At Ngalawa Hotel & Resort, guests relax by tranquil pools in lush gardens. Enjoy massages, a sauna, and local dishes at two on-site restaurants. Practical amenities include free WiFi, gym access, and a conference center.
Bububu is home to Ngalawa Hotel & Resort. Kidichi Spice Farm and Sea Cliff Golf Course are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Masingini Forest and Forodhani Gardens. Siso Spice Farm and Kariakoo Amusement Park are also worth visiting. Take the opportunity to explore the area for water adventures such as scuba diving. Visit our Bububu travel guide
Bububu, Kihinani, Bububu
What's nearby
Slave Market
14 min drive - 14.1 km
Forodhani Gardens
15 min drive - 14.5 km
Masingini Forest
6 min drive - 3.8 km
Siso Spice Farm
7 min drive - 4.5 km
Kidichi Spice Farm
7 min drive - 4.5 km
Getting around
Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)
47 min drive
Restaurants
Forodhani Park
13 min drive
Lukmaan Restaurant
13 min drive
House of Karafuu
13 min drive
Secret Garden
13 min drive
Livingstone Beach Restaurant
13 min drive
About this property
Ngalawa Hotel & Resort
Upscale hotel
Take advantage of a garden, dry cleaning/laundry services and a bar at Ngalawa Hotel & Resort. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna or hot tub, and indulge in a massage. At the two on-site restaurants, enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and local cuisine. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities, such as a gym and a conference centre.
Other perks include:
2 outdoor pools and a children's pool, along with sunloungers and pool umbrellas
Free self-parking
Airport pick-up service (surcharge), babysitting (surcharge) and 1 meeting room
Barbecues, luggage storage and concierge services
Room features
All 58 rooms boast comforts, such as private pools and premium bedding, in addition to perks, such as laptop-friendly workspaces and air conditioning.
Other conveniences in all rooms include:
Bathrooms with separate baths/showers and free toiletries
Flat-screen TVs with premium channels
Wardrobes/cupboards, electric kettles and daily housekeeping
24-hour airport pick-up shuttle on request for a surcharge
Area shuttle (surcharge)
Free self parking on site
Limited on-site self parking
Food and drink
2 restaurants
A bar/lounge
Things to do
2 outdoor pools
Children's pool
Gym
Hot tub
Sauna
Family friendly
2 outdoor pools
Babysitting (surcharge)
Children's pool
Private pool
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Luggage storage
Safe at front desk
Guest services
Concierge services
Dry cleaning/laundry service
Housekeeping (daily)
Tour and ticket assistance
Business services
Conference centre
Meeting room
Outdoors
Barbecue grill
Garden
Pool loungers
Pool umbrellas
Spa
2 treatment rooms
Massage
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Front entrance ramp
No lift
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible gym
More
Designated smoking areas
Room amenities
Bedroom
Premium bedding
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Separate bathtub and shower
Towels provided
Entertainment
Flat-screen TV with premium cable channels
Private pool
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Electric kettle
Free bottled water
Limited room service
More
Air conditioning
Desk
Free daily newspapers
Iron/ironing board on request
Laptop workspace
Safe
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are not available
Payment types at the property
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
A tax is imposed by the city: USD 5.00 per person, per night
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
Optional extras
Airport shuttle fee: USD 20 per vehicle (maximum occupancy 6)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
We should mention
This property does not have any lifts
Property is also known as
Ngalawa Hotel Resort Bububu
Ngalawa Hotel Resort
Ngalawa Bububu
Ngalawa Hotel & Resort Hotel
Ngalawa Hotel & Resort Bububu
Ngalawa Hotel & Resort Hotel Bububu
Frequently asked questions
Does Ngalawa Hotel & Resort have a pool?
Yes, this property has 2 outdoor pools and a children's pool.
How much does it cost to stay at Ngalawa Hotel & Resort?
As of 8 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Ngalawa Hotel & Resort on 1 Apr 2026 start from ฿2,619, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
Is Ngalawa Hotel & Resort pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Ngalawa Hotel & Resort?
Self-parking is free at this property.
What time is check-in at Ngalawa Hotel & Resort?
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; check-in end time: 10:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.
What time is check-out at Ngalawa Hotel & Resort?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Does Ngalawa Hotel & Resort provide a shuttle to the airport?
Yes, there's a shuttle from the airport to the hotel that runs on request. A fee of USD 20 per vehicle applies.
Where is Ngalawa Hotel & Resort located?
Situated in Bububu, this beach hotel is within 3 miles (5 km) of Siso Spice Farm, Masingini Forest and Kidichi Spice Farm. Sea Cliff Golf Course and Livingstone's House are also within 9 miles (15 km).
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Reviews
Ngalawa Hotel & Resort Reviews
6.4
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
8.6
Cleanliness
7.6
Amenities
7.6
Staff & service
7.4
Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 6 out of 20 reviews
10 - Excellent
6
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 20 reviews
8 - Good
5
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 20 reviews
6 - Okay
2
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 20 reviews
4 - Poor
1
Rating 2 - Terrible. 6 out of 20 reviews
2 - Terrible
6
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Robert
13 Jan 2025
Disliked: Amenities
Staff seem to do the best they can despite limitations, very picturesque in itself however was told to get cash to pay for food and expenses as their card machine was not working.
The best Gym I found in an hotel (even a/c didn't work) . The room was enormous, clean and quiet. The Road for getting there Is in bad conditions, as the standard of the Island, excerpt main roads. Breakfast Is simple but good enaugh. Staff very helpful, a nearby beach Is very "authentic" with few europeans. Good experience.
