Summit collection · Zanzibar
Kilindi Zanzibar
Private domed pavilions and plunge pools above the Indian Ocean, for a slow finish
- Collection
- Summit · Luxury
- Destination
- Zanzibar
- Area
- Zanzibar Island
- Style
- Domed pavilion retreat
- Best months
- Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Dec, Jan
About Kilindi Zanzibar
Kilindi is where a safari can exhale. White domed pavilions step down a forested hillside towards the Indian Ocean, each one set apart from its neighbours so that the only sounds are leaves, birds and the sea. It suits travellers who have spent days on game drives and now want nothing more demanding than a deck and a view.
Privacy is the theme. Every pavilion has its own plunge pool on a wooden deck, and photographs show the pools cascading down the slope between the trees. Breakfast can arrive floating on the water, and the bathrooms are open to the air, with twin stone basins and plenty of room to linger.
Beyond the pavilions there is an infinity pool facing the horizon, a spa, and beachfront access. Lemala usually places Kilindi at the end of a northern parks route or a bush-to-beach honeymoon, where its calm pace makes a natural contrast to dawn starts and dusty tracks.
- Domed pavilions with their own plunge pools, set into the hillside
- Infinity pool framed by palms and facing the Indian Ocean
- Open-air bathrooms with twin stone basins and a sense of space
- Breakfast served by the pool, floating tray included
- Spa treatments and beachfront time between swims
- All-inclusive stays available, so nothing interrupts the rest
Setting
The lodge sits on a terraced, forested slope on Zanzibar Island, high enough to look out across the Indian Ocean rather than simply sit beside it. The canopy gives shade and birdsong, while the water below changes colour through the day. From here the island's wider draws, such as white-sand beaches, coral reefs and the spice plantations, are all within reach by arrangement.
Rooms and tents
Accommodation is in domed white pavilions, each with a private plunge pool on a timber deck screened by the forest canopy. Inside, expect a calm, open-plan layout, and a domed bathroom that opens to the air, with twin stone basins and robes close to hand. The pavilions are spread across the hillside, so neighbours feel distant and the views stay uninterrupted.
Dining
Meals follow the unhurried rhythm of the place. Guests can expect to eat by the infinity pool, on the terraces or on their own decks, and breakfast in the plunge pool is a signature image of the lodge. Zanzibar's spice-island heritage and fresh seafood typically shape the cooking. All-inclusive stays are available, and we are happy to explain what that covers.
Things to do from here
- Swimming and lounging at the infinity pool
- Spa treatments after the bush
- Beach walks and sunset drinks
- Snorkelling or diving on nearby coral reefs
- Spice plantation walks, arranged through Lemala
- Day trips to Stone Town
When to stay
Zanzibar is at its most comfortable from June to September, when the air is drier and the sea is calm and clear, and again in December and January, which are warm and bright. The long rains usually fall from March to May and the short rains in November, so expect heavier showers then. Humpback whales are seasonal, and snorkelling is generally best on calm, clear days.
Good to know
- The pavilions are set on a slope, so expect steps and paths. Ask us if mobility is a concern.
- Transfers from the airport and from the mainland flights are arranged by Lemala as part of your itinerary.
- Ask us to confirm child policies and what the all-inclusive option covers before you book.
- Whale and turtle encounters depend on season and conditions, and can never be promised.
Gallery
Inside Kilindi Zanzibar
On these itineraries
Trips that include Kilindi Zanzibar
10 days
Bush to Beach: Northern Parks and Nungwi, Zanzibar
Six days of wildlife in the north, then three barefoot nights on Zanzibar's northern shore.
11 days
South to the Spice Island
Rufiji boats and Ruaha predators, then three barefoot days on Zanzibar's coast.
9 days
Bush-to-Beach Honeymoon with Nungwi
Five days of game viewing, then four unhurried nights on Zanzibar's northern tip.
More partner stays
Other stays in Zanzibar
- Ridge
Zanzibar · Nungwi, Zanzibar
Diamond Mapenzi Beach Resort
All-inclusive beach resort
- All-inclusive
- Pool
- Beachfront
- Trail
Zanzibar · Zanzibar Island
Makofi Guest House
Beachfront guesthouse
- Restaurant
- Beachfront
- Trail
Zanzibar · Nungwi, Zanzibar
Nungwi Dreams By Mantis
Beachfront boutique resort
- Pool
- Sea views
- On-site restaurant
Stay at Kilindi Zanzibar
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