Where
Kendwa, north west coast
Size
72 rooms, suites and villas
2026 price
About $387 to $742 per person a night
Meal plans
Half board, full board, all inclusive, Gourmet
Children
Welcome, with a kids' club
Airport
About 55 km, 1 hour 30 by road
Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa
Kendwa
- 72 rooms, suites and villas on Kendwa beach
- Half board, all inclusive or the Gourmet plan
- Kids' club and a children's pool
- Five two bedroom villas with a private pool
Gold Zanzibar review: is it worth the price?
For a family or a couple who wants a proper resort on a swimming beach, yes. Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa has 72 rooms around a big lagoon pool on Kendwa beach, two restaurants, two bars, a spa, a dive centre and a kids' club. Its rooms start at 70 m², which is large for the island. The style mixes African, Arab and Italian touches, a nod to the Italian family that owns it.
On Tripadvisor it holds about 4.5 out of 5 from roughly 1,900 reviews. Guests praise the warm staff, the buffet and the beach. That is a good score for a hotel this size, though below the 4.8 of Kilindi, its small neighbour.
The complaints in recent reviews are consistent. The rooms are spacious but a little dated. The food is plentiful but, for some, average after a few nights of buffet. Between meals there is little to snack on unless you pay for the Gourmet plan. The pool is saltwater, which one guest in January 2026 found too salty. And the beach in front is public, so expect vendors, jet skis and music, plus the monthly full moon party at Kendwa Rocks next door.
Our read: Gold is the busy, sociable choice on the north west coast, with the most facilities of Kendwa's five star hotels, at a half board price close to Zuri's. Book it for a family holiday or a first trip with everything on site. Skip it if you want peace and quiet: one operator that sells it calls it a big family resort and warns off anyone seeking tranquility.
Gold Zanzibar rooms: six types from 70 to 200 m²
Every room has air conditioning and a fan, a veranda, a bath and a separate shower, a minibar, a safe, a TV and tea and coffee. The bathroom products come from Healing Earth, the South African spa brand. The hotel says it has 72 rooms. The split below comes from a tour operator and adds up to 71.
| Room | Size | How many | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Garden View | 70 m² | 18 | Ground floor, king bed and a sofa bed. Some connect, which helps families |
| Deluxe Ocean View | 70 m² | 33 | Ground or first floor, same layout, with a view of the sea over the garden |
| Beach Suite | 90 m² | 7 | A few steps from the sand, king bed and two sofa beds |
| Suite with Pavilion | 90 m² | 5 | On the beach near the pool, with a private pavilion for breakfast or dinner |
| Beach Villa | 200 m² | 3 | Two bedrooms, a jacuzzi on the veranda, a tent on the beach and a butler |
| Jungle Villa | 200 m² | 5 | Two bedrooms and the only private pools on site, in the garden, with a butler |
Room types from the hotel's site, sizes and counts from Zanzibar Retreats, read on 29 October 2026. Other booking sites give between 67 and 76 rooms.
Which room at Gold Zanzibar to book
For most couples, the Deluxe Ocean View is the one: same size as the garden rooms, a view of the sea, and only about $80 more per person a night on the reseller rates below. Ask for the first floor if you want the view over the palms. Families should look at the Deluxe Garden View rooms that connect, which is cheaper than a villa for four.
The suites earn their price only if you will use the beach position: the Suite with Pavilion has a private pavilion on the sand for breakfast or a candlelit dinner. For two couples or a family, a Jungle Villa gives you two bedrooms, a butler and the only private pools at Gold.
One catch on booking sites: Hotels.com and Expedia list villas under other names, such as a "Luxury Villa, Private Pool, Sea Facing (Retreat)". They are the same villas, so compare by size and pool, not by name. There is no lift, and an extra bed is listed at $100 a night.
