The Sultan Palace sits at the northern end of a pristine beach, atop a high coral cliff. It is professionally and efficiently run by the relatively new general manager, Silvia. Designed and built by Roberto Merlo, an Italian underwater photographer who sadly died in Dec 2004, the Sultan Palace oozes in style and comfort and is certainly one of Zanzibar's most elegant lodges.
It has 15 air-conditioned suites - Ocean, Garden and Imperial – spread around immaculately sculptured gardens of citronella and frangipani. The Ocean and Garden suites are a good size and very comfortable. Then the Imperial suites are simply vast - with two double beds, and a bathroom which is almost the same size again! All of the suites are furnished with tasteful antiques, Zanzibari materials, hand-painted tiles and carved wooden doors.
From the rooms or the main areas, a winding path leads slowly down to the beach where there are plenty of loungers and shade. There is also a laid-back beach bar and restaurant where you can sit and have some cool drinks and this is also where Lunch where is served. Dinner is a slightly more formal affair, being served on the balcony above the main bar of the hotel which affords lovely views across the sea.
Note that the layout of the Sultan Palace is particularly clearly show from the air on our satellite map of the lodge.
Sultan Palace is very expensive around Christmas and August, but superb value at other times. A full range of diving and snorkelling is available, working with the watersports centre at Breezes.
For a high-quality, romantic ambience, it's almost perfect; the only let-down being that it has no pool.
Central facilities: As you approach Sultan Palace, you draw up to the entrance and main reception. It is a fantastic structure, with high white walls and huge arched doorways you feel like you are arriving at Aladdin's palace! The main lounge and bar area is a large hexagonal room with a number of lounging areas set out in little clusters. High-quality carved Zanzibari furniture, richly coloured fabrics and multi-coloured glass windows, result in a fantastic atmosphere reminiscent of the Arabian days gone by.
Upstairs is the main restaurant, where breakfast and dinner is served out on the terrace. It can get a little breezy sometimes, however the view is fantastic and on warm nights the breeze is very welcome.
Outside from the bar/lounge area, there are series of terraces which offer views of the sea through the trees from comfortable sofas. From here, a gently slopping path winds down to the beach where there are plenty of comfortable loungers and an informal beach bar where lunch is served.
In various tucked-away corners of the main building, you will find complementary access to the internet and email, a TV room with both local and satellite channels, and guest telephone. There is also a relatively large curio shop which sells a variety of crafts, as well a pool table in a small room just off from the lounge. That said, there's also plenty of space, corners with comfy cushions, and generally stylish nooks and crannies that you can relax and enjoy – there is lots of space here!
Directions: It takes around 35 minutes to fly to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam, and then it's a further one hour by car to Sultan Palace.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Key personnel
Owner: Independent / Owner Run
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Full Board
Food quality: Breakfast is served from 7.00am until 10.00am and is a very extensive spread of yogurt, cereal, fruit, pastries and a cooked breakfast as well. This is served on the terrace above the main lounge – with wonderful views across the sea.
Lunch is usually a relaxed barbeque by the beach restaurant with plenty of seafood, meat and vegetarian options available. Whilst dinner is a more formal 3-course affair on the main terrace of the main restaurant.
We've sent travelers to Sultan Palace for some years now, and their cuisine went through rather a 'rocky' period around 2005-6. However, visiting most recently in early 2007, we are delighted to report that it is back up to a high standard. With some recent training from an English chef, the in-house chefs were producing excellent and inventive dishes.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Room service: Sultan Palace will happily do breakfast in the rooms.
Drinks included: Drinks are not included at the Sultan Palace.
Special interests
Honeymoons: With plenty of luxury and style, the Sultan Palace is a great place to celebrate a special occasion. The rooms are lovely and romantic and when we last visited, the team told us how they always try to add a few special touches to make your honeymoon here really memorable.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for Honeymoons
Beach Breaks: The Sultan Palace is a luxurious hotel which sits on a lovely stretch of beach on the Michamvi Peninsula. There are loungers galore on the beach and plenty of shaded spots to lie back and relax.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for Beach Breaks
Diving & snorkelling: Diving and snorkeling trips are available from Sultan Palace, organized through the nearby Breezes Resort which has a very good dive centre. They offer courses as well as daily dives to the nearby sites, including the beautiful marine reserve around Mnemba Island.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for Diving & snorkelling
Children
Attitude towards children: Children are welcome at Sultan Palace
Age restrictions: There are no age restrictions at Sultan Palace
Activities: There are no special activities or clubs for children
Equipment: There are wonderful Zanzibar cots for babies to use in the rooms, as well as highchairs available on request.
Generally recommended for children: No
Notes: Sultan Palace will happily accept children, though without a pool we are not sure that this would be the best hotel for them. Parents should also be aware that children are their responsibility for the duration of their stay.
Central communications
Power supply: Mains Electricity
Communications: The phones in the rooms will only call internally, however there are phones in reception for outside use at a charge, as well as free internet.
TV & radio: There is a separate TV room with DSTV (satellite) at Sultan Palace
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: There is a first aid box on site as well as a doctor in the neighbouring resort for more serious medical cases.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: Sultan Palace has a front gate which is normally closed and watched and discrete security guards around the property.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in all of the rooms.
Extras
Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Full Laundry Service - Extra Charge
Money: Sultan Palace can change US$ cash and travellers' cheques.
Accepted payment: Sultan Palace except payment for any extras in dollars cash, travellers' cheques and visa. If you pay by visa there is a $5 charge for amounts under $100, if it is over this amount then there is n o extra charge to your card.
We want you to understand more about Sultan Palace. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Sultan Palace homepage A simple and fast website with only a few pictures, although it will give you more of a feel for the place; it has some information but isn’t a detailed read!
