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Stone Town
Stone Town
Stone Town
Stone Town
Stone Town
Stone Town
Stone Town
Stone Town
Stone Town

Stone Town was constructed during the 19th century...

...and hasn’t changed much since then.

You can enjoy beautiful views of the ocean...

...and discover what remained...

...from its rich history.

Stone Town is something of a labyrinth...

...with small alleys that offer places to shop and eat.

The atmosphere is unique and romantic...

...and you can watch some beautiful sunsets over the ocean.

Stone Town

Reviews of trips to Stone Town

351 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Stone Town.

Showing 41-50 of 351
Duration
Arrival date
Traveller
Teddington

"Trip to paradise"

I visited Zanzibar between 19 Aug 2018 and 2 Sep 2018
"We had a wonderful holiday in Zanzibar and owe a big thank you to Jessica at Expert Africa for making sure that the accommodation was top notch and that everything went super-smoothly for us." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs S
Leatherhead

"First Family Trip to Africa"

I visited Zanzibar and 1 other country between 18 Aug 2018 and 1 Sep 2018
"This was our first 'adventurous' trip with the children and it felt well organised, safe and most importantly, left us with incredible memories. Everything Richard organised; airport pick-ups, transfers etc all worked like clockwork. We were well looked after.

I cannot recommend Kicheche Mara and Pongwe Beach enough - we were so sad to leave! This has been our best family holiday to date - I'm not sure how we can top it!

Thank you.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Perhaps warn travellers about Nairobi airport!

We were inundated with mosquitos there (had packed repellent) and both my husband and daughter got food poisoning from the food court!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
Mike & Janette
UK

"Fabulous trip"

I visited Zanzibar and 1 other country between 18 Jun 2018 and 4 Jul 2018
"Great with the disappointment of no diving in Zanzibar" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Excellent
Couple
London

"Great Trip "

I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 8 Jun 2018 and 24 Jun 2018
"Great Trip with a good mix of safari, beach and town.

Seemed the timings were just perfect thanks to your advice! Safari was so well organised could relax and enjoy ourselves.

So glad we included seeing stone town to break it up slightly and the beach recommendations were just what we needed!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Everything was great, wouldn't have been able to do it without you!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dad
UK

"Our Trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar"

I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 10 Feb 2018 and 25 Feb 2018
"I was able to research our trip with the help of your excellent website and conversations with Lyndsey and book a holiday which exceeded my expectations. I was keen to avoid crowds at safari camps and therefore avoided the Serengeti and crater and choose Ruaha and Selous. Both were fabulous and we enjoyed visiting at this time of year when the areas were so green and lush. Ruaha with its baobab trees was particularly beautiful. We also enjoyed the contrast of Selous with the river and lakes and the option of boat safaris to see crocodiles and hippos.

I was pleased to have had 2 nights in Stone Town. What a fascinating town. We booked a historic tour for 8.30am before it became too hot and found our guide well informed. The last 3 nights at Mtembwe Lodge were wonderful. The place was paradise and we really didnt want to leave. All in all a super holiday.

The only plan I would have changed would have been to have stayed 3 nights at Ras Kutani instead of 2 nights, as the journey seemed too long from Dar es Salaam for just what ended up to be one whole day there as we only arrived at 6pm and had to leave at 7.30am. The hotel was good but we couldn't really appreciate it in the time allowed." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms Donna H
USA

"My Feb 2018 trip"

I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 9 Feb 2018 and 22 Feb 2018
"Considering all the details involved in booking this trip, I was extremely satisfied from my initial phone call, to the day I returned home.

I think Justin returned my calls and replied to my emails within 10 minutes, and there were a lot of them! And thanks for procuring the binocs! The trip he planned turned out as perfect as it could be. The Rhotia Valley stay was really a genius choice. As a physician, I bonded with the owners and was invited to join them for meals so we could continue our conversations. I expect to have an ongoing relationship with them, and hope to return.

I see no place to comment specifically on my guide, so I’ll do that here. Nathoo was incredible. He knew every plant, animal, constellation. I had my Swahili lessons while driving around. There can’t possibly be anyone better!

I would say this trip exceeded my expectations, and was worth every penny.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No, I don’t!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms M
CambridgeHeath

"Fantastic experience."

I visited Tanzania and 2 other countries between 24 Jan 2018 and 17 Feb 2018
"We loved every minute of our trip. A new day a new adventure. Superb accommodation, safaris, food and wines.
Loved Africa." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Miss A
Harrogate

"My Zanzibar break in Jan 18"

I visited Zanzibar and 1 other country between 17 Jan 2018 and 23 Jan 2018
"Actually rather disappointing. The trip notes were inadequate and despite assuring me that my coeliac condition had been passed to both Chumbe Island and Kholle Hotel, this was not the case. On the island that was not a problem as the food was mainly fish and salads but at the hotel it most certainly was a problem.

The Kholle House is a lovely boutique hotel but was not the most relaxing. see me earlier comments. Not what i expected. Very disappointed.

However the Lazizi hotel was a lovely but I did feel that the charges by Expert Africa for arranging this were high to excessive when looking at the hotel website." Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zanzibar holiday
Overall trip
Poor
Ms W
Kenora

"Everyone needs to experience Africa!"

I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 31 Oct 2017 and 14 Nov 2017
"I applied for a job in Tanzania some time ago so i bought the guide book and book on safaris just in case I got the job. Well i didn't get the job but the book really got me excited about Africa. When i found a travel partner, some years later, while re reading my books i was inspired by the fact that the authors had travelled to this area frequently and consequently I was drawn to contact the affiliated company regarding trip planning.