The stay was very lovely compared to the surrounding parts of Zanzibar. You sometimes forgot there was a world outside the resort. The staff was very respectful and helpful. Grisham in particular was very professional, reliable, well-spoken with English, and was able to meet all our requests (including having breakfast made earlier than normal for our flight) with a smile. The food was good, and BiBi's restaurant is a short drive away if you desire something else.
FOR UPPER MANAGEMENT:
The executive suite was extremely spacious, but the fridge didn't open or seem to be on for us. The whole toilet tips over if you lean to the left, and the bidet pressure is WAY too strong. The shower stall leaks water, and it would be nice to have an actual dinner table since the room has the space.
Lastly, give Grisham a PROMOTION! That man made our experience 10x better than it would've been without his help. If ever in Zanzibar again, i would stay here knowing I'd be in good hands!
I would not recommend this at all.
The clerk asked us to pay city tax up front and in cash, plus more than the amount invoiced by Expedia and government regulated amount.
Room was filthy and dysfunctional. Had to be moved, but that wasn’t really that great.
There did not seem to be guests other than us. The pool seemed to be filled by the children of one of the employees.
Although the description says bar and breakfast, there is no bar or alcohol served. The staff offered to go and buy some for us but we had to pay them in cash. The food we ordered, took 2 and a half hours, it was good but absolutely ridiculous.
As far as breakfast, nothing just a large pot of coffee.
Everything about this place seems like it a front for something or just part of the Truman show.
May have been something at one time, but that time has gone. Avoid it, like they avoid cleaning and providing the service they advertise.
Stayed in Ngawala over New Year for 4 nights. Although I was advised that the hotel was build over year and a half ago it still was missing a lot of basic stuff. The Executive Suite that I've rented was a top class with really wonderful finishes and commodities etc. unfortunately had to go to reception and ask for basic stuff to be brought to my room. The following items were missing: Kettle, toilet brush, hangers, batteries in the safe, rubbish bin. One thing really annoyed me was that after requesting batteries for the safe I was advised that I will get them the next day only. After leaving all the values and quite large sum of cash inside the safe unlocked went into hotel restaurant to have a diner with my coleague. This is when the things really turned from bad to worse. After ordering spaghetti Carbonara I ended-up waiting for over half on hour and only then the waiter turned-up and advised that they had no pasta. To top it-up my colleagues chicken was served with cold chips. We ended up paying for our beer and leaving the place with empty stomachs. After that we managed to get some pizza and upon returning to my suite I've noticed that someone was in my room while I was having a dinner as the curtains were closed. When querying the following day in reception I was advised that mosquito spraying staff has entered my room last evening. Ended-up giving a lecture to receptionist about who can enter my room without my permission. Overall really disappointed with service
Richard
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2017
2/10 Terrible
Gerhard
5 Jan 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Das Zimmer war sehr gut, aber am 1. Abend kein kaltes Wasser in der Dusche und Waschbecken, es kam nur heißes Wasser, wir konnten nicht duschen, sonst hätten wir uns verbrüht. Ab dem 2. Tag kein warmes Wasser mehr. In der Badewanne kam warmes Wasser, aber man kann nicht auf die Brause umschalten. Nach der Spülung lief das Wasser hinten aus der Toilette und ins Zimmer. War für 3 Personen gebucht aber nur für 2 vorbereitet. Trotz Beschwerde keine Änderung.
Very nice and comfy beds, big rooms with high ceilings and bathtub.
Unfortunatly the breakfast crew does not speak english, nor do they know to be on time. Also be ware of the beach boys roaming around the hotel wanting to «help» you but as a game older than father time just wants your money.
The staff is absolutely nice and attentive to your needs. All the issues are solved within the minutes. The pools are always clean. Our room was spacy and nicely cleaned every day. The breakfast choice is excellent. The menu is good though sometimes you had to wait longer than expected. The beach is within a few minutes but the access is under reconstruction yet. The place is nice overall. Four stars :)
Je ne sais par où commencer!
J'ai vraiment aimé mon séjour dans cet hôtel. La plage se trouve à 5 minutes à pieds et il est relativement bien situé.
L'hôtel est très calme et très beau avec 3 grandes piscines, il ressemble à un petit village. Il y'a beaucoup de verdure, c'est très apaisant. La nourriture est bonne.
Tout le personnel est poli, accueillant, aimable et au service de sa clientèle et toujours avec le sourire.
L'hôtel est très propre, la chambre était nettoyée tous les jours. Elle est spacieuse, lumineuse avec une moustiquaire au dessus du lit.
A chaque étage, un espace fauteuil est aménagé, c'est très confortable ainsi que tout le reste du mobilier de l'hôtel.
Je voyageais seule et me sentir en sécurité était important. Je me suis sentie à l'aise de la première à la dernière seconde.
Je vous recommande fortement l'hotel, vous ne serez pas décus. J'y retournerai quand je reviendrai à Zanzibar! Encore merci pour tout!!
Établissement très propre le personnel hyper gentil, roberto est un excellent réceptionniste, les 3 piscine de l’hôtel sont magique , hôtel isolé et calme très bien pour se détendre
nice room but, bath leaked, shower, leaked, toilet leaked, badly built, neglected, dining room minimum 2 HOUR wait AFTER placing order then often the incorrect food is brought to the table e.g order was a hamburger, received grilled kingfish. Alcohol is allowed but not sold on premises - this should be stated up front - no shops nearby.
Laundry took 3 days to get back - only after I chased it 4 times and then some items were incorrect.
Getting a pool towel while at the swimming pool is also near impossible.
No beach to speak of - photos are misleading.
You should remove them from your site if you value your reputation!