Zanzibar Serena Hotel

Idyllically situated on the sea-front of ancient Stone Town, flanked by an exotic mix of sultans' palaces, Portuguese forts, ancient dhow harbours and bright bazaars, the hotel is a haven of tranquillity and opulence amongst the bustle of one of Africa's most ancient and most enchanting towns.A member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the hotel has been styled to represent the epitome of Swahili style, ethnic elegance and Arabic opulence. This charming hotel offers a total of 39 rooms. Facilities include a kids' club, café, bar, restaurant and room service.After the heat and dust of Stone Town, the rooms in this hotel are havens of cool and shade. With high ceilings, shuttered windows and cool, white walls, they are constructed in the traditional Swahili manner, whereby the size is dictated by the length of the mangrove poles that make up their ceilings. Adorned with arched niches, antique plates and brass lamps, and featuring traditionally carved furniture with basket weave and ceramic inlay, the rooms are predominantly royal blue and white. Four-poster, net-draped beds dominate, offset by delicate bedside tables, vanity units and louvre doors onto the balconies, some of which feature massive free-standing hammocks. In-room amenities include an en suite bathroom, hairdryer, satellite/cable TV, a safe, minibar and individually regulated air conditioning.The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and poolside snack bar.Constructed so that the waves lap to within inches of its open windows and the lateen-rigged dhows pass within metres of its tables, the Baharia Restaurant features fretwork screens, Omani carvings, Persian rugs and bright Swahili artefacts. It serves Zanzibar cuisine, which combines freshly caught seafood, fresh spices, luscious fruit and delicately flavoured vegetables.The resort is in Stone Town, which is in the Old Town of Zanzibar City, which lies on the western side of the island of the same name. Zanzibar has an international airport, which is approximately 20 minutes' flight from the mainland. There are daily flights linking Zanzibar with Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Arusha, the northern safari circuit airstrips and Nairobi (Kenya). Ferries and speed boats link Zanzibar with Dar es Salaam daily and with Pemba several times weekly. The airport is 7 km south of Zanzibar Town and the journey takes 15 minutes by taxi. Airport transfers are available upon request from the hotel.