Lyndsey was excellent. She started off by asking what kind of trip we wanted and from there guided us through planning a trip that would meet our needs and expectations. She answered our questions, wasn't pushy and was open to my suggestions of things i wanted to work into our trip, like visiting fish markets and seeing some of Dar es Salem. The adventure was exactly what we wanted and more.

Travelling as two older women it was important to feel safe and at the same time experience the opportunity of adventure. Keeping the costs down and not going to high end camps was important as well as avoiding the crowds. We met other travellers who had been further north and when they showed up at an animal sighting there where 50 jeeps already there, everyone lined up. We knew we didn't want that nor travel in an enclosed vehicle so again great direction from Lyndsey.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We were not charged the $30 fee to leave Tanzania and I'm not sure if this is because we left from Zanzibar or not.

The Stone Town Airport does not open until midnight for a 2am flight so there is no point going out there early. If u do the toilet outside the airport building costs money and the one inside is free. You need TZ shillings.

The booklet is confusing on tipping in the camps and we received different information from the different camp managers. If two people are travelling together do they pay their guide as one person or do they people double the recommended amount? We paid our driver, the guide, the boat guide all separate from each of us and then half that amount at the second camp. Other people we talked to seemed confused as well.

I brought a black head net and was really glad I did as the flies at the second camp were fierce in some areas. Burning elephant dung helped somewhat. Green head nets interfere with your vision clarity but the black ones work great.

Thanks Lyndsey for all your help in planning our wonderful adventure!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs S
france

"My Sep 2017 trip"

I visited Tanzania and 1 other country between 6 Sep 2017 and 18 Sep 2017
"both James Denny (who was my initial contact and helped me to choose safari location and camps) and Lyndsey Marris (who organised our two stays in Zanzibar, and made all our reservations) were very helpful, and extremely knowledgeable. Overall the trip was amazing on every level,and incredibly well organised, thank you!

The only slight negative is that we were a little disappointed with Mwagusi Camp in terms of service and food, especially after staying at Siwandu which surpassed our expectations and was just excellent on every level. Maybe if we'd stayed at Mwagusi before Siwandu, we wouldn't have noticed so much!

We are definitely keen to explore more of Africa as a result of this trip, and will definitely return to Expert Africa to do so!" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Showing 41-50 of 351
98%
351 reviews of Stone Town by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
335
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Where to stay in Stone Town

Our suggestions for places to stay in Stone Town


Zanzibar Coffee House

Zanzibar Coffee House

The Zanzibar Coffee House is a small quiet hotel tucked away in the back streets of Stone Town, with lovely, simple rooms.


84% (64 reviews)
Serena Inn

Serena Inn

Now trumped by the nearby Park Hyatt, the Serena Inn, in its historic building, was formerly Stone Town's only international-style hotel.


91% (63 reviews)
Zanzibar Palace Hotel

Zanzibar Palace Hotel

The Zanzibar Palace Hotel is a highly regarded boutique hotel with very personal service and just nine rooms, all of them Zanzibari in style.


90% (50 reviews)
Beyt al Salaam

Beyt al Salaam

The Beyt al Salaam is a pleasant, boutique hotel with only six rooms and atmospheric and stylish Zanzibari décor.


82% (44 reviews)
Dhow Palace Hotel

Dhow Palace Hotel

The Dhow Palace is a very good-value, mid-range hotel, full of Swahili character, and the pool makes it appealing to families.


79% (39 reviews)
Emerson Spice

Emerson Spice

Emerson Spice is a beautiful small hotel in the heart of Stone Town with individually designed rooms adorned with gorgeous fabrics.


91% (26 reviews)
Kholle House

Kholle House

Kholle House offers an atmospheric Stone Town stay in a historic building, and is very good value for money.


82% (19 reviews)
Jafferji House

Jafferji House

Jafferji House is a converted old house that blends modern facilities with traditional style. The ten, unique rooms are show great attention to detail.


81% (19 reviews)
Swahili House

Swahili House

Swahili House is a traditionally styled boutique hotel furnished to a high standard with a convenient location in the centre of Stone Town.


82% (11 reviews)
Tembo Hotel

Tembo Hotel

The Tembo Hotel is a good-value, family-friendly hotel right on the seafront in Stone Town, with 36 rooms and a good-sized swimming pool.


63% (8 reviews)
Emerson on Hurumzi

Emerson on Hurumzi

Emerson on Hurumzi was Stone Town's first boutique hotel, featuring antique furniture, unique, stylish rooms and a superb rooftop restaurant.


80% (7 reviews)
Mbweni Ruins Hotel

Mbweni Ruins Hotel

Mbweni Ruins Hotel is very convenient if you want to stay on the beach, but very close to Stone Town, or visit Chumbe Island.


92% (5 reviews)
Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt

The Park Hyatt Zanzibar is a high-quality example of this group, with excellent facilities and service.


100% (2 reviews)
Maru Maru Hotel

Maru Maru Hotel

In the heart of Stone Town, Maru Maru combines contemporary style and creature comforts with a Zanzibari twist.


80% (2 reviews)
The Seyyida Hotel

Seyyida Hotel

The Seyyida is a characterful old hotel near the seafront in Stone Town, with the rare bonus of a swimming pool.


No reviews yet
Kisiwa House

Kisiwa House

Kisiwa's central location in the heart of Stone Town's Shangani area makes it a great base to explore this fascinating town.


No reviews yet

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