The Island Pongwe Lodge

We visited for dinner (we didn’t stay)

My partner and I visited The Island Pongwe for dinner last week. We got a small boat from the beach near the island which was a really enjoyable ride across. The meal itself was delicious, we had the urchins to start which were so unique and tasty. I had the tuna steak and my partner had the lobster pasta. Both dishes were delicious and we ate every bite. We also got the sangria, 100% recommend it was so refreshing and has lots of local fruit. The service was fab too with friendly and patient wait staff. After the meal the tide had gone out again so we had to walk back to the beach in the dark, just an fyi in case anyone has issues with that (we didn’t). Thanks so much for having us. :)

Beautiful private island hotel in the Indian Ocean 🌊🌴😍 we did not rent a room here but got shown one and they look amazing. You can eat at the restaurant without being a guest at hotel and enjoy the food and go for a swim in the ocean as they have private access. Frank gave us a warm greeting upon arrival and showed us around very kindly.

Food was good. We ate bruschetta florentina which was small but very tasty. The tuna tartare which was fresh and light. The grilled steak which was very tender and cooked to perfection. The only mediocre dish was the avocado egg salad which was nothing special.

One of the most beautiful getaways!
It’s very chill, outstanding views and a tiny island comprised of almost 6 rooms, staff are super friendly and Receptionst mister Frank was super nice and caring 🙏🏼
Truly didn’t wanna leave the property🥲💔
And omgg the Massage was!!!

We went to The Island for the lunch, but we have been very warmly welcomed to come earlier and enjoy the beach. This place is a little paradise, the location is beautiful and the service very kind and qualitative. A specific thank you to Franck, very responsive and accommodating before and during our visit!

The island is simply beautiful! We visited for lunch and wished we could have stayed longer. The lunch menu is great - lots of fresh seafood to choose from. We opted for the seafood sharing platter and it did not disappoint. The cocktails were some of the best we had on Zanzibar - especially the Pina Colada. The staff were all so friendly and even looked after our backpacks while we went into the ocean to explore after lunch. 5* service - asante sana!

Better late than never, just a few words to describe our passage in your incredible tiny island.

We had kind of a very unique experience at your hotel.

First of all, the unique location ! Completely out of time.

Secondly, your employees, professionals, always kind to us and at the same not intrusive at all. The perfect mix, cause to me, you feel the quality of the service but you don’t necessarily see it. Well done for teaching and training them how to deal with clients.

And to conclude about the hotel, the food, simply AMAZING.

Also, your help to manage and organize my proposal. Everything was perfect to me/us. We were lucky to have your guys around for that.

We really felt at “home” during our time with you. We are traveling a lot, and it’s not common. Trust me,

And finally, this amazing couscous genuinely prepared by yourself, god it was good !

This place is just magical. So peaceful and serene, and the low tide is so unique and beautiful to experience (so many tiny sweet critters to explore!). During high tide you can take a lovely dip into the ocean, and even during low tide you can “find” the water and swim. The food is great, and the staff are a huge part of what makes this place so special. From John, and everyone else, they went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable and even upgraded us to the villa for our honeymoon. I highly recommend Pongwe for a magical and unique Zanzibar experience and I would come back here in a heartbeat. Asante sana Pongwe for everything!

We were to eat at the restaurant twice. We ate sea food, tuna and octopus grilled that were very tasty. The sea food pasta was not that good. You have a very nice place with the sunset behind.

Me and my sister were told by our tourguide @KwetuZanzibarToursandSafaris about this wonderfull place. What a gem of a place!!! Absolutely mindblowing beautiful. We had a light lunch. Food was fantastic as well as the service. So welcoming and friendly. Will definately return.

We stayed at the Island, Pongwe Lodge from the 23rd December - 27th December and had all meals included. We enjoyed a total of 13 different meals at the restaurant (all roughly 3 courses) so can of course comment on the excellence at both the hotel and the restaurant.

Upon arrival at the airport, our transfer to the hotel was smooth and comfortable. Our driver Yousef was knowledgeable and spoke impeccable English despite our foreign Scottish accents.

When arriving at the Island itself, it is a real surprise to see whether the tide is in or out. We haven’t had that same excitement from visiting any other hotel in the world, and we have travelled extensively.

We were greeted by our welcoming hosts, Frank and Margarita - immediately we were made to feel right at home on the Island. Despite the fact it was an early arriving flight, we were able to access one of the rooms immediately - which was immaculate and cosy.

We had chosen two of the rooms (well really they are more like small traditional lodges) one facing the sea and one facing the bay. Both were beautiful. As a Christmas gift, we were offered to stay in the Sultan Villa which is an enormous (yet intimate) romantic suite nestled into the corner of the island overlooking the bay. Out of politeness, we felt we should decline (as our rooms were more than sufficient) but out of curiosity we accepted and I am delighted we did.

Now you can go on the website and look at photos, so I don’t need to describe how wonderful the Sultan villa was but I will see if I can do it justice. A raised king size bed ensured that every morning, tide dependent we would either see crystal clear waters or the locals in the distance tending to the seaweed farms. Directly next to the window was a massive stone bath with room for two(!) which was the perfect way to unwind after a day out doing the excursions. We enjoyed the quad biking and snorkelling, and also spent a lot of time swimming in the sea at high tide. The room boasts an enormous rainfall shower too, a comfortable day bed, and locally produced furniture - my favourite pieces were the vanity stands made from the boats.

