The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

Beachside hotel with outdoor pool

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Where to?

Dates

June 2025

July 2025

On the beach, sun loungers, beach umbrellas, beach towels

Luxury Villa, 1 Bedroom, Sea View | 1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe

Overview
Rooms
Location
Policies

Exceptional

Popular amenities

Bar
Breakfast included
Pool
Spa
Room service
24/7 front desk

SAR 879 total

includes taxes & fees

28 Jun - 29 Jun

Room options

All rooms

1 bed

2 beds

3+ beds

Showing 4 of 4 rooms

Luxury Villa, 2 Bedrooms, Private Pool

Highlights

Balcony or patio

Separate dining area

Separate sitting area

Private plunge pool

Air conditioning

2 bedrooms

Egyptian cotton linens

Blackout drapes/curtains

200 sq m
Sleeps 4
1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Family Villa, Multiple Beds

Highlights

Balcony or patio

Separate dining area

Separate sitting area

Air conditioning

Separate bedroom

Egyptian cotton linens

Blackout drapes/curtains

Ceiling fan

140 sq m
Sleeps 4
1 King Bed and 2 Twin Beds

1 bedroom, Egyptian cotton sheets, minibar, in-room safe

Luxury Villa, 1 Bedroom, Sea View

Very good

Highlights

Balcony or patio

Separate dining area

Separate sitting area

Air conditioning

Separate bedroom

Egyptian cotton linens

Blackout drapes/curtains

Ceiling fan

140 sq m
Sea view
Sleeps 3
1 Queen Bed

Standard Bungalow

Exceptional

Highlights

Balcony or patio

Air conditioning

Separate bedroom

Egyptian cotton linens

Blackout drapes/curtains

Ceiling fan

Rainfall showerhead

Private bathroom

33 sq m
Sleeps 2
1 Double Bed

About the neighborhood

Dongwe Beach, Pingwe, Dongwe

What's nearby

Dongwe Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
Pingwe Beach - 4 min drive - 4.9 km
Bwejuu Beach - 5 min drive - 4.5 km
Michamvi Kae Beach - 10 min drive - 9.7 km
Paje Beach - 11 min drive - 11.2 km

Getting around

Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 59 min drive

Restaurants

‪Mapacha - ‬9 min drive
‪Oxygen - ‬10 min drive
‪African Bbq - ‬9 min drive
‪Mr. Kahawa - ‬10 min drive
‪Ndame Beach Bar - ‬8 min drive

About this property

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

Upscale hotel

You can look forward to a free breakfast buffet, a terrace, and a garden at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a beachfront location, sun loungers, and scuba diving. Indulge in a massage, a facial, and a manicure/pedicure at the onsite spa. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Stay connected with free WiFi in public areas, and guests can find other amenities such as a library and dry cleaning/laundry services.

You'll also enjoy perks such as:

An outdoor pool with sun loungers
Free self parking
A roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), a 24-hour front desk, and concierge services
Barbecue grills, tour/ticket assistance, and luggage storage
Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff

Room features

All guestrooms at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar include comforts such as air conditioning, as well as amenities like safes and minibars.

Extra conveniences in all rooms include:

Bathrooms with bidets and free toiletries
Balconies or patios, electric kettles, and ceiling fans

Languages

English, Italian, Swahili

Similar properties

Outdoor pool, open 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM, free cabanas, pool umbrellas

Pool
Spa
Parking included
Free WiFi

SAR 863 total

includes taxes & fees

4 Jul - 5 Jul

Property amenities

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

Family friendly

Laundry facilities
Outdoor pool
Separate bedroom
Snack bar/deli

Conveniences

24-hour front desk
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Safe at front desk

Guest services

Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Housekeeping (daily)
Tour and ticket assistance
Turndown service

Outdoors

Barbecue grill
Beach loungers
Beach towels
Beach umbrellas
Garden
On the beach
Pool loungers
Terrace

Full-service spa

Body scrubs
Facials
In-room massages
Manicures/pedicures
Spa open daily
Treatment room

Accessibility

No elevator

Designated smoking areas
Mosquito nets

Room amenities

Bedroom

Blackout drapes
Egyptian cotton sheets

Bathroom

Bidet
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Shampoo
Toilet paper
Towels provided

Food and drink

Electric kettle
Free bottled water
Limited room service
Minibar

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: 18

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); guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation

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

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not 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

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

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

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

Airport shuttle fee: USD 50
Late check-out fee: USD 50 (subject to availability)
Rollaway bed fee: USD 80.00 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

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

Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cribs/infant beds and rollaway/extra beds

This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted

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

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

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

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar?

Self parking is free at this property.

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

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

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

Check-out is at 11:00 AM. Late check-out is available for USD 50 (subject to availability).

Does The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle that runs on request. A fee of USD 50 one-way applies.

Where is The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar located?

Nestled on the beach, this Dongwe hotel is within 3 mi (5 km) of Dongwe Beach, Bwejuu Beach, and Pingwe Beach. Paje Beach and Michamvi Kae Beach are also within 6 mi (10 km).

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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

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

We had such a Wonderful stay at the Sands. Great service and premises!

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10

Very nice, quiet place with a lovely beach and excellent staff. Very good food, too.

Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

8/10

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

10/10

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

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

The service was excellent. Everyone was very friendly and courteous. We really enjoyed our stay here

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

8/10

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

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

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

The Sands was amazing! It was an oasis of beautiful beaches, a large pool, and great food. Highly recommend!

