Kendwa sits on Zanzibar's northwest shore, where the sand runs white and the tide barely bothers to leave. Kilindi's three villas stand inside fifty acres of tropical garden behind a beachfront that stretches for half a kilometre, arched pavilions catching what breeze there is off the Indian Ocean. HUSH read the house rules: it takes no guests under eighteen. For two people who want a stretch of coast with almost nobody else on it.
The villas are built pavilion-style, arches framing a line of garden and then a line of sea, and there are three of them, which is why the beach in front never fills. Fifty acres of tropical planting sit between the rooms and the road, and the sand beyond runs half a kilometre before it meets anything else. There is a hot spring bath among the grounds, drawn when you want it rather than at a fixed hour, and the same stretch of shore is where the diving, fishing and canoeing start.
Kilindi Zanzibar sets a minimum age of 18 in its own house rules, read on 20 August 2026. A house whose rule drops below eighteen, or stops naming an age, is taken off HUSH — how every house is checked.
The house was originally designed for Benny Andersson of ABBA, and it still reads as a private commission rather than a resort plan: domes scattered across the garden, no corridors, no blocks, no view of the neighbours. Every pavilion has a butler attached to it, and one of the first things he does is ask where you would like to eat — the terrace, the beach, or your own veranda. Garden-view and ocean-view pavilions differ mainly in what you look at from the plunge pool. The two-bedroom villas add a second bedroom and a second pool, for two couples travelling together. The booking form takes two adults per villa; a third or fourth has to be arranged by telephone and carries an extra charge.
The middle of the property is a twenty-five-metre infinity pool with a waterfall bar built into the main pavilion above it and the Indian Ocean beyond. The Old Drift is the only restaurant, serving from seven in the morning until ten at night on a terrace over the water. The rate is all-inclusive and the house is specific about what that means: three meals, drinks, sundowners, paddleboards, kayaks and laundry, but not champagne, the private cellar wines or premium spirits. Away from the restaurant the kitchen will lay a floating breakfast in your own plunge pool, a five-course dinner on the veranda, a barbecue on the sand, or canapés on a traditional dhow going out at sunset.
Kilindi belongs to the Elewana Collection — sixteen lodges, camps and hotels across Kenya and Tanzania, under Minor Hotels — and it is run as a group house rather than an owner-run one: a central policies page, a loyalty scheme, a reservations desk that answers for the whole collection. It also sells a day pass, the Serenity Day Pass, to people staying elsewhere on the island; that buys a three-course lunch, drinks, and the run of the pool, bar, beach cabanas, kayaks and paddleboards for the day, booked in advance through a form on the site. Worth knowing in both directions: you can buy one yourself if you are passing, and if you are staying, the main areas are not guests-only. The whole property, all fifteen pavilions, can also be taken over by one group.
Movie nightsSpa packagesThemed dinnersThermal bathsWater sportsDiving (off-site)Fishing (off-site)Horse riding (off-site)Kayak or canoe (off-site)Snorkelling (off-site)Walking tours (off-site)Windsurfing (off-site)
3 nights · 2026-09-23 → 2026-09-26 · 2 adults
Asking the house for its rooms…
the friendly staff and the private villa with the private pool with the wonderful view
everything was perfect, but I have to give it to the staff… our Butler Liliane was the best always thinking ahead of our needs… the entire team is sweet and professional. the Management interacts with the guests and...
Stunning small hotel, with beautiful private villas and extremely kind and efficient staff. Our butler Salum made sure everything went smoothly during our stay, efficiently managed all of our requests, and even...
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These are the property’s reviews as our booking partner holds them. We have never collected a review, and none of this is written or checked by us.
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Everything below is the property’s own text and its own list, as it publishes them. We have not rewritten any of it.
Luxurious Pavilion-Styled Accommodation
Kilindi Zanzibar offers a unique experience with its pavilion-styled luxury accommodation, complete with private plunge pools and open-air living areas. The white washed villas provide a serene retreat with sea views and personalized service from a private butler.
Exquisite Dining Options
Indulge in a variety of dining experiences at Kilindi Zanzibar, from private dinners at your villa to beachfront meals or poolside dining. The culinary delights are sure to tantalize your taste buds. Don't forget to unwind at the shisha lounge for a relaxing evening.
Relaxing Spa Facilities
Pamper yourself at Kilindi Spa with rejuvenating massages and beauty treatments, set in a tranquil tropical garden. After a day of activities like fishing, snorkelling, and diving, a spa session is the perfect way to unwind and recharge.
Experience luxury and relaxation at Kilindi Zanzibar - book your stay now for an unforgettable getaway!
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Payment before arrival by bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions.
A deposit may be required at the property.
The house lists these as things to do from here. Where a line is marked off-site it is not on the property — a dive site, a trail, a stable. That mark is ours, not theirs.
It's drawn on the grounds rather than run to a schedule, so ask for it whenever the day calls for it — before the tide turns, or after everyone else has gone in for the night.
The half-kilometre of sand in front of the villas is also the starting point for diving, fishing and canoeing, so there's no transfer to a dive centre elsewhere on the island.
Breakfast can be eaten in the room instead of at a table, and the kitchen also runs a cooking class for anyone who wants to take a Zanzibari recipe home.
Rides are arranged directly from the property; fifty acres of garden between the villas and the road leaves room to ride without crossing another guest's path.
Answered from what the house itself publishes.
Yes. Kilindi Zanzibar, a beach hotel in Kendwa, Tanzania, sets a minimum age of 18 in its own house rules, so every guest on site is 18 or older. We last read the rule on 20 August 2026.
No. The minimum age at Kilindi Zanzibar is 18, and it is the house's own rule rather than a preference — anyone younger cannot book or stay. This page quotes where the rule is written.
Kilindi Zanzibar is a beach hotel in Kendwa, Tanzania. Its own site is https://www.kilindizanzibar.com/.
Check-in at Kilindi Zanzibar is from 02 PM and check-out is by 10 AM, as the house lists them.
No — Kilindi Zanzibar lists itself as not accepting pets. Ask the house before you book if it matters to your trip.
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Every house here is adults only: the property's own rules set a minimum age of eighteen. Whether a dog may come is on each page.
