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The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

4.0 star property
4-star beachfront hotel with 2 bars/lounges

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Photo gallery for The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

On the beach, sun loungers, beach umbrellas, beach towels
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine
Food court
Standard Bungalow | Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe, blackout drapes
Outdoor pool, sun loungers

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pool
  • Room service
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Spa

Explore the area

View in a map
Dongwe Beach, Pingwe, Dongwe
  • Place, Dongwe Beach
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Pingwe Beach
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Michamvi Kae Beach
    ‪10 min drive‬
  • Airport, Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)
    ‪68 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Bungalow

Standard Bungalow | Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe, blackout drapes

Standard Bungalow

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • 355 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Luxury Villa, 2 Bedrooms, Private Pool

Luxury Villa, 2 Bedrooms, Private Pool | Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe, blackout drapes

Luxury Villa, 2 Bedrooms, Private Pool

  • 2152 sq ft
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

View all photos for Luxury Villa, 1 Bedroom, Sea View

Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe, blackout drapes

Luxury Villa, 1 Bedroom, Sea View

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)
  • 1507 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sea view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Family Villa, Multiple Beds

Family Villa, Multiple Beds | Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe, blackout drapes

Family Villa, Multiple Beds

  • 1506 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Standard Twin Room

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Twin Beds

About the neighborhood

Dongwe

On the beach.At this Dongwe hotel, you'll be within half a mile (1 km) of Dongwe Beach and 3 miles (5 km) of Bwejuu Beach. Also, Pingwe Beach is within 3 miles (5 km) and Michamvi Kae Beach is within 6 miles (10 km).

What's nearby

  • Dongwe Beach - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Pingwe Beach - 4 min drive - 3.1 miles
  • Bwejuu Beach - 5 min drive - 2.8 miles
  • Michamvi Kae Beach - 10 min drive - 6.0 miles
  • Paje Beach - 11 min drive - 7.0 miles

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 59 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mapacha - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Shanga Paje - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Kiddo’s Rooftop Restaurant - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Corner, Cafe And Bbq - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Zanzibarista - ‬9 min drive

About this property

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

4-star beachfront hotel with 2 bars/lounges
Spend the day at the beach and work on your tan with sun loungers (chaise longues) or relax in the shade with umbrellas. At The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar, pamper yourself with a treatment at the full-service spa or have fun in the sun with activities like scuba diving.

Free breakfast is available daily. There's a restaurant on site, as well as a snack bar/deli. You can unwind with a drink at one of the 2 bars/lounges. Public spaces have free WiFi. This beach hotel also offers an outdoor pool, a garden, and a terrace. Free self parking is available.

Smoking is allowed in designated areas at this 4-star Dongwe hotel.

  • 20 guestrooms or units
  • 2 bars or lounges
  • Buffet breakfast (free)
  • Deli
  • Beach lounge chairs
  • Towels for the beach
  • Umbrellas for the beach
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (24 hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Library
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Smoking in designated areas
  • Dining venue
The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar offers 20 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. Rooms open to balconies or patios. Beds feature Egyptian cotton sheets. Bathrooms include bidets, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Additionally, rooms include complimentary bottled water and ceiling fans. A nightly turndown service is provided and housekeeping is offered daily. Amenities available on request include in-room massages.
Guests can pamper themselves with a trip to the onsite spa, which has 1 treatment room. Services include facials, body scrubs, and manicures and pedicures. The spa is open daily.

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Property amenities

Family friendly

  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Separate bedroom
  • Snack bar/deli

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • 2 bars/lounges
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Full-service spa
  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • Scuba diving

Accessibility

  • No elevator

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Egyptian cotton sheets

Bathroom

  • Bidet
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 15

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 50

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The property charges 3 percent for credit card payments
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification, and other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 80.00 per night.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 5.00 per person, per night

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 60 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 5)
  • Late check-out fee: USD 50 (subject to availability)
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 80.00 per night
  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 3 percent

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and cash.
    For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit in each accommodation.

Property is also known as

Dongwe Beach Bungalows Hotel Bwejuu
Dongwe Beach Bungalows Hotel
The Sands Zanzibar Dongwe
The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Hotel
The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Dongwe
The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Hotel Dongwe

Frequently asked questions

How close is The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar to the airport?

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar is 36.7 mi (59-min drive) away from the Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar have an airport shuttle?

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar offers an airport shuttle 24 hours a day, on request, for a charge of USD 60 per vehicle, one-way.

How close is The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar to the beach?

This hotel is on the beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar offer free breakfast?

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar offers free buffet breakfast every day from 7:00 AM to 10 AM.

Is there a casino at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

Is there free parking at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar?

This hotel offers free self parking.

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar have a pool?

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar features an outdoor pool.

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar have a restaurant?

Yes, there is a restaurant on site.

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar have a spa?

This hotel has a spa, which features facials, mani/pedis, and massages.

How close is The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar to downtown Dongwe?

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar is 0.3 mi away from Dongwe.