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10

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 experience. Small boutique like hotel with super friendly staff. Thanks Ally & team!

Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10

All more perfect and better than we can expected! Thanks a lot for making our honeymoon a reality!

Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2022

10/10

a wonderful place to relaxe. we stil had low season and allmost the whole place for us, fantastic. The best stuff on the island, helpfull, nice, allways trying to forfill every whish. The Sands and the whole team made our vacations to what it was, a dream. Looking forward to be back.

Stayed 18 nights in May 2023

10/10

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

10/10

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

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

We had a great stay here. Loved this quiet place, the friendly employees, the lovely beach and the pool. Our daughter got sick but we got so much help from the staff. We are very greatful! One thing they could do better was the food. Other than that everything was great! Thanks to everyone, especially mr. Ally and the friendly guys in the beach bar.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10

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

Outstanding resort in Nungwi. From the time I arrived until my departure the service was top notch. If there was an issue it was resolved quickly to ensure you had the best possible time at The Sands resort. The gentleman named Ally was like having a vacation angel watching over you to make sure you were enjoying your time there. He constantly checked on us and other guest. We appreciate him for doing so. The food was delicious and each day a different selection of items. There were 2 chefs and both visited out table after dinner on various days. They did a great job. On separate days there was the whole tuna carving station one day and dorado carving stations another day, delicious as well. One of the chefs tried out his recipe for American pancakes on us Sunday morning and this recipe definitely needs to be a permanent part of Sunday breakfast, they were so good. The wait staff was great we had one gentleman a few times and he was great at anticipating our need’s and making dinner a pleasant experience. The beach bartenders were funny and great with the drinks and food service for lunch. The housekeeping staff was also excellent. I had to do some work one day and observed them cleaning the room. I doubt there was a spot missed as they were very focused on making sure the room was refreshed properly. When I return to Zanzibar I’ll split my time between Nungwi and Kendwa. I will definitely revisit The Sands resort in Nungwi. I wish all the staff the very best.

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023

8/10

We recently spent 10 days at The Sands Beach resort. If you want entertainment, night life and things to do this isn’t the place for you. There doesn’t appear to be much on the main road leading to the hotel and the nearest town of any note is Paje a 15 min drive away (taxi $25 return) Here there are lots of bars and restaurants. There was a slight mix up with the transfer the hotel arranged but this was quickly sorted out. We were met with drinks on our arrival and cold towels. Much appreciated as we had 2 long flights. We arrived at the hotel early 10am and were shown straight to our room by Ally, the guest relations manager who goes out of his way to ensure that you have a great stay. The hotel was very quiet probably no more than 5-6 rooms occupancy out of 20 rooms for most of our stay. Our room had been upgraded to a sea view. The rooms themselves are basic but huge. The bedroom consists of a comfortable king size bed with mosquito nets and crisp white sheets, a chair, desk and luggage storage bench. A separate area had a wardrobe, shelf space and a safe. The bathroom was huge, with shower and one sink. There is a water heater but this only sufficient for one shower. The soft furnishings in the rooms need updating they are dingy and old fashioned, plain brown curtains and brown light shades with tassels on. This could easily be improved with some bright colours. Outside you have 2 chairs and a table on the veranda. The rooms are cleaned daily to a good standard. Isaya a

Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2023

10/10

We visited Sands Beach resort in mid-June for three nights. On the plus side, the staff (including Ally, guest relations manager) was consistently friendly, welcoming, and aimed to please. They were VERY accommodating, allowing a very late checkout with no additional charge, since our unit was not booked the evening of our checkout. The grounds of the resort were quite beautiful too. As was the beautiful pool area. Also the villas were very spacious. The meals were great and the servers were very attentive. They "hovered" a bit too much, but I'm sure they were trained this way. Americans may not appreciate "hovering" quite as much as Europeans. Not sure. Beach bartenders were also wonderful: Hassan and Isaya. Even the massage therapist was terrific! On the negative side: Our villa (and most others, we were told) had no WiFi. This was only available at the pool, restaurant or beach. The villa had very low lighting. Ally did offer to change to brighter bulbs but we opted not to bother them. Also the cabinet doors in the kitchen were all broken. We didn't need these cabinets but this issue was easy to spot by routine housekeeping, so they may have a limited repair budget. Finally, the resort would occasionally have power issues. They have their own generator when the local utility goes out, but if it ran too long, they might need to shut down ALL the WiFi. This happened just once or twice. Normally, the WiFi in the public areas was great.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

2/10

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2025

10/10

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

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

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Popular amenities

Room options

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Luxury Villa, 2 Bedrooms, Private Pool

Highlights

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Family Villa, Multiple Beds

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Luxury Villa, 1 Bedroom, Sea View

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Standard Bungalow

Highlights

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About the neighborhood

What's nearby

Getting around

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About this property

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar

Languages

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Property amenities

Internet

Parking and transportation

Food and drink

Things to do

Family friendly

Conveniences

Guest services

Outdoors

Full-service spa

Accessibility

More

Room amenities

Bedroom

Bathroom

Food and drink

More

Policies

Check-in

Check-out

Special check-in instructions

Access methods

Pets

Children and extra beds

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

Optional extras

You need to know

We should mention

Property is also known as

Frequently asked questions

Have a question?

The Sands Beach Resort Zanzibar Reviews

Reviews

Exceptional

9.6/10

9.8/10

9.2/10

9.2/10

9.0/10

Reviews

10/10

Elias

10/10

Edward

8/10

Jermaine

10/10

Artur