Baobab Africa Lodge Zanzibar

Having worked ourselves as property managers on an island in Thailand, we are very understanding when it comes to the occasional issues with water or electricity supply: these things can and do happen. However, here it was constant.

On the first evening, there was no hot water. When we asked at the reception, we were told the bungalow had been unoccupied for a while and they had simply forgotten to switch the hot water back on.
Each following day, we had to go back to the reception to report there was no water at all in the bathroom. On the last day, we were unable to shower before leaving.
In such situations, a meaningful commercial gesture should be the minimum.
Instead, after raising our dissatisfaction, we were offered just one beer as compensation, which felt rather insulting.

Another point is about safety and security.
Upon arrival, the receptionist stressed the importance of keeping our doors locked at all times.
Yet, after the cleaning on our first day, we found that the housekeeper had left the door of our outdoor bathroom open…
Considering that we had already read previous reviews mentioning theft at this property, this felt completely inappropriate and worrying. To make matters worse, we learned today that an Italian family was also robbed during our stay…

Finally, some members of the staff often seemed nonchalant, spending more time hanging around or playing tic-tac-toe than working.
The absence of visible management on-site is quite obvious and as the saying goes, "when the cat’s away, the mice will play".

I chose the Baobab for a vacation because it had excellent reviews. The resort is indeed welcoming, the staff extremely friendly (the barman is fantastic), and the food is good, with the exception of the modest breakfast. Wi-Fi is often down, as is electricity. The only beach within walking distance is very beautiful, while the island's other attractions are reached via a very bumpy road. The main problem is the LACK OF SECURITY: the Baobab is surrounded by a modest fence, the bathrooms have no windows, and my safe wasn't fixed to a wall. So one evening thieves broke into my lodge and, without having to force doors or windows, stole the safe containing all our money and many other valuables. The video surveillance system was broken, and the security staff was insufficient: it's clear that the theft wasn't due to an unfortunate circumstance, but rather the direct consequence of a negligent underestimation of the risks; for this very reason I've asked for full compensation. After an initial unacceptable offer, I was offered a 50% refund of the stolen money, ignoring everything else. I was also offered drinks and massages. In the end, I had no choice but to accept this last offer. I acknowledge that the Baobab management did not question the amount of damage I declared, which I also reported to the local Police. It's clear, however, that if thieves can access the rooms so easily, there's a serious security issue, and Baobab Africa Lodge should assume responsibility for the entire damage, not just a portion. I decided not to return to Italy immediately due to the prohibitive cost of the flight and because everything had already been stolen. After the theft, security was increased, which also proves there was a security issue and that the management should have awarded me full compensation. I thank the Baobab staff for their support of me and my family, and I urge the owners to change jobs.

Het beddengoed werd alleen maar recht getrokken en niet verschoond. De stroom viel zo vaak uit dat de airco en wifi niet naar behoren functioneerde.

Nothing

I would have liked it if the cleaning staff had changed my towels every day without having to go ask for clean ones.

Very disappointing stay.
We stayed two nights.
The hotel was not clean and we never felt safe. Thieves broke into the room next to us (through the bathroom window, which only had a flimsy screen) and stole everything. The iron safe in the room wasn’t even fixed to the wall, so anyone could just carry it away.

The hotel staff didn’t take the incident seriously and didn’t even ask how we were. We felt unsafe and left earlier than planned. Definitely not recommended.

Ho riscontrato spesso cali di corrente. La camera era semplice ma con qualche piccolo dettaglio in più puó risultare ancora più accogliente.

При отеле живут полудомашние обезьяны. По началу было забавно, но когда они начали вырывать из рук бананы и арбуз да и к тому же сидеть на лежаках и прыгать на людей, стало не хорошо. Вообщем то они дикие и у нас с ними общий спектр заболеваний включая спид. При мне одному постояльцу обезьяна прокусила руку до крови. Обратная сторона единения с природой! Переодически пропадало электричество. Напряжение скочет как хочет. Я так понял что генераторов в отеле нет. Так что об интернете лучше забыть. Но на фоне замечательной природы интерне не так важен.

La colazione potrebbe migliorare (è un suggerimento non una critica).

Restauration très moyenne, Soirée “Massai Show” consternante (un vrai attrape touriste à 30 $ par personne, sans les boissons bien sûr 😀). Managers absents.

Kúpeľňa so záchodom je hore otvorená, mali sme pocit že tam niečo vojde nejaké zviera. A hlavne večer ísť na záchod je adrenalín pre Európana. 😁Určite je to zaujímavé, ale odporučila by som do voľného priestoru dať sieť alebo drevenú mriežku. Škoda, že voda vo jacuzzi bola studená - nevyužili sme.

Food at restaurant was a deception (dinner once, fish overcooked, and we could not finish the mango pastry)
Staff somewhat idle, unadapted music at the bar during nap time

I am not convinced that having a restaurant on top of a hundreds-year-old baobab tree is not harmful to it. It was a slightly bittersweet experience sitting in that restaurant. There is a 10-12 minute walk to the beach, along a busy road frequented by vans bringing tourists to this famous beach. The Wi-Fi is substandard.