Gold Zanzibar all inclusive vs the Gourmet plan
Gold is not all inclusive by default. It sells half board, full board and two all inclusive plans: the standard one, and an "extensive" version the hotel calls the Gourmet Meal Plan. The difference is in the drinks, the coffee and the second restaurant.
| What you get | All inclusive | Gourmet plan |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast, lunch and dinner at Kilimanjaro, the buffet restaurant | Included | Included |
| Water, fresh juice, soft drinks, local beer | Included | Included |
| House wines and the cocktail list | Included | Included |
| American coffee and tea | Included | Included |
| Espresso and cappuccino | Charged | Included |
| Premium spirits from the bar list | Charged | Included |
| Wines by the glass from a wider selection | Charged | Included, except champagne and cognac |
| Lunch and dinner at the Gold à la carte restaurant | Charged | Included |
| Snacks by the pool and on the beach, breakfast in the room | Charged | Included |
Is the Gold Zanzibar all inclusive worth it?
The standard plan is simple to judge. On the one reseller that publishes all three rates, all inclusive costs $158 more per person a night than half board, in every room type. That is $316 a night for two, for lunch and drinks. Kendwa's beach bars and Kendwa Rocks are a short walk along the sand, and most guests do not drink $158 of house wine and local beer a day. Half board is the better deal unless you want to stop thinking about the bill.
The Gourmet plan makes sense for guests who would otherwise order cappuccinos, spirits and lunch at the à la carte restaurant every day. It is also the plan that answers the most common complaint, the lack of food between meals. Its price is quoted on request, and the 20% early bird discount does not apply to it. For how Gold compares with the big all inclusive resorts of the east coast, see our Zanzibar all inclusive guide.
Gold Zanzibar prices in 2026
Gold does not publish its rates. The table below shows what the reseller Monkey Adventures listed on 29 October 2026, per person per night, two sharing. The page does not say which season these rates are for, so treat them as a guide.
| Room | Half board | Full board | All inclusive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Garden View | $387 | $450 | $545 |
| Deluxe Ocean View | $465.50 | $529 | $623.50 |
| Suite | $583.50 | $647 | $741.50 |
For two people, that means about $774 a night half board in a garden room and $1,090 all inclusive. Tanzania Odyssey quotes Gold from $460 per person, without saying on which plan. Prices rise in July, August and over Christmas, and South African package sellers price August about 15% above June or October. Our page on the best time to visit Zanzibar explains what each month means for the weather.
On top, the Zanzibar infrastructure tax of $5 per person per night is paid at the hotel, even on a package. Carry US dollars for it.
Gold Zanzibar special offers
Three offers were listed when we checked. The early bird is the biggest, but read the small print: it does not cover the Gourmet supplement.
| Offer | Discount | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Early bird | 20% off | Book 60 days ahead, 3 nights minimum. Does not apply to the Gourmet supplement |
| Long stay | 7 nights for 6 | Plus a dinner on the beach and 25% off at the à la carte restaurant |
| Honeymoon | 10% off on top | 4 nights minimum, marriage certificate under six months old |
Gold Zanzibar beach: Kendwa and the tide
Gold sits right on Kendwa beach, on the west facing coast, so the sun sets over the sea every evening. The sand is white and soft and the hotel puts out loungers and umbrellas in front of the garden.
Kendwa's reputation is that you can swim at any state of the tide, which is rare on Zanzibar, where the east coast drains for hundreds of metres. The hotel and the operators that sell it all repeat this. We found no tide data for this exact stretch, and at Kilindi, a little further along, guests report the sea going a long way out. Ask the front desk for the day's tide times, and see our Zanzibar tides guide for how to read them.
The beach is public. Beach boys selling boat trips, jet skis and music from the bars are part of Kendwa, and once a month the full moon partyat Kendwa Rocks, a few minutes' walk away, goes on late. Light sleepers should ask for a garden room at the back.
Gold Zanzibar restaurants, bars and spa
- Kilimanjaro. The main restaurant, for more than 200 guests under a thatched makuti roof. Buffet with live cooking stations, and themed dinners on the beach or by the pool twice a week.
