Idyllically situated on the sea-front of ancient Stone Town, and flanked by an exotic mix of sultan's palaces, Portuguese forts, ancient dhow harbours, and bright bazaars, the Zanzibar Serena Inn is a haven of tranquility and opulence amongst the bustle of one Africa's most ancient and most enchanting towns. A member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the inn has been styled to represent the epitome of Swahili style, ethnic elegance and Arabic opulence.
Zanzibar, the spice island of Tanzania is one of the continent's most famous destinations when it comes to beach travel, beach vacations, beach resorts and Tanzania holiday options. Offering excellent beach hotels and resorts, coral reef discovery, water sports, family holidays, spice tours and ocean paradise islands.
Facilities • Wide selection of rooms and suites: all with AC, satellite TV, WiFi and voice-mail • Sea front position and immediate access to the beach • All-day Baharia Restaurant, Ndele Coffee Shop, Masahani Bar and roof-top seafood grill • Unique range of event and entertainment venues to include The House of • Wonders and The Old Dispensary. • Swimming pool and pool deck • Live music nightly • ‘Maisha' Spa services • Business centre, travel desk, taxi service • Wedding planning service • Gift Shop, news-stand and travel requisites kiosk • Baby-sitting, family rooms, children's dining/menus.
Our rooms and suites After the heat and dust of Stone Town, the rooms in the Zanzibar Serena Inn 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 side tables, vanity units and louver doors giving onto wrought-iron balconies, some of which feature massive free-standing hammocks. All our rooms and suites are equipped with: 24-hour room service, air-conditioning, WIFI and in-room modem hook-up, direct-dial phone, voice-mail, complementary newspaper, in-room satellite TV, mini bar, private safe, 240V/3 pin (square)sockets and shaver sockets, tea and coffee-making facilities, hair driers, mosquito nets, bathrobe and slippers, umbrellas, porter/concierge, airport shuttle and limousine service. We offer Standard Rooms, Prime Rooms or Suites. While most of our rooms are designated non-smoking, a number of rooms are available for smokers, but these should be booked in advance.
Dining at the Zanzibar Serena Inn Constructed so that the waves lap to within inches of its open windows and the lateen-sailed dhows pass within metres of its tables, the Baharia Restaurant features fretwork screens, Omani carvings, Persian rugs and bright Swahili artifacts. The Zanzibar cuisine meanwhile, blends freshly caught seafood, fresh spices, luscious fruit and delicately flavoured vegetables.
The Baharia Restaurant Lapped by the waves of the Indian Ocean, the Baharia Restaurant offers all-day international and Swahili cuisine. Weekly Swahili banquets are also held around the pool.
The Terrace Restaurant On the roof of the Inn is our exclusive open-air Terrace Restaurant, which looks out over the bay and features a supreme selection of freshly-caught sea food.
The Masahani Bar Presented in traditional Swahili style, the Masahani Bar also offers performances by traditional Taarab orchestras.
The Pool Terrace Indoor and outdoor seating overlooks our pool terrace where a wide range of drinks and snacks are served all day long.
The Ndele Coffee Shop Adjacent to the pool, the Ndele Coffee Shop offers traditional Swahili coffee, fresh-baked pastries and a wide range of international beverages and snacks.
The Mangapwani Beach Barbeque A short drive from the Inn, the Serena's exclusive beach hideaway offers a superb Swahili seafood lunch buffet.
Conferences, meetings and events The sumptuous Zanzibar Inn Conference Suite is located on the ground floor of the Inn and has been decorated in traditional Zanzibar style. It can accommodate up to 40 participants in a range of different room layouts and offers a wide range of services which include: • PA system, table microphones, cordless microphones, TV/Video/DVD, LCD projector/screen, podium, white boards/flip charts and markers • WiFi connectivity • Delegate pads, pens/pencils and 1-litre mineral water • Modern, modular events furniture, which can be tailored to your specifications. • Business support (secretarial services, photo-copying, WiFi and a full range of global communications) • Registration staff and conference organization support • Floral services • 24-hour generator back-up • Travel desk for onward bookings or local safaris • Concierge services • Limousine and taxi services • ‘Meet and greet' services • A wide range of CEO suites • Health and spa services • Team-building programmes. Entertainments, dinners, receptions and cocktails can also be held in a choice of two highly prestigious, alternative venues namely: The Sultan Hamoud's Palace, the fabulous sea-front ‘House of Wonders' a magnificent iron-built structure, built in 1883, with central courtyard, slender pillars, sweeping staircases and broad verandas with spectacular views over Stone Town and the Zanzibar channel The equally impressive and newly restored ‘Old Dispensary', one of Zanzibar's finest historic buildings and now a Cultural Centre offering dance, song and musical displays.
