Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Terrace
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great service
Beautiful location
Good amenities
Cons:
Food quality inconsistency
Celebration oversight for special occasions

Categories

Cleanliness
8.25
The facility is described as clean and well-maintained.
Service
9.75
Exceptional service noted, especially with staff mentioned in positive experiences.
Location
9.25
Great location with beautiful views and easy access to activities.
Room Quality
9.25
Rooms are generally well-received, especially the oceanview suite.
Amenities
9.25
Good amenities including a diving center and shuttle service. Some amenities faced complaints regarding quality.
Value for Money
8.75
Prices are considered reasonable but can be high compared to local restaurants.
Food and Beverage
8.25
Food quality varies, with some inconsistency but generally positive experiences.
Overall Experience
9.25
Overall experiences are overwhelmingly positive.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-08 18:45

Property Description

Luxurious Amenities and Stunning Views

Featuring 3 swimming pools, a dive centre, and a restaurant, Sunshine Marine Lodge offers a luxurious escape on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean and Mnemba Atoll.

Beach Access and Relaxation

Guests have access to a private beach area at Sunshine Bay, complete with a restaurant, beach bar, umbrellas, and sun loungers. A wooden jetty leads to the sea, and multiple pools provide additional relaxation options.

Wellness and Dining Experience

The lodge boasts a Body & Mind Harmony Centre for yoga and relaxation, while the on-site restaurant serves local and international cuisine. Don't miss the chance to unwind and indulge at Sunshine Marine Lodge!

Important information:

Please note that Sunshine Marine Lodge does not accept bank notes issued before 2009.

Please inform Sunshine Marine Lodge in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.

Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Please note that a compulsory supplement applies for stays during Christmas(24th Dec) and New Year(31 Dec). The supplement varies according to your meal plan:

Bed & Breakfast (B&B)

• USD 80 per adult

• Children: 50% of the adult rate

Half Board (HB) / Full Board (FB)

• USD 50 per adult

• Children: 50% of the adult rate

These festive supplements will be automatically added to your booking during the holiday period and is subject to settle either prior to the arrival or during check in at the hotel.

Kindly be advised that on-the-spot (walk-in) bookings for the Gala Dinner are priced at USD 100 per adult and USD 70 per child for both the Christmas and New Year Gala supplements.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Airport code: ZNZ

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 306 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.25
Service: 9.75
Location: 9.25
Room Quality: 9.25
Amenities: 9.25
Value for Money: 8.75
Food and Beverage: 8.25
Overall Experience: 9.25
J
Julian • couple • gb
8
Very nice place but be aware of extra costs
Pros:

The staff has always been very friendly, the accommodation itself is fantastic and the dive shop and it's staff is also really professional and friendly.
There are also all kinds of friendly little animals hanging around which you can choose to engage with or ignore, from little lizards, cats to bushbabies. There is also a free shuttle service to the other hotels of the group which was a nice option to see a different area.
The breakfast is also fantastic and so is the room service.

Cons:

There was nothing big, but I think it is worth being aware that you end up paying more than you probably first think: Besides the nights, you will probably need to pay for the airport shuttle, the snorkeling/diving, lunch and dinner (there aren't many alternatives to the restaurant). So for 3 days you easily end up having to pay an extra 1000 USD.
I think the prices are mostly fair, only the restaurant sits slightly on the expensive side, so it isn't a criticism just a point to be aware of.

Why did I deduct 2 points then? There were a few little things that were just not ideal. I want to stress that these are all minor points but they are there so here we go:
- besides asking at the very start of my booking process we had to explain our diatery requirements for every meal and they were still not always followed and while items were removed, we still had to pay the full price every time. They also often are out of things on the menu.
- The electricity is created by generators, which (not for sunshine marine but azure) are placed so that the locals have to listen to the noise pollution. It is also questionable why they don't use solar instead in an area where the sun shines pretty much all the time.
- They are not following the green fins guidelines. The snorkeling is just madness with the number of boats around and just doesn't feel save (this is of course a wider issue)
- It feels a bit isolated: this is not really a criticism as they are already trying to offer activities and the shuttle service but it still feels a bit isolated.