This is getting long so I will attempt to summarise the food. I must have tasted a significant portion of the menu whilst visiting; I enjoyed the seafood, the daily fresh caught fish, all of the salads (special mention to the seaweed salad brought in from 30m away), the tuna, the bruschetta, and the 5 course Christmas Day tasting menu which was a delight and included crab bisque and lobster. Everything was fresh, was presented beautifully and was made with care and consistency. We had considered dining elsewhere for one of our meals but we agreed we were all very happy at the Island. Including my partner (who doesn’t eat fish or seafood) who was perfectly accommodated for with the regular menu, and enjoyed a modified Christmas dinner menu. The avocado on toast was a favourite breakfast of ours, along with the fruit platter and whatever special of the day (one day it was a crab omelette).

On Christmas Day itself, we opened up family presents and Margarita had organised presents for us too. It was a little detail that has left a lasting impression, we were lucky to receive some beautiful Zanzibar produce.

Very briefly, in terms of organising trips and excursions (spice tour, Stone Town, quad biking), Frank and Margarita were great at communicating and always managed to accommodate us. A very special thank you to all of the staff, those in the restaurant, the room cleaners, the gardeners, the concierge, and everyone who were so friendly and made our stay such a pleasure.

Anyway, the long and short of it is: we will be back and will bring more of the family. We had a truly fantastic time and can’t wait to come back. Thanks so very much to the whole Team!

This is really a dream come true place - fromy sunset wade through the shallow in tide, following a knowledgeable guide, through the arrival in my lovely cottage, to the amazing delicious meal and comfy nights sleep....

Waking to the sound of waves lapping right next to my delightful private terrace and breakfast brought there, it was all a magical experience!

Staff were outstandingly friendly and efficient, my waiter Sabass was quietly attentive and the menu was fantastic - it was hard to choose... I had a salad with mango, fresh veg and tasty seaweed - and added catch of the day: kingfish.
The intention of the place is to use and respect locally produced ingredients and this is done with panache and originality.

Altogether this was a truly special experience and I'd recommend it highly. I have friends going this weekend in fact!

Loved it!!!

Is there a better description than Excellent? If so It would describe The Island Pongwe Lodge. The view and the accommodations are fabulous.The staff is friendly and so attentive. Margarita’s personal attention to every detail will make you want for nothing. The food is outstanding and Juma’s special Island Iced Tea will help you to relax and unwind on this island paradise. This is the only place to stay if you are coming to Zanzibar to relax and enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings.

The views and food is amazing. We had an outstanding service from Charles. He was amazing. I would recommend all to come.

This is one of the most amazing places of the world. We immediately fell in love once we arrived. A perfect location to get rid of stress. The bungalows are made with such great details and the staff is super friendly. A big complement also to the manager who showed us around and explained everything. Such a friendly person and many thanks for the upgrade we received to stay in the Sultan lodge. Not to forget the candle light dinner on the private patio next to the refreshing pool. A really great place to go !

The mini paradise !! one of the most beautiful places I have visited ever. All the staff, Frank, John, ana, Irene, Shukran and the owners are extremely helpful. The food we had there was just yummm. Cannot recommend this place more. 2 days we stayed there and it was really relaxing. they have 5 very cute pets (2 dogs & 3 cats) which is a bonus really.

So nice to be here we enjoyed a lot me and my boyfriend we have a great time the place is so romantic,nice food,and good service with Charles waiter😍🤝❤🙏🏽

We stayed nearby and walked over for dinner our last evening on Zanzibar. It was the perfect end to the trip. Not only is the location unique and beautiful, the food was terrific. The chef and staff were very kind. The price is very for the quality of food and preparation. I would highly recommend a meal here at the very least.

Amazing experience.
Never been in such a place before. 😍
The location is perfect. You just live on the sea far from any noise, just connected to nature.
The hotel is just following your rhythm. 🙏🏼
The food is amazing. 🦞
Few stairs down and you are in the ocean/beach for a swim/walk according to the tides. 🌊
Perfect place to reconnect with yourself.
The management and the staff are awesome.
The hotel is super well managed.
Many thanks to everyone at the Island for this memorable holiday. 👍🏼❤

Beautiful peaceful island. Only 5 rooms. We stayed in the Sultan villa which is big one & absolutely beautiful. The food is absolutely great too. Nice and relaxing way to sirens a few days (particularly after a few crazy days in Paje!) 😂

A unique and beautiful (and peaceful) place with fantastic staff and delicious food.

We went there only for a birthday meal with my wife and we couldn’t have picked a better place to celebrate.

From booking via being greeted upon arrival and enjoying the meal all the way to the birthday cake & song by the lovely staff it was a flawless experience.

To top it off, I got to play a few rounds of Bao with a security gentleman whilst waiting for the taxi to take us back to our villa!

Special thank you to Margarita who took the booking, welcomed us and stopped by to entertain us with a little background of the place and Bella, who was taking care of us and was just a joy to talk to:) Also to the rest of the staff for great hospitality, amazing food and the best Dawas we’ve had in Zanzibar! Great work, guys!

And let’s not forget Maaji, the cat princess(those eyes!) and two lovely dogs Ara & Luna. There are three more cats there, all fluffy and beautiful but Maaji made sure she got all the attention.