Kizikula, a small hotel in Tanzania, United Republic of

Design Magazine Darlings

On the remote southern coast of Zanzibar, only steps from the Indian Ocean, kizikula is an architect-designed eco-hotel, built of locally quarried coral limestone and Tanzanian Mninga wood, that features nine unique and independent lodges. The creation of Mumbai-based Case Design architects, the private bungalows are connected by communal landscaped gardens designed by Andy Hamilton, in collaboration with two local permaculture firms.

Open-plan and minimal, these remote residences have appeared in Wallpaper and Architectural Digest celebrating their simple, sophisticated use of local wood and stone, and for their interiors crafted with softly faded plasters from pigments sourced in Zanzibar City’s historical Stone Town. Contemporary furnishings are by Casegoods. Gardens engulf the bungalows, hiding communal terraces, yoga decks, and wellness platforms among lush jackfruit, tamarind and soursop trees, palms, and blooming shrubs. A restaurant serves a grown-on-site, organic, Swahili-centric menu. Fine sand footpaths wind their way to a 60-foot pool and outdoor cocktail lounge with ocean views. Access to the Indian Ocean is via a rock-walled cave passage.

AROUND

kizikula sits on four seaside acres outside Kizimkazi, a fishing village on the southern coast of Zanzibar that was once a fortified city and is home to the country’s oldest mosque. It’s a destination for swimming with bottlenosed dolphins from its Dimbani Beach. The Menai Bay Conservation area and the Zanzibar Butterflly Center are both within 11 miles of the property, and Kizimkazi offers several dining options in town to complement the property’s on-site, garden-to-table restaurant and daily breakfast service. Massages, a gym, and yoga decks mean wellness is a focus of the property. There are also bike rentals, snorkeling, cooking classes, diving trips and fishing trips available for an additional fee.

Zanzibar’s Jozani Forest, less than 50 kilometers from the property, is the island’s last indigenous forest and wetland, rich with rare tree and fern species. Beyond Zanzibar’s stunning beaches and lush inland, the island’s main draw is Stone Town, the island’s pulsing ancient center of winding alleys, Arabic architecture, and colorful spice, textile, and food markets. A night-time food market, Forodhani, opens each afternoon in Stone Town, serving an array of local street-food delicacies from seafood to naan breads, grilled meats and vegetables, and fried potato balls. The Palace Museum in Stone Town’s waterfront area was built to house the Sultan in the 19th century, and a 17th-century Old Fort is also located along the seafront next to the Forodhani Gardens.