Weddings and honeymoons Few venues can be more romantic than the spice island of Zanzibar, where the Zanzibar Serena Inn stands in prime position on the sea front. Offering a sublime selection of wedding venues within the Inn and around its grounds, we can also offer some unique historical venues. As to formalities; from registrar to certificate, cake to champagne, all will be arranged. We also offer some unique family and friends accommodation packages, ‘his and hers' pre-wedding grooming, flowers for the venue and the bride, wedding planning service, professional banquet catering and limousine service. Options Include: • Flower-bowered, sea-terrace ceremony • Swahili bedecked cocktail reception by the pool. • Wedding reception in the former Sultan Hamoud's residential palace, the ‘House of Wonders' or in the newly-restored Old Dispensary, one of Zanzibar's finest historic buildings • Wedding on a traditional dhow • Wedding on a deserted island in the Zanzibar Channel • Traditional henna body decoration for the bride • A beach wedding at our Mangapwani Serena Beach Club • Swahili cultural entertainment, dance and song • Taarab orchestra or local choir • Photography and videoing of your special day. • Special accommodation packages for the entire wedding party.
Family time at the Zanzibar Inn Family accommodation We can arrange for adjoining rooms for the accommodation of families. We can also provide additional beds, cots and baby-sitting services (prior notice appreciated).
Children's meals All our meals are generous buffet-styled presentations, with something to suit absolutely everyone. High-chairs can be provided, as can baby-friendly food. We are also delighted to offer slightly earlier children's meals (as early as 12 noon and 6.30 pm) - tailored to suit your children.
Children's entertainment The lodge offers its own swimming pool (supervised by a qualified life-guard but not suited to small children other than under parental supervision).
Additionally we offer: • A selection of board games and cards • A children's playground (in the square in front of the Inn) • Guided Stone Town Walks • Day trips to the surrounding island • Dolphin, turtle and whale spotting
Maisha health, beauty and wellness facilities ‘Maisha' means ‘life' in Swahili, the language of Zanzibar. Our signature ‘Maisha' brand covers a range of health facilities and spas, which are featured in all of our city hotels, coastal resorts, safari lodges and tented camps. The extent of services offered varies - from provision of a full health club and spa facility to simple massage, manicure and pedicure services.
At the Zanzibar Serena Inn we offer: Traditional henna body-painting Choose from a selection of intricate henna designs which, traditionally used to adorn a bride on her wedding night, can feature on your hands, feet or as individual icons anywhere on your body (the henna fades after a week to ten days). Massages, Body scrubs and wraps, Waxing and plucking, Manicure and pedicure, facials and glows
What to do and see At the Inn Enjoy a sumptuous seafood banquet at our exclusive roof-top restaurant Enjoy nightly performances of Taarab Music - a combination of African, Arabic and Indian influences that was first played in the 1820's at the Sultan's palace, Taarab is usually performed by a singer and accompanied by an orchestra comprising the Kanun, (similar to a zither) accordion, the nay (flute) and drums. Sample some of our beauty and massage treatments and indulge in some traditional henna body painting.
At our beach resort Spend a day at exotic Mangapwani Serena Beach Club and enjoy sun, sand, sea, sumptuous seafood and the exploration of the Mangapwani Slave Caves.
Around and about Enjoy a cultural tour of Stone Town - visiting the Sultan's Palace, the House of Wonders, The Old Dispensary Cultural Centre, the Old Slave Market, the Old Dhow harbour, the bazaars, the winding lanes and more. Take an evening stroll around Stone Town Take the famous Spice Tour Take a trip to the Jozani Forest Nature Reserve, the last red colobus monkey sanctuary in the world. Take in a day's diving around the magnificent coral reefs and wrecks of the Zanzibar coast. Spend a day on the white sand beaches of Grave Island, Prison Island, Snake Island and the sandbanks of the Zanzibar channel Take a dhow cruise or a dolphin cruise.
Zanzibar Serena Inn - Stone Town • Zanzibar Hotels & Vacations • Indian Ocean Beach Hotels & Resorts To enquire about booking this Zanzibar, Stone Town hotel, please Contact Us!
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