Zanzibar has a rich history and has been a melting pot of different cultures
and influences. From the Portuguese to the Chinese and the Oman people, there is
a huge variety of artistic history that has helped shape Zanzibar both as a
country and as a people.
Modern villas in Zanzibar can range in style dramatically. From small, simple
buildings with thatched roofs to grand buildings with red tiled roofs and
Portuguese arches. Unlike other regions in the world, where the villas are often
all of the same style, Zanzibar Villas are truly unique.
As I write this, I am sitting on a massive open space in a luxury villa with
views of the Indian Ocean. The roof is made of a thatch called "Makuti" and
rises 25 metres above me. A mixture of Dhow furniture and hand crafted wooden
ornaments create a real "African" feel. But even so, there are still elements of
other cultural influences. The traditional Zanzibar Arch, based on the
Portuguese arches, have been used throughout the villa and it adds a unique
hybrid of cultures that somehow feels right - it's unique a mixture that is
exclusive to Zanzibar.
As a result of the different styles in the villas, you will have a very
different experience when staying at each one. The design of the villa often
reflects the type of food and service you will receive when staying there. At
this Zanzibar villa for example, there is a definite African theme to the food
and a dedicated staff who are ready to drop everything to make your day just a
little more special.
So when looking to book a villa in Zanzibar, remember that the villas style
will have a big impact on the type of experience you will have there. They will
all be great experiences, and if you are lucky enough to visit Zanzibar more
than once, I would highly recommend that you give different villa styles a
try!
You might be wondering which villa I'm staying in at the moment -
unfortunately, my lips have to remain sealed for now as it is a new build which
is going to be unleashed to the market in the next few months, but reset
assured, once it is open to the public, I will be the first person to write
about this fantastic new Zanzibar Villa!
