. I especially highlight the spacious rooms with balconies, the beautifully maintained surroundings, and the friendliness of the staff, which truly made a difference in my experience.

We traveled to Zanzibar for Christmas with our family of five and booked our holiday package through Ethiopian Airlines (Ethio Holidays). Unfortunately, this turned into one of the worst travel experiences we have ever had, and Bella Vista Resort played a major role in that disappointment. Upon arrival in Zanzibar, no airport pickup showed up, despite it being part of the package. After waiting and getting no support, we were forced to take a taxi ourselves and travel over an hour to reach Bella Vista. When we finally arrived, tired and with children, we were shocked to be told that the hotel was fully booked. This was on Christmas Eve. We had already paid in full and had a confirmed reservation. The hotel manager was shown our confirmation, yet she flatly denied having our booking. Her attitude was rude, dismissive, and completely unprofessional. Instead of trying to resolve the issue or even speaking to us respectfully, she told us to leave the lobby and go to another hotel she suggested. There was no apology, no accountability, and no effort to help a family that had just arrived after a long international journey. Being told to leave the lobby on Christmas Eve, after paying in advance, was humiliating and upsetting. We were then forced to drive again to another hotel that was far below what we had paid for. The alternative hotel was unacceptable in terms of quality, comfort, and overall experience. The entire holiday was overshadowed by stress, frustration, and disappointment. We spent our Christmas dealing with problems that should never have existed. We tried repeatedly to communicate with Ethiopian Airlines / Ethio Holidays, but instead of taking responsibility, we were given excuses and pushed to accept the situation. At no point did we feel supported or respected as paying customers. Overbooking happens, but how a hotel handles it says everything. Bella Vista Resort handled it in the worst possible way. The lack of professionalism, empathy, and basic customer care was shocking. I strongly caution families, especially those traveling during peak seasons or holidays, to think twice before booking here. A confirmed reservation meant nothing, and when things went wrong, we were treated as if we did not matter. This was supposed to be a special family Christmas vacation. Instead, it became a nightmare we will not forget.

Avoid at All Costs – Extremely Unprofessional Our experience at Bella Vista Zanzibar Resort was unacceptable from start to finish. Despite booking over a month in advance and having a confirmed reservation with our names clearly listed, we were told by Sharlene upon arrival that the hotel was fully booked. Our room had been given away, and instead of taking responsibility, we were simply turned away. This level of unprofessionalism is shocking. To make matters worse, the airport pickup that was included in our package never arrived, leaving us stranded after a long journey. No explanation, apology, or assistance was offered. The staff were rude, dismissive, and showed no accountability or willingness to resolve the situation. Sharlene’s handling of the matter was especially unacceptable. The property is also misleadingly advertised. It is not the peaceful beach resort shown online, but rather located in a fishing village, which is very different from what is marketed. Wasting guests’ time, failing to honor confirmed bookings, and providing such poor service is inexcusable. This experience was stressful, disappointing, and completely avoidable. Book elsewhere

Our experience at Bella Vista Zanzibar Resort was unacceptable from the moment we arrived. Despite booking over a month in advance and having our names clearly written on their booking list, we were told by Sharlene that the hotel was fully booked. Somehow, our room had been given away, and instead of taking responsibility, we were simply turned away. This is beyond unprofessional — how do you acknowledge a confirmed booking on paper and still refuse accommodation? To make matters worse, the staff’s attitude was extremely rude and dismissive. There was no apology, no effort to resolve the situation, and no accountability whatsoever. Sharlene’s handling of the situation was especially unacceptable. The property is also misleadingly advertised. This is not the peaceful beach resort it claims to be — it is located in a fishing village, which is completely different from what is marketed online. Wasting guests’ time, giving away confirmed rooms, and treating people with such disrespect is inexcusable. This experience was stressful, disappointing, and avoidable. Do yourself a favor and book elsewhere.

Avoid This Place I strongly recommend avoiding this property. It is nothing like what you see in the brochures or on the website. From the moment we arrived, issues started. Despite booking an all-inclusive package, we were informed on arrival that only two alcoholic drinks per day were included. This was never mentioned beforehand. The food and drink options were extremely limited, with many items constantly out of stock—no avocado, no rum, no fish, no calamari, no mango (despite it being mango season). Even basic drinks were often warm because the fridges were not functioning or simply not switched on. Desserts consisted only of fruit (watermelon, pineapple, and banana). We were also told that at the end of the stay we would be charged extra if they felt we had consumed “too much,” which is completely unacceptable for an all-inclusive stay. Cleanliness was another major issue. Tables were sticky, the shelves empty and dusty, and the presence of mosquitoes and ants was overwhelming. The pool was never cleaned during our entire stay. Old and smelly beach towels, outdated air conditioning that worked only intermittently, and a temporary room on arrival that was in terrible condition all added to the poor impression. Even the staff seemed unaware of our booking details, including the sea-view room we paid for. Power outages are common on the island, which is understandable, but the hotel often did not have fuel for their generator, leaving guests without electricity for long periods. While the bungalows themselves were nice and mosquito spraying was done daily, the overall management is extremely poor. There appear to be two managers: the guest relations manager, Sharlene, who was absolutely wonderful—helpful, welcoming, and genuinely caring. She arranged tours, safaris, and even helped us plan a night away in the north of the island. Unfortunately, the restaurant manager was the complete opposite—uninterested, unhelpful, and focused solely on profit. His lack of concern for cleanliness, customer service, and basic hospitality standards reflects across the entire operation. The location is also misleading. It is advertised as being on a beach, but it is actually in a fishing village. There is no proper beach to swim in, and during low tide the entire area, including the restaurant, smells unpleasant. The sea is full of fishing boats, and swimming is not really an option. Overall, this was a deeply disappointing experience that negatively impacted our trip to Zanzibar. If you are dreaming of a beautiful beach holiday with great hospitality, this is not the place. For your own peace of mind and enjoyment, please book elsewhere—somewhere with a real beach, good service, and honest, transparent communication. It’s a shame because the bungalows are so beautifully designed and the place with much more attention, right management could be much much better.

Stayed here during the election troubles &internet shut down (don’t let that put you off, never happened before and elections only every 5 years) &the manager Charlene made it her own personal crusade to make our holiday as unaffected as possible - she went above and beyond fighting for a replacement safari with tour agents when they cancelled and booked things through the hotel as no cash/ card options locally,so we could pay on departure. This was a totally unexpected event for everyone and Charlene ensured all guests came first over her own needs/comfort The hotel is perfect, idyllic setting, comfortable, very attentive staff and great food - things do run out, but there is lots of choice. I would suggest waiting until you arrive to book excursions etc- Charlene is your woman for this, much better deals and experiences- she wouldn’t have it any other way. We. arrived in the middle of the night- it felt like the middle of nowhere, security welcomed us, it was raining, the electric didn’t work momentarily and you wonder why you were there - give it until the morning…..The sun will shine, you will be greeted by Charlene and ream and you will realise you are in absolute paradise. Thank you

Beautiful place, nice people, welcoming staff. Our special thanks go to Kelvin, a very talanted and extremely helpful young man. The restaurant requires attention though. Most of the items on the menu are constantly out of stock. The orders are being mixed/messed up all the time. But if you are not too picky about food the place would be the perfect fit.