The Swahili House

★★★ · Not Available

8.3Very good · 424

Stone Town, Zanzibar City · Map ·

“It was a beautiful old building, nicely decorated, liked the roof bar” · 9.0, Wed 4 Mar

Great locationGuests say so in their reviews.

Friendly serviceGuests say so in their reviews.

Free WiFiAt the hotel.

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Cheapest night in the next 14 days marked green · only Elite Trip shows this

No rooms are free here for these dates. Try other dates.

Amenities

WiFi availableFree WiFi FreeParking {'selfParking': True, 'free': Non-smoking roomsAir conditioningSwimming poolRestaurantRoom service

Location 9.3Excellent location

Stone Town, Zanzibar City · · Open in Google Maps

From the airport (ZNZ)
our transfer with a named driverBook

What guests say

8.3

Very good
424 verified reviews

Cleanliness7.8

Service9.3

Location9.3

Room Quality7.8

Amenities7.3

Value for Money9.3

Food and Beverage6.8

Overall Experience8.6

In short. Some reviews mention cleanliness positively, but significant issues affecting comfort were noted.

Dalit, South Africa · Solo8.0

Thu 8 Oct Good value for money in the middle of stone town. + It’s got a traditional feel. Aircon in the room. Location. Rooftop bar and restaurant. − No WiFi in the room. Was forced to buy an eSIM.

Cornelia, AT · Solo9.0

Wed 16 Sep + Sleeping in the historic sultans palace in stone town was magnificent! The room was spaceous and elegantly furnished as well as prepared. Also the restaurant on the top roof gave a great view of the city and had very good food and cocktails. − The toilet is separated just by a wall and not in a separate room. The muezzins are noisy but thats everywhere im stone town.

Scott, United States8.0

Sun 6 Sep + Terrace restaurant

Armin, South Africa · Solo8.0

Thu 3 Sep Amazing blessing in disguise + I had a booking at another place that was falsely advertised, so I rebooked at Swahili House last minute late at night. The staff on shift were so friendly and helpful to welcome me and make sure the room is perfect for me. The room was very comfortable....

Bhalla, Kenya · Solo8.0

Mon 31 Aug IT WAS WORTH THE VISIT + THE ROOF TOP AND THE WELCOMING SMILES AT THE RECEPTION − THE FACT THAT INTERNET IS OLY AT THE RECEPTION AND ROOFTOP ONLY

Deborah, BE · Couple8.0

Tue 25 Aug + All the staff of this hotel will make your stay a very great experience. Thank you to all of them. They hotel is cosy with a Sanzibar charm that will make feel like home. − Internet must be in the room

Ayshan, TR · Couple1.0

Sun 23 Aug Don’t choose this place — you’ll regret it! + I’ve probably stayed in hundreds of hotels, but I’ve never seen a bed this terrible. Honestly, sleeping on a rock would have been better — at least we would know it was a rock! What kind of bed is this? We stayed for two nights and ended up with such bad...

Gaby, NL · Family8.0

Tue 24 Mar + Nice comfortable room, friendly staff good location in the middle of Stone Town

nino, DE · Couple5.0

Tue 24 Mar + Swahili House has central location. Building is historic and quite nice with roof terrace which has great view to the city.Staff were quite nice and the manager gave us possibility to stay in our room until our time to the Airport. − Room was quite small but was OK. Our major problem was electricity which was off during midnight and we were without the fan and conditioner until the next day. It was soo hot and without air that...

Sandra, United States · Couple9.0

Wed 4 Mar Very enjoyable for a 2 night stay + It was a beautiful old building, nicely decorated, liked the roof bar − The food on the resturant wasn’t very good

Questions

What time is check-in?From 12:00 PM

Can my child stay?Children welcome

Are pets allowed?No

Is there parking?{'selfParking': True, 'free': False, 'chargeMode': None, 'feeAmount': None, 'feePeriod': None, 'location': None, 'reserv

Host

Not Available
Hotels · You book through Elite Trip; the desk answers on WhatsApp before and during your stay. The hotel's phone is on your voucher.

About the hotel

Charming Boutique Hotel in the Heart of Stone Town

Traditional Swahili Decor

Experience the charm of traditional Swahili style in our beautifully decorated rooms. Each room offers a comfortable stay with a fan and mosquito nets for a restful night's sleep.

Rooftop Dining and Relaxation

Indulge in fresh seafood and Mediterranean Tapas at our rooftop restaurant with stunning views. Unwind in the hot tub while overlooking the Indian Ocean, creating a truly memorable experience.

Convenient Location and Excursions

Located in the center of Stone Town, explore the bustling markets and nearby attractions easily. Let us arrange exciting excursions to Spice Tours, Jozani Forest, and more upon your request.

Book now to enjoy a unique stay at The Swahili House and create unforgettable memories!

Good to know

Check inFrom 12:00 PM

Check outBefore 09:30 AM

Children and cotsWelcome

PetsNot allowed

Resort fee{'amount': None, 'currency': None, 'period': None}

Managed byNot Available

Before you go

From the hotel

A deposit may be required at the property.

Bring the passport you book with; the hotel checks it at check-in.

Paid to the government of Tanzania, not to us 5 things travellers pay or do themselves: visa, insurance, taxes, fees. Tap to see.

These are not in your Elite Trip price and we do not sell them. You pay each one to the authority named, on its own site or at the gate. Checked 2026-10-25; rules change, so read the official page before you fly.

Mandatory travel insurance USD 44 per adult, USD 22 per child

Who
Every foreign visitor. Residents of EAC and SADC countries are exempt.

Where
inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz (mainland) or inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz (Zanzibar) or inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz

When
Before you arrive. In force from 1 October 2026 (Government Notice 256/2026).
AfyaMsafiri online health declaration Free

Who
Every traveller, one declaration each, including children.

Where
afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz

When
Before you arrive. Mandatory since 17 October 2026. Keep the QR code on your phone for the health desk.
Tanzania e-visa or visa on arrival USD 50 ordinary (single entry), USD 100 multiple entry

Who
Most nationalities. Visa on arrival is available to most passports; US passports must hold the multiple-entry visa.

Where
visa.immigration.go.tz

When
Apply online before you travel, or at the airport on arrival where it is allowed.
Zanzibar infrastructure tax USD 5 to 10 per person per night (official sources differ; the hotel collects it)

Who
Every guest staying in Zanzibar, per person per night.

Where
Collected by your hotel for the Zanzibar Revenue Authority

When
At check-out, on top of the room price, unless the hotel says it is included.
Zanzibar marine conservation fees USD 10 per adult per day, USD 25 for Mnemba

Who
Every adult entering a marine conservation area (Mnemba, Menai Bay, Chumbe and others).

Where
Paid at the site or through the boat operator, for the Zanzibar Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries

When
On the day of the trip. Elite Trip does not include it in a tour price unless the tour says so.

Elite Trip is not a government agency and does not issue visas, insurance or permits.

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