Pongwe Beach Hotel

the best lower cost option on Zanzibar

Pongwe Beach Hotel is located in the Pongwe area of Zanzibar Island.

This property is privately owned by English expat Val Preston, who has spent many years bringing it up to its present high standards.

Pongwe has always been relatively low cost. In some ways it outperforms lodges which are twice the price, in other ways it remains stubbornly simple. Overall it’s great value for money and, to his great credit, Val has always prioritised happy customers over a healthier bank balance.

The lodge is in a particularly peaceful setting around a secluded bay, a good distance from the road, through a plantation of casuarina trees. It really does feel rather uplifting.

Entering from the vehicle turnaround, we first arrive at the main reception desk and pass through to the open-plan public areas, with a bar and lounge to the left and dining area to the right.

Beyond, a path leads out to a gorgeous infinity swimming pool, set on rocks above one of the finest beaches on the island. The lodge fronts onto a private cove, with coral-rag cliffs on either side. The back of the white-sand beach is shaded by a grove of tall palm trees, with strategically placed hammocks and loungers, arguably the best place to park yourself on the whole of the island.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Pongwe Beach Hotel is in seventeen relatively simple guest rooms, which are arranged along the back of the beach. They are grouped into 2, 3 or 4 rooms per building, most with direct beach access, but a few set a little bit further back into the gardens.

Fixtures and fittings are pretty basic, but there are usually some nice touches such as welcome notes and flower petals on the beds.

Each room is fitted with an Evening Breeze air-conditioning unit, whichgently cools the air inside the mosquito netting on the beds.

Activities

Pongwe Beach Hotel provides access to the following activities, not all of which are necessarily included in the usual room rate …

• Snorkelling
• Sailing
• Kayaking
• Reef-walking
• Village walks
• Cultural interaction
• Island tours

Of all the diverse beach locations that can be added to a safari in East Africa, Zanzibar is by far the most popular and therefore tends to feature in a high proportion of trips.

The usual stay duration is 3-7 nights.

Seasonality

The climate on Zanzibar Island is tropical, with predominantly hot, humid and sunny conditions.

There is rain on most days of the year, usually taking the form of light showers. During the Nov-Dec and Mar-May rainy seasons these can turn into heavy and persistent downpours.

There can also be very strong winds during the May-Jun early dry season period.

The best times down on the coast are therefore considered to be Jul-Oct and Jan-Mar, when there is usually slightly less rain and wind.

Unfortunately these best periods happen to coincide with the two peak seasons for visitor traffic.

Getting around

The majority of visitors to Zanzibar Island arrive via the international airport just southeast of Stone Town.

People including Zanzibar at the front end of their trip may arrive into Dar es Salaam over on the mainland, from where it is a short hop by light aircraft to the island.

Once on the island it is usual to travel around by guided overland transfers. Self-drive is most definitely not recommended.

by far the most popular beach location in East Africa