Starlight-white sand and Arabian nights at LUX* Marijani

On the edge of a pale blue lagoon, the pearl-white beach sets the mood of our Arabic-style escape. While some of Zanzibar’s beaches disappear at high tide, we’re lucky to have a permanent and private wide stretch of powdery sand. At low tide, a creamy sand bank emerges, the perfect place for yoga and later, beach barbecues under a canopy of stars. Walk further along and you can see village life unfold such as the ‘seaweed mamas’ harvesting seaweed and hanging it to dry under the hot sun. We offer curated experiences to get closer to the lifestyle whether that’s visiting a woodwork studio, a spice plantation or sailing on a traditional dhow sailboat.

Of our 82 rooms some include terraces and deep-sinking bathtubs while 13 enjoy beach views. The Grand LUX* Suite, hidden by palms, is luxury incarnate only steps away from the sand featuring an outdoor sunken stone lounge, dining area and a private swimming pool. There’s pampering in our boutique spa or hang by the main pool where you can enjoy Konyagi-based cocktails to order (Tanzanian gin). Otherwise, you can explore the ocean at your own stead on paddleboards or kayaks.

Enjoy breakfast at sunrise to admire the vivid morning colours. In the evening, our outdoor Cinema Paradiso offers popcorn and films under the stars, and every day there’s a hunt for a ‘message in a bottle’ (pure fun) containing a prize which could be anything from a massage to a bottle of wine. It’s safe to say, the culinary offering is never boring. Our ice cream parlour, ICI, is a tasting frenzy as is the wine cellar where you can request romantic private dinners. You can’t say no to seafood in the main beach-side restaurant with chefs at live cooking stations adding theatre to the evening but there’s always Samāa, our more intimate, a la carte restaurant, offering Middle Eastern feasts should you feel like splurging.