2026-10-23 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • family_with_children • gb
10
2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
A
Arshad • family_with_children • gb
9
Pros:

Excellent scuba dive centre, really helpful staff

2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
P
Paolo • family_with_children • au
10
Pros:

Beautiful and secluded from the busy parts of Zanzibar. Easy to access Dive Centre and other incredible activities. The location and proximity to the ocean was incredible. The staff were 10/10

Cons:

I didn't like that I couldn't stay longer. Nothing to fault with this place

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
V
van Gelder • family_with_children • ae
9
Pros:

Great diving hotel and location!

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
J
Jacob Frahm • family_with_children • dk
9
Dejligt sted med sødt personale til en ferie væk fra de mere travle steder i Paje eller Nungwi
Pros:

Hotellet ligger utrolig skønt ud til vandet. Med et dejligt pool område og sødt personale. Værelserne var rummelige og havde hvad man havde brug for. Dejligt at dykkerskolen lå på hotellet som gav os nem adgang til snorkling og dykker ture. Morgenmaden var fin.

Cons:

Maden i restauranten var ok men ikke pragende. Priserne på maden var for høje i forhold til mange andre steder på Zanzibar. Det skyldes nok at der ikke var mange alternativer i nærheden. De havde ikke helt styr på regningerne i baren og det betød at vores check ud blev lidt træls da vi lige skulle have fundet ud af hvilke bar regning var vores. Mit råd: husk at få skrevet under på alt hvad du køber i baren. Det gør check ud lettere.

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
G
George • couple • za
8
2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
D
Daljeet Singh • couple • tz
10
Nice Cozy place
Pros:

Good room and view. Overall good experience.

Cons:

Limited options for breakfast

2026-09-17 • via Nuitee
H
HASAN • extended_group • tr
9
2026-08-30 • via Nuitee
C
Charlotte • family_with_children • gb
8
Lovely hotel for diving and relaxing
Pros:

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this beautiful location. The room was perfect, with a gorgeous garden and sea view.

The dive centre was great and I would recommend staying here if you're a keen diver/snorkeller.

The pool and dining area was lovely. The wifi worked consistently (which we didn't get in any other hotel)

Cons:

It's a shame not to be able to swim in the sea from this hotel (though you technically can if you are careful and mind the boats).

The breakfast wasn't the best and the dinner options are limited (although the dinner food quality is nice and they do mix up the menu each night). The service at the restaurant wasn't the best (the staff don't seem very happy there which is sad to see).

I booked a massage on my birthday and it was quite overpriced for the quality of massage. The spa was opposite my room but because of 'maintenance issues' I had to get a taxi with the masseuse to their sister hotel to get a massage in a room there instead, which was a bit of a shame.

2026-08-30 • via Nuitee
D
Davide • solo_traveller • it
9
2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
T
Tobias • family_with_children • at
10
Pros:

Very nice Lodge directly at the sea with nice pools. What makes it special is that they have their own diving centre going to Mtemba for scuba diving daily. They also have a 2m training pool for scuba.
Rooms are very comfortable and Pools/restaurants are great

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
M
Michaela • solo_traveller • at
9
2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
K
Khalid • solo_traveller • ma
9
Pros:

Notre chambre etait juste un reve et magnifique avec la vue sur la mer , personnel tres tres sympa , la nourriture aussi

Cons:

Zero

2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
A
Albert • family_with_children • es
10
Experiencia única!!!! Volvería
Pros:

La ubicación perfecta para ir a hacer excursiones, pero el hotel en sí es precioso, la zona de la piscina, el bar, las vistas a la isla, la calma, el servicio buenísimo y la habitación estaba súper limpia y nos encantó que a media tarde cuando oscurecía venían a ponernos las mosqueteras de la cama y cerrar cortinas.

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
K
Kida Rose • family_with_children • ci
6
Tranquille
Pros:

C’est atypique, avec un charme qui donne envie de revenir, très reposant.

