Overview
The Residence Zanzibar is a luxury villa resort on the island's south coast, near the village of Kizimkazi — an area that sees considerably less tourist traffic than the north or east coasts. The property operates on a villa model: individual standalone villas with private pools set within landscaped garden grounds, rather than hotel rooms within a shared building. This format defines the guest experience and is the primary reason travellers choose it over more conventional resort properties.
The Cenizaro group, which operates The Residence brand across several Indian Ocean and international locations, brings a consistent set of standards: attentive personalised service, high-quality interiors, and a culinary focus on local and regional ingredients.
The setting
Kizimkazi's south coast position means the property faces toward the open Indian Ocean rather than the sheltered Zanzibar Channel. The beach here is quieter and less developed than Nungwi or Paje, with a more natural, unhurried atmosphere. The surrounding landscape is coconut palm groves, baobab trees, and traditional fishing settlements — the context of a working Zanzibar village rather than a resort zone.
The resort's gardens are extensive, and the individual villa configuration means guests experience a strong sense of privacy within the property. Each villa's private pool reduces dependence on a shared facility, which suits guests who prioritise quiet and seclusion.
Who it suits
The Residence appeals strongly to honeymooners and anniversary travellers for whom privacy and the villa format are non-negotiable. It also attracts well-travelled guests who have already experienced the main Zanzibar beach zones and want a quieter, more secluded alternative. Families — particularly those with older children — find the villa configuration well suited to group travel, with space and privacy that hotel rooms rarely offer.
The south coast location and the resort's self-contained nature mean this is not the right base for travellers wanting easy access to Zanzibar's nightlife, busy beach scenes, or frequent off-site restaurant meals.
Good to know
Kizimkazi is the departure point for dolphin-watching boat trips targeting the resident spinner and bottlenose dolphin populations in the waters off the south coast. These are a notable draw for guests with an interest in marine wildlife. Stone Town is reachable in under an hour by road and is a practical day-trip destination. The south coast receives slightly different weather patterns than the north — checking seasonal conditions for this area specifically is useful when planning travel dates.
