Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Good value for money
Nice breakfast
Cons:
Noise from street
Room size variability
Check-in delays during busy times

Categories

Cleanliness
7.8
Generally clean as mentioned; however, some concerns about noise from the street and the safety of access.
Service
8.8
Staff were consistently described as friendly and helpful throughout the reviews.
Location
8.8
Multiple reviews noted the excellent location close to attractions, though some mentioned it being busy.
Room Quality
7.8
Mixed reviews on room size and comfort, especially when comparing different rooms.
Amenities
8.3
Amenities mentioned positively; however, individual experiences varied.
Value for Money
7.8
Good value for the overall experience as indicated by multiple positive mentions.
Food and Beverage
8.3
Breakfast was praised for variety and quality.
Overall Experience
8
A mix of positive highlights and minor complaints fulfilling the overall hotel experience.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-08 18:27

Property Description

Historic Charm and Modern Comfort

The Tembo House Hotel in Zanzibar City seamlessly blends historic charm with modern comfort. Each room is elegantly decorated with wood carved furniture and features a Swahili four-poster bed. Enjoy the convenience of amenities such as TV, air conditioning, and a traditional hammam bath in the bathroom. Most rooms also offer stunning balcony views of the sea or the pool.

Culinary Delights and Convenient Services

Indulge in a culinary journey at the Bahari Restaurant, serving a mix of local and international cuisine. Take advantage of room service and the option for packed lunches. The hotel also provides a range of services including a 24-hour front desk, meeting facilities, and laundry services.

Relaxation and Recreation

Unwind by one of the three swimming pools, including a rooftop pool, or explore activities like diving and cycling. With free Wi-Fi, concierge services, and free parking, Tembo House Hotel ensures a delightful stay in Zanzibar City.

Book your stay at Tembo House Hotel now for an unforgettable experience!

Important information:

One child under 6 years stays for free in existing bedding.
One child from 6 to 10 years old pays USD 20 per person, per night in an extra bed.
One older child or adult pays USD 30 per person, per night in an extra bed.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.

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

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Groups

    When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 2 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children from 3 years old to 7 years old stay for US$30 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    People 8 years old and over stay for US$40 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.2
Based on 5762 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.8
Service: 8.8
Location: 8.8
Room Quality: 7.8
Amenities: 8.3
Value for Money: 7.8
Food and Beverage: 8.3
Overall Experience: 8
B
Bagilishya • couple • ae
7
2026-04-25 • via Nuitee
K
Kim • solo_traveller • dk
8
2026-04-25 • via Nuitee
A
Aliasger Murtaza • solo_traveller • tz
10
Comfortable in the heart of zanzibar town nearby marine and forodhani
Pros:

I like how it was the only property in stone town which had instant access to the sea ,

3 great swimming pools

Amazing staff and a welcoming manager in Mr Saurav!

Amazingly the food was also pretty good.

Cons:

They can improve some things with the bathrooms but nothing major and to be concerned with

2026-04-24 • via Nuitee
T
Tone • solo_traveller • no
9
Pros:

Very nice hotel and friendly staff.

2026-04-24 • via Nuitee
A
ALPER • solo_traveller • tr
10
2026-04-22 • via Nuitee
D
Doris • solo_traveller • de
9
Pros:

Roof pool , breakfast

Cons:

----

2026-04-22 • via Nuitee
N
Natascha • family_with_children • de
9
Pros:

Location is Great, there are 3 Pools also on the Roof. If you need any transport, Trips etc you can book with the hotel directly. Staff is amazing: We arrived early in the morning and they made sure we could check in way before check in time also we had to leave early, overslept, they even woke us up and prepared us breakfast to take with us. Thanks again so much for making sure we did not miss our flight!

Cons:

Rooms are a bit small for two large suitcases

2026-04-21 • via Nuitee
I
Ivan • family_with_children • be
9
Amazing end of our Zanzibar holiday
Pros:

The hotel itself is very beautiful and staying here was a great part of the Stone Town visiting experience. We stayed at the "Freddy Mercury room" although we did not look for it specifically - according to the information board, he might have probably lived there. The room was very spacious.
Good restaurant. There are swimming pools and even the sandy beach available.

Cons:

The "Freddy Mercury room" is in a separate building, not in the hotel - to if you plan to use the swimming pool facilities, it may not be very comfortable to walk across the street. It is also on the 2nd floor without an elevator - the hotel workers would help to carry the luggage.
The breakfast does not fully start at 7.00 - the omlette and pancake station is not yet active that early. This is acceptable though.