- Gold Restaurant. À la carte on the beach, fish and local spices, booking required. Included only on the Gourmet plan.
- Sultan Bar. The main bar, for cocktails.
- Ocean Dhow Beach Bar. Snacks and drinks under the umbrellas on the sand.
Dress is casual by day and a little smarter at dinner. The kitchen handles special diets if you tell it in advance.
The Healing Earth Spa uses the brand's organic products, with a sauna and a jacuzzi. There is also a Technogym gym with free group classes led by a coach, and private sessions at a charge.
Gold Zanzibar for families: kids' club and age rules
Gold is one of the more family friendly hotels on the north west coast. It has a kids' club, a children's pool and babysitting on request. The club's age range is given as 3 to 10 or 3 to 12 depending on the source, so check with the hotel for a child at either end. The person who checks in must be 18 or over.
Two points before you book with a baby: one listing says the hotel has no cots, and there is no lift to the first floor rooms. Ask the hotel directly. For other options, our guide to where to stay in Zanzibar with kids compares the family resorts of the island.
Things to do from Gold Zanzibar
- On site. The pool, beach volleyball and boccia, the gym classes and a dive centre.
- On the water. Catamaran, Laser dinghy, windsurf and canoe from the water sports centre, deep sea fishing, and a sunset dhow.
- Nearby. Nungwi and its dhow builders, about 4.5 km north, and the Mnarani turtle aquarium, eight minutes by car.
Most boat trips and tours collect from Kendwa hotels. Booking yourself is often cheaper than the hotel desk for the same boat, but check that Gold is on the pickup list before you pay.
Tours that pick up at Kendwa
Prices, ratings and review counts as the partner lists them, read on the date shown below the cards. Confirm pickup from Gold Zanzibar before you pay.
From Kendwa: Mnemba by boat, dolphins and snorkelling
Leaves from the north, which saves the drive to Kizimkazi.
From$55per person
Check availability
Sunset dhow cruise from Nungwi and Kendwa
Two and a half hours under sail as the light drops.
Quad biking from Kendwa or Nungwi
Four hours through villages and plantations, beginners taken.
From$81per group, up to 2
Check availabilityPrices, ratings and review counts read from GetYourGuide on 27 September 2026, and indicative. These are partner links: the price is the same for you.
Gold Zanzibar location: Kendwa, Nungwi and the airport
Gold is at Kendwa, on the north west tip of Unguja, the main island. Some booking sites give its address as Nungwi, the bigger village about 4.5 km up the coast, which is wrong. Kendwa Rocks is a four minute walk along the sand. Beyond the beach bars, there is little within walking distance.
Zanzibar airport (ZNZ) is about 55 km away, roughly an hour and a half by road, and Stone Town about the same. The hotel arranges transfers at a supplement. A driver you book yourself often costs less, and our page on Zanzibar airport transfers has current rates by zone. Send your flight number so the driver can follow a late landing.
Who Gold Zanzibar suits, and who should book elsewhere
Book Gold Zanzibar if
- You travel with children and want a kids' club
- You want a big pool, a spa and water sports on site
- You want more facilities than Zuri or Kilindi for the same money or less
- You like a lively beach with bars on either side
- You want a sunset beach where the tide matters less
Look elsewhere if
- You want peace and quiet, or adults only
- You want a modern, freshly designed room
- You want your own pool without paying for a villa
- You mind beach vendors and music
- You plan to visit Stone Town often
Alternatives to Gold Zanzibar at Kendwa and Nungwi
Two neighbours on the same beach are much quieter: Zuri, at a similar half board price, and Kilindi, which costs more. Royal Zanzibar at Nungwi is the bigger family resort, and Kendwa Rocks the budget option on the same sand.
Zuri Zanzibar
Kendwa, north west coast
56 bungalows, suites and villas on the same coast, quieter than Gold and more polished. Half board as standard, all inclusive on request.
