Driftwood Beach Lodge

What an absolute gem. The lodge is run by the most amazing couple Dricus and his wife Uschi, who cater to your every need. Nothing is too much to ask, and they go out of their way to ensure that you have the best holiday possible. The bar staff (JJ, Rashid, and Teddy) are super friendly, always with a smile on their faces, and make sure that your cocktails and drinks are always cold, and that you never go thirsty. We stumbled on Driftwood when looking for accommodation that is situated on a quieter, but still popular beach, and it has surpassed all of our expectations. Whilst staying there we actually had 3 other couples check in that were staying at other hotels north of us, and could not stand the crowds and music at their hotels. They took one look at Driftwood and came in directly to ask for rooms. The food prepared by the local chef was amazing, and the seafood platter that we ordered on the first night, was most generous. We will definitely be going back to Zanzibar next year, and when we do, we will definitely be staying at Driftwood Beach Lodge again. There is no reason to look any further. We have traveled all over the world, and we can honestly say that staying at Driftwood was one of the best stays we have ever had.

We loved our stay at Driftwood and wished we'd stayed longer! The bar & restaurant staff (Teddy, Rashid & JJ) were super friendly and welcoming, and Anne very kindly helped us arrange day trips which was much appreciated (do the paddle boarding and snorkelling if you can!). The food was delicious, as were the cocktails! Lovely place to relax with a sea view. It was great being able to swim in the pool with a sea view when the tide is out too. The location was ideal to explore Jambiani, and you can walk along the beach to Paje if you enjoy a long stroll with beautiful sea views! This felt like the ideal place to relax by the beach but also get a feel for local life (you're not stuck in an isolated resort like on other parts of Zanzibar). Driftwood is a more rustic style which was what we wanted. Relaxing at a beach front hotel in a good location with very friendly staff and a lovely, relaxing atmosphere - it was amazing!