Cons:

Le fait qu’on ne puisse pas avoir de plage ou l’on puisse nager.

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
C
Colette • couple • za
10
A dream holiday with the warmest staff.
Pros:

The whole lodge is wonderful. The facilities and gardens are great. The staff are so wonderful and friendly. We had an ocean facing room and it was really lovely and spacious.
And the food is really excellent too.

Cons:

You couldn't swim in the sea from the lodge but they did provide a free shuttle to go to their sister resort about 10 minutes away where there was a beach and you could swim. Saying this, I would stay there again and again.

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
M
Marie • extended_group • fr
6
Décevant pour ce prix, malgré la vue
Pros:

La vue est sublime depuis la piscine
Le restaurant est très bon
Joli jardin très bien entretenu

Cons:

Nous avions réservé une chambre familiale avec un lit d’appoint qui avait été accepté et on nous a informé à l’arrivée qu’il n’était pas possible de rajouter un lit… il fallait soit prendre une chambre de plus soit partager le lit double à 3 , ce que nous avons fait. Pas d’excuses à ce sujet de la part de l’équipe.
Salle de bain ouverte , y compris les toilettes dans la chambre , aucune intimité possible.
PAS du tout d’accès possible à la mer, cela devrait être précisé plus explicitement.
Mauvais rapport qualité prix, pour deux fois moins cher on a été mieux logés à Stone Town et Jambiani.

2026-08-15 • via Nuitee
S
Stalmans • couple • be
9
Excellent
Pros:

La gentilesse et l'attention du personnel, la qualité de la nourriture, la propreté, l'ambiance, la proximité de la mer, le ponton

Cons:

Le bruit constant des bateaux qui croisent juste en face, le manque de plage

2026-08-14 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • family_with_children • de
9
Superschöner, friedlicher Ort zum Ausspannen und Tauchen!
Pros:

Tolle Lage mit spektakulärem Blick auf Nmemba Island und das Meer in verschiedenen Farben! Als Ausgangspunkt zum Tauchen und Schnorcheln top, PADI-Tauchbasis direkt im Hotel! Sehr schön angelegter Garten mit Terrassen und Balkonen mit Privatsphäre. Viele geschmackvolle Details und sehr schöne Sitzgelegenheiten mit viel Ruhe sind vorhanden. Das Hotel hat eine Alleinlage, es also nichts rundherum. Daher nutzt man eher öfter auch das Hotelrestaurant, nicht ganz billig, aber vergleichsweise hervorragende Küche. Superfreundliches und bemühtes Personal! Ein Shuttlebus kann genutzt werden, um nach Matemwe an den großen Hauptstrand in die Schwester-Hotels zu kommen (10 Min. Fahrt) Dort dann direkt toller Badestrand und Möglichkeiten zum Kitesurfen. Am Hotel selbst ist Baden im Meer eher schwierig, mann kann aber bei mittlerer Tide durchaus zum Schnorcheln vom Hotel aus starten. (Badeschuhe sind hier unbedingt empfohlen). Ansonsten eine traumhafter Ort zum einfach entspannen und den Blick genießen. Großer Pool, der auch gut groß genug ist, um ein paar Bahnen zu schwimmen. Auch Muyuni Beach ist mit Taxi in ein paar Minuten zu erreichen, sehr schöner Strand, wird aber von 2 großen Hotels dominiert. Zum Kiten ist es dort auch nicht verkehrt, es gibt eine Kiteschule.

Cons:

Am Hotel selbst gibt es kaum etwas zu bemängeln, Manchmal dauert es im Restaurant etwas lange und der ein oder andere Kellner ist ein wenig verpeilt, das ist aber Jammern auf hohem Niveau und letztlich überall auf Sansibar so. (wir haben 2 Hotels gesehen auf unserer Reise und in mehreren die Restaurants besucht.) Das WLAN könnte eine etwas bessere Abdeckung haben, da Mobilfunk vor Ort ebenfalls nur mäßig gut war.

2026-08-13 • via Nuitee