From $790 a room, half board (2026 low season)
See rates on Hotels.com →
Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar
Kendwa
Each pavilion has its own plunge pool and a butler, and wine and spirits are in the rate. The opposite of a busy resort, at about twice the price.
$676 to $1,163 per person a night, all inclusive, 2026
See rates on Hotels.com →
Royal Zanzibar Beach Resort
Nungwi
A large resort ten minutes up the coast at Nungwi, sold with or without all inclusive, with a free kids' club. The family pick if Gold feels too grown up.
See rates on Hotels.com →
Kendwa Rocks Beach Hotel
Kendwa
Bungalows right on the sand, and the home of the full moon party. Loud one night a month, simple and cheap the rest of it.
See rates on Hotels.com →For the whole ladder up to Mnemba's private island, see luxury hotels in Zanzibar.
Rooms at Kendwa
Every hotel on Kendwa beach on one map, from Gold's neighbours to simpler places behind the sand. Same sunset, and a wide spread of prices.
See places to stay at KendwaPartner link. The price is the same for you.
Gold Zanzibar practical details: check-in, tax and who owns it
- Check-in and check-out. From 2 pm, and by noon, according to Expedia. One other listing says 1 pm, so ask if you arrive early.
- Infrastructure tax. $5 per person per night, paid at the hotel in cash.
- Who owns it. The Azzola family from Italy, through The Cocoon Collection. Their Sofia Luna Azzola foundation, set up in 2016, supports the village of Kendwa.
- Stars. Most sites list Gold as five star, and at least one gives four. Judge by the room and the reviews rather than the stars.
- Bring insect repellent for dinner outside, earplugs for full moon night, and some cash for tips and the beach bars.
Questions people ask about Gold Zanzibar
Is Gold Zanzibar all inclusive?
It can be. Gold sells half board, full board, all inclusive and a richer Gourmet plan. The standard all inclusive covers buffet meals, local beer, house wines and cocktails. The Gourmet plan adds premium spirits, more wines, the à la carte restaurant, espresso and snacks.
Is Gold Zanzibar in Kendwa or Nungwi?
Kendwa, on the north west coast. Some booking sites give a Nungwi address because Nungwi is the nearest village of any size, about 4.5 km up the coast, but the hotel is on Kendwa beach, a few minutes' walk from Kendwa Rocks.
How many rooms does Gold Zanzibar have?
The hotel says 72. Booking sites give anything from 67 to 76. They come in six types: Deluxe Garden View and Deluxe Ocean View rooms of 70 m², two kinds of 90 m² suites, and two kinds of 200 m² two bedroom villas.
Does Gold Zanzibar have rooms with a private pool?
Only the five Jungle Villas, which have two bedrooms and a pool in their own garden. The Beach Villas have a jacuzzi on the veranda instead. Every other room shares the large lagoon pool.
Is Gold Zanzibar good for families?
Yes. Children are welcome, there is a kids' club, a children's pool and babysitting on request. Sources disagree on the kids' club ages, given as 3 to 10 or 3 to 12, so check with the hotel. The adult who books must be 18 or over.
How far is Gold Zanzibar from the airport?
About 55 km from Zanzibar airport (ZNZ), roughly an hour and a half by road. The hotel arranges transfers at a supplement, or you can book a driver yourself.
Can you swim at Gold Zanzibar at low tide?
Usually, according to the hotel and the tour operators that sell it, who describe this part of Kendwa as barely affected by the tide. We found no tide data to confirm it, and guests at Kilindi, a little further along the coast, report the sea going far out. Ask the front desk for the day's tides.
Who owns Gold Zanzibar?
The Azzola family from Italy, through The Cocoon Collection. The family also set up the Sofia Luna Azzola foundation in 2016 to support the village of Kendwa.
What is the best part of Zanzibar to stay?
For swimming and sunsets, the north west around Kendwa and Nungwi. For kitesurfing and long tidal flats, Paje on the east coast. For history, a night or two in Stone Town. Many visitors combine Stone Town with a week on a beach.