Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa

I loved everything but to name a few: the stunning beach that even has a walkway into the ocean, the hotel staff’s attention to guest, the gym, the location, the spa and overall the smell of flowers/plants all over the resort. The resort has a charm that all those large hotels (that are so impersonal) miss out on. There was always plenty of food so even the pickiest eater can find something. There is entertainment most of the night and twice a week there is massai dinner/entertainment.

Ice crean is not included on the all inclusive 😭

We were warmly received by Ms Supati, and she and her staff were most kind, friendly and helpful to us. My wife had an injured leg, and she was offered transport by comfortable golf cars across the hotel area when she needed it. The water in the pool seems to be seawater that is replaced every day, which we did not see before in Zanzibar. The food is splendid and varied, and we enjoyed the Swahili dinners! One of a kind even in Zanzibar is that you may snorkel straight from the hotel!

We had to wait a while for drinks at the meals, make sure to order before you go to the buffet☺️

The hotel surpassed all my expectations! The staff was welcoming and accommodating right from the moment we checked in. The room was clean, and lovely with private pool. The breakfast spread was also quite tasty. I will certainly return during my next visit!”

Nothing all was ok

We were genuinely impressed by the beauty of this resort. Its location is stunning, the rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the common areas are inviting. The central pool is simply amazing, with the perfect water temperature, and overall, the infrastructure exceeded our expectations.

Unfortunately, what truly let us down was the resort’s management style, which we found questionable at best. During our five-day stay at Karafuu, we experienced several issues that affected what could have been an outstanding holiday. • Nighttime Entertainment: The evening animation began during dinner and was extremely loud and intrusive. It was impossible to enjoy a quiet meal or the company at our table, as the music and performances were overwhelming and went on until around 10:30 p.m. The noise also reached our room, which, despite having a beautiful ocean view, became unusable as a quiet retreat. It felt as if we never actually left the restaurant area. • Reception and Excursion Services: The reception staff were not very welcoming, and the assistance they provided was minimal — for instance, they couldn’t even help us figure out how to call a taxi. The excursion desks located in the lobby lacked the professionalism expected of a five-star resort. We received little information about available trips and felt pressured to book and pay immediately. The pushy approach made us lose trust and ultimately we decided not to book anything with them. • Unequal Treatment: We couldn’t help but notice that some staff seemed to treat guests differently based on the color of their wristbands — as if those staying on a bed & breakfast basis were somehow less valued than all-inclusive guests. • Environmental Concerns: While dining at the seafood restaurant by the beach, we saw a drainage pipe releasing unpleasant-smelling water directly into the ocean, right next to where guests were eating. Even if this practice is permitted, it’s hard to understand why it would be done so visibly and at mealtime. Overall, we kept asking ourselves: isn’t the place already beautiful enough as it is? The natural charm of Zanzibar speaks for itself — it doesn’t need to be overshadowed by constant loud music and intrusive entertainment.