The historic Tembo House Hotel stands on the seafront in the very centre of Stone town, some 10-15 minute’s drive from Zanzibar international airport. Beautifully renovated, the modern hotel looks out over the bay, with its own sandy beach. Enjoying one of the finest locations on the island, it is ideally placed for walking tours of the town. Furnished in traditional Swahili style, it features a central courtyard with gardens and fountain and a broad seaview terrace. The hotel has its own beach and a seafront swimming pool, and internet cafe.  Originally built as the American Consulate in 1834, in 1884 Tembo House become the premises of Cowasjee Dinshaw and Partners, one of the famous trading companies operating in the western Indian Ocean. It is also next door to the former British Consulate where Dr. Livingstone's body was brought back to in 1874. In 1930 Mahatma Gandhi came to stay here with the Cowasjee Dinshaw Brothers.

Location

Tembo House is located in Stone Town, the capital of Zanzibar, the ‘spice island’, which is part of Tanzania, and is one of East Africa’s most famous  Indian Ocean beach resort destinations. The hotel stands in Stone Town, Zanzibar’s main city, which is also an ancient Swahili settlement and East Africa cultural centre. The hotel is a short drive from the numerous beach resort options of the east coast.

Accommodation

The hotel offers 37 rooms, each offering a differing array of antique furniture and ornaments. All are air-conditioned and have ensuite bathrooms (laundry, room service). Some have balconies overlooking either the beach or the swimming pool. The hotel has its own swimming pool.

Dining and bars

The Bahari Restaurant offers both local and international choices. Meals can also be served on the private terraces of the rooms.

Conference and event facilities

The hotel has a conference room and will be happy to quote for small meetings and social gatherings. Tanzania incentives can also be arranged in Stone Town or the surrounding Tanzania beach resort venues.

Weddings and honeymoons

This hotel makes an ideal Tanzania wedding destination. The hotel also offers a honeymoon suite, while all the attractions of a romantic beach resort lie just a short drive away.

Child-friendly facilities

The hotel welcomes children and will be pleased to supply additional beds.

Activities

Water sports (swimming, snorkelling, sea kayaking, diving, kite-surfing, wind-surfing, sailing and more), and dhow trips The hotel can also arrange cultural visits to fishing villages, dhow workshops and Tanzania artisans markets.

Cultural activities around Stone Town

The heart of Zanzibar, Stone Town is the only functioning historical city in East Africa and is much the same today as it was 200 years ago. A city within a city, Stone Town is the oldest section of Zanzibar Town, and is made up of winding lanes and unique stone houses, many of which feature magnificent carved doors and overhanging fretwork balconies. Places of cultural interest in Stone Town and around include: the Portuguese Fort, Sultan’s Palace, old Dhow Port, Old Slave Market, Zanzibar House of Wonders, Stone Town Old Dispensary, Livingstone’s House, slave caves/slave market, The Hamamni Bath, The National Museum of Zanzibar, The Chukwani Palace, Jozani Forest (the last sanctuary of the red colobus monkey in East Africa), Mtoni Palace and Maruhubi Palace ruins, and the Persian Baths of Kidichi.

The Spice Tour

Most hotels offer access to the Spice Tour, a tour of the spice-growing fields and orchards of East Africa’s most famous spice exporter, which lie just outside Stone Town. Typically lasting half a day, the tours usually end up with shopping for spices and oils, or a visit to the slave caves and beach resort options.

Jozani Forest Tour

The Jozani Forest Reserve is the last sanctuary in the world for the rare red colobus monkey, which is endemic to this East African island. 35 kms from Stone Town, the reserve is also home to other key East Africa species including Syke's monkey's, bush pigs and nocturnal Zanzibar leopards. Jozani has an excellent nature trail and the guides are well trained and informative.