Reviews

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.2/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.2/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 88 out of 118 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 26 out of 118 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 118 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 118 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 118 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Omar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This is by far the best hotel we've stayed in in a long time, probably best ever. The rooms are spacious and spotless clean. Every little detail is thought of. The beds are very comfortable and room service pass by twice a day to clean the room and for turn down. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Especially Khamis and John who went our of their way to make sure we are comfortable. Food at the restaurant was also lovely and service there amazing. Staff are constantly keeping an eye on the tables, plates are removed the second they're empty, water refilled immediately after drinking etc. Downside here was the entertainment on the Swahili night, the guys were playing more western music. The beach is very pretty, even at low tide which didn't impact our stay much. We swam 2 or 3 times in the ocean. Its not crystal clear water though, expect some sea weed. We weren't disturbed by any beach sellers like we saw on some of the other beaches. Only slight down side is that there isn't much to do nearby at night. We drove one day to Paje and that was fun.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Janet

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fabulous stay at this very quiet, clean, secure resort. Very comfortable room. Staff are very attentive. Beautiful beach. Highly relaxing! Really enjoyed the Swahili buffet and music!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Wynnjones

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ferit

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect place to relax

Our villa was super spacious, it was cleaned regularly, and it was nice to wake up in that beautiful garden. Service was very good, Mr. Ally and the team made us feel welcome and helped us with the early check out and late check out because of our flight times.
Stayed 8 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Jermaine

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel to stay to escape the busy hustle and bustle lifestyle. It is beautiful and quiet. Food is great. The only crtique i have is there are frequent power outages in the evening. Overall I would visit again.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Oliver

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice big villa

We did book a villa with an ocean view. And we got a very nice villa, clean and very comfortable. I would say it’s a bit of wasted money for the ocean view, because the villas are a bit behind the palm trees. But in general very beautiful and nice. Staff is very polite and friendly. Was a good experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenny

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We really enjoyed our stay at the Sands Resort. Each suite is actually a separate bungalow with large, comfortable rooms and wonderful AC. There is an onsite restaurant that serves all day as well as a beach bar that serves snacks/meals during the daytime. It was very relaxing to be able to have all of our meals on the property. The staff were all very friendly and professional. Everything about the staff and property was wonderful. The hotel also offers excursions. The nice thing is that they are private which entailed having a driver and tours that were just for our party. However, I would not recommend doing the "swim with dolphins" excursion because there are too many other boats doing the same thing, and we didn't feel safe going in the water with so many boats moving around quickly to try to bring their passengers close to the dolphins. So, we stayed in the boat. Also, there were no life jackets available, and it was unclear how we would get in/out of the boat without a ladder or rope; the snorkel and other equipment was old, and we didn't get a chance to try the snorkel/mask before going on the water. We also did the Jozani Forest/Butterfly excursion, which was interesting to do to see the monkeys, mangroves, and butterflies, but the price the hotel charged seemed disproportionately higher than the experience merited; please note that I say this without knowing how much the hotel paid the driver to stay with us for several hours and for the forest guide.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elias

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had such a Wonderful stay at the Sands. Great service and premises!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Artur, Ridgewood

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff at this hotel were incredibly welcoming and helpful throughout our stay. The rooms were immaculate and very comfortable. We also enjoyed the delicious dinner every night.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

antonio

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Relaxing on the beach

Quite good stay Excellent food and location on the ocean side Optimum service and very kind personnel
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Edward

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice, quiet place with a lovely beach and excellent staff. Very good food, too.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cinzia

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Kelly A, Lancy

Stayed 9 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolutely stunning. Service beyond amazing. Quiet with gorgeous gardens and beach. Easy access for SCuBA diving. Incredibly friendly staff and felt completely safe with masai warriors guarding the hotel. Food was phenomenal Would absolutely go back.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ahmed, aaaaa

Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shari

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The service was excellent. Everyone was very friendly and courteous. We really enjoyed our stay here
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location was tranquil and just what we were looking for at the start of our Zanzibar holiday. All the staff were amazingly welcoming and friendly. The team led by Ally are a credit to the hotel. The dining experience was quite special and we very much enjoyed the fresh barbecued fish at night, especially the huge tuna that a slice and thickness of your liking was cooked there and then and served to your table….in fact the staff even do your toast for you in the morning ! Overall hotel was perfect for our family of 4 including teenagers - if staying I would recommend a rental car to explore the local area, good deals can be found on arrival at the airport, we paid $30 USD a day and rental car company collected from hotel anywhere on the island for $20 USD.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nasser

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It's a great hotel, with great staff. Very simple, yet clean and well kept. No TV in the rooms which could be nice as the evenings are quiet with not much activity around the area
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a marvelous stay. Incredible beach staff went the extra mile always. We cant recommend this destination enough. 5 stars all the way.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Philip

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a great stay at the Sands. The staff were amazing, from Mr. Ally the GM to the executive chef and the cooks like Thomas who took care of us. The food was first class - this goes for breakfast right through to dinner. Amazing food and fantastic service. The beach was beautiful, clean and safe. We could not have asked for more. Even the Masai security guards were great! We loved it. Would definitely recommend the Sands in Zanzibar. We'll be back.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ernst

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mavis

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vincent

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The resort was 5 star! The staff was so helpful and attentive.. Ally the manager made sure everything was perfect! No only would I recommend this resort … we are going back! The perfect place to kick back a d get away from the hustle and bustle. Stone town is not far and a flight to Dar es Salaam was on 34 Dollars !!Just go and relax !
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shaarik

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Sands is a terrific resort, located on a beautiful beach, with incredible facilities, terrific food, and an amazing staff. Highly recommended. Go Deeper: The Sands Zanzibar Beach Resort is amazing. We stayed here with our two daughters in July 2023 and had an incredible time. This followed a safari on the mainland and then two nights in Stone Town at which point we were ready to relax and enjoy the beach. The Sands was exactly what we needed