2026-04-20 • via Nuitee
J
Jochen • couple • at
9
Lovely stay in the house of Freddie Mercury's birth!
Pros:

We had four different rooms in the four nights we stayed at Tembo Hotel! We had selected the hotel early in our planning process (This was part of a 2 month trip through eastern and southern Africa, and we planned relaxing a few days in Zanzibar after 10 Safari days that were arranged by the wonderful Tanzania Pilgrimage Safaris team), but by the time we made the reservation none of the rooms was available for the four consecutive days.
Wow, that was great! 4 different rooms in three of their 4 different buildings, and one room was greater than the other (bar #10 in the "Tembo Palce" building, which was a bit so-so). Four poster beds with ample Moskito nettings in the Freddie Mercury and Family rooms, big ceiling fans and AC in all the rooms. Other than having to collect a new room key every day there was no hassle at all with the room changes.
The bath rooms are unbelievable - 2 of them bigger than your average hotel room and equipped like your own private oriental hamam (-the steam, unfortunately).
Excellent breakfast buffet with eggs/omelette station like on a cruise ship. Super friendly and attentive staff throughout, and a very efficient excursion office - loved the guided tour of Stone Town with "Chief", a most knowledgeable, funny and lovely guide.
Oh, and the Location - right on the beach and next to the working harbour - lovely!

Cons:

Initially, we were asking if they could somehow make fewer room changes possible and were a little disappointed they could not, but in the end: See above!

2026-04-20 • via Nuitee
J
Jochen • couple • at
9
Lovely stay in the house of Freddie Mercury's birth!
Pros:

We had four different rooms in the four nights we stayed at Tembo Hotel! We had selected the hotel early in our planning process (This was part of a 2 month trip through eastern and southern Africa, and we planned relaxing a few days in Zanzibar after 10 Safari days that were arranged by the wonderful Tanzania Pilgrimage Safaris team), but by the time we made the reservation none of the rooms was available for the four consecutive days.
Wow, that was great! 4 different rooms in three of their 4 different buildings, and one room was greater than the other (bar #10 in the "Tembo Palce" building, which was a bit so-so). Four poster beds with ample Moskito nettings in the Freddie Mercury and Family rooms, big ceiling fans and AC in all the rooms. Other than having to collect a new room key every day there was no hassle at all with the room changes.
The bath rooms are unbelievable - 2 of them bigger than your average hotel room and equipped like your own private oriental hamam (-the steam, unfortunately).
Excellent breakfast buffet with eggs/omelette station like on a cruise ship. Super friendly and attentive staff throughout, and a very efficient excursion office - loved the guided tour of Stone Town with "Chief", a most knowledgeable, funny and lovely guide.
Oh, and the Location - right on the beach and next to the working harbour - lovely!

Cons:

Initially, we were asking if they could somehow make fewer room changes possible and were a little disappointed they could not, but in the end: See above!

2026-04-20 • via Nuitee
K
Kerim • couple • nl
1
Cons:

Te drukke omgeving, beneden voor het hotel staan continu mensen die je lastig vallen als je uit het hotel loopt. We kregen een kamer wat niet in het hotel zelf zat maar 1 straat erachter wat niet echt fijn was.

2026-04-19 • via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth • couple • au
8
2026-04-19 • via Nuitee
D
Dominique • couple • ug
7
2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
A
anna • couple • fr
9
2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
B
Bona • couple • rw
10
Excellent stay! The hotel exceeded my expectations with its clean rooms, friendly staff, and great atmosphere. The servi
Pros:

the manager was so good at finding solutions to make us feel more comfortable.

2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
J
Jomon 1975 • solo_traveller • om
9
2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
H
Henry • family_with_children • za
9
2026-04-18 • via Nuitee
F
Fabrizio Dominelli • family_with_children • it
9
Pros:

Niente

Cons:

Tutto

2026-04-17 • via Nuitee
J
Jens • couple • de
6
Pros:

Generell sehr schönes Hotel mit schöner Lage am Meer. Zimmerservice sehr gut.

Cons:

Rezeption unstrukturiert und sehr langsam. Über Hotel bestelltes Taxi war nicht zur benannten Zeit verfügbar. Keine alkoholischen Getränke an der Hotelbar.

2026-04-16 • via Nuitee
D
Dirk • couple • de
6
Genarally good Swahili style hotel with a very good location. The staff is generally friendly and helpful, with the exc
Pros:

It is a nice traditional Swahili style building and with a large pool.

Cons:

No bar/ no Alkohol in the hotel,
Some of the staff at the front desk are quite unfriendly and seem a bit overwhelmed by their duties. Even simple things like ordering a taxi don't work, or only after asking and with a delays.

2026-04-16 • via Nuitee