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5.0
#2 of 14 lodges in Jambiani
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Driftwood beach lodge, in Jambiani on the South East coast of Zanzibar. With 11 rooms, that offers comfort after a long day on the beach and in the sun. Our bar personell are champions in making the best coctails to enjoy as the sun sets. Early morning strolls on the beach begins with the sun rising over the sea. Our restaurant offers a big variety of meals, their will be something for everyone, with different options, especially when staying longer, you will never get board with the menu. Daily specials and happy hour all day round. Jambiani is a favourite kite surfing destination, however local boat rides, fishing, diving and bicycle tours are available locally. On site managers provide a casual, comfortable, friendly environment for you to enjoy your Zanzibar holiday. Driftwood Beach Lodge is children friendly and offers a safe enviroment for them.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Ocean View
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Swahili
Location
Jambiani beach Plot 1246, Jambiani Tanzania
Driftwood Beach Lodge
96 reviews
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
3rd stay at driftwood and again definitely not our last. Kerry and brady ensure all guests new and old are welcomed with open arms , a huge smile , and nothing is to much trouble to make sure your stay in this little piece of paradise is somewhere you will never want to leave. The lodge is right on the beach but when the tide goes out the beautiful infinity pool is the perfect place to chill with a nice cold drink and enjoy the tranquility and relaxing atmosphere. The rooms are spotless, the restaurant is beautiful with great food and the bar area is a great place to sit with toes in the sand and enjoy the evenings with a drink. There is a dart board to enjoy for everyones use, dare you to challenge brady 😄. Thanks again kerry brady sue ernest teddy Rashid and all the staff ,see you soon x
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kerry Pollen, General Manager at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 09 Sept 2021
Cannot wait for you return Julie and Dean.... its always an absolute pleasure and a good laugh having you. See you again in a couple of months xxx Kerry, Brady and the Driftwood team
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We loved everything about Driftwood Beach Lodge. The location right on the beach is perfect, but what makes it so special are all the thoughtful touches; from the design of the rooms to the menu in the restaurant, everything is exactly what you need to make your stay relaxing. We loved the little things like; coffee available at 6am for sunrise if you want it; filter water on tap; excellent cocktails (what we would call 'a proper cocktail'!); a mix of local and international fresh food on the menu which tasted divine; excellent breakfasts with quality bacon and sausages; local tours and great cab drivers on tap; complementary beach towels and Kikoy's for the pool. We could go on...! The hosts Kerry & Brady are really lovely and always keen to help you out. We would highly recommend it as a wonderful, charming and romantic place to stay.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from KerryP1973, Owner at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 06 Jan 2020
So glad you loved your stay at our little rustic lodge in paradise as well as the good food and 'proper cocktails' :) Was an absolute pleasure having you stay and we do appreciate your recommendations for anyone looking down this neck of the woods (or rather beach) for a place to chill, relax and watch the days sail by. Take care and we hope to see you again one day in the future. Kind regards Kerry and Brady
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Brady & Kerry will be your obliging hosts. The bungalows were the best of the 4 places I stayed at while in Zanzibar. The bungalow had a safe, minibar, coffee & Tea station, 2 bottles of water provided daily and hot water. It was the only place I stayed at that had hot water.
There is coffee on tap all day in the bar, although it’s AfriKoffee, instant. It surprised me that a coffee growing country doesn’t offer ground coffee at breakfast. Now breakfast is great, you have the choice of continental or English breakfast inclusive. You can have any form of egg you choose be it poached, scrambled, fried or boiled. You also get bacon, sausage, beans & toast.
The swimming pool is a winner. Well maintained & clear water, unlike some other places I stayed at. The pool is a semi infinity pool, looking out to the ocean. Great place to relax & unwind.
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kerry Pollen, General Manager at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 05 Feb 2021
Hi Steve. So glad you enjoyed your stay with us...it was an absolute pleasure having you!! We hope that on your next trip off we will see you again at Driftwood. Take care. Kind regards Kerry, Brady & the Driftwood team
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Stayed at Driftwood for 4 days, rooms are lovely, 2 x fans to keep you cool, beach towels, kikoi's for use when swimming, fantastic setting, beautiful beach and views, swimming pool spotless. The fruit platter breakfast is gorgeous as are the 2 prawn dishes on the menu highly recommend as the prawns perfectly cooked, the staff are all lovely, efficient & attentive, tea & coffee available from 6am to see the sunset with. Kerry 7 Brady are great hosts and nothing was too much trouble, taxi's organised in a jiffy. Would love to go back to spend a bit more time, holiday just too short.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Location
Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from KerryP1973, Owner at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 07 Jan 2020
Hi Marie. We are thrilled that you enjoyed your short stay with us (yes, I agree.... next time it will have to be a little longer). Was an absolute pleasure having you and Adrian here. Thanks for a fun-filled, singing and dancing New Years eve with you lot, it was a hoot, "my turn to choose, my turn to choose" haha! Take care of yourselves and would love to have you back again sometime soon. KInd regards Kerry and Brady x
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Me and my team had our debut visit to Zanzibar and we all loved the location of this lodge, with views of the Indian Ocean and sandy beach.
The management led by Kerry and Brady plus all the team was always helpful to answer all our raising questions 😅.
We all liked the food 🥘, safari beer and Coconut 🥥 Juice.
I will surely recommend this lodge to my next clients because it’s prices are very affordable!
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kerry Pollen, General Manager at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 26 Jul 2021
So pleased to have had you and your tour group with us, I think for our first time working together all went pleasantly well. The families were a great group and we look forward to doing business with you again in the future. Regards, Kerry, Brady and the Driftwood team
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Absolutely amazing! The most gorgeous location on Jambiani beach, with delightful rooms and small, compact pool, bathing, bar and dining area. We really did not want to leave. The managers could not be more hands on, helpful and very friendly. The staff were lovely and the chef cooks all the food to order. Even if you don't stay here I would recommend passing by for drinks and food, including breakfast. It is very very reasonably priced compared to many places on the beach, is clean and enjoys great service from the bar and restaurant staff. We loved the proximity to the locals as well, including the children we met on the beach and the recommendations from Uschi on a great taxi and places to visit. Am reluctant to recommend as would like to keep it as a secret!
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Driftwood Beach Lodge, Other at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 07 Sept 2023
Thank you so much for these kind words, we loved having you here and sure miss you already. We will absolutly give the feedback to the staff as well
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For me this is the perfect Zanzibar beach Lodge: only a few bungalows which look new, very proper, directly on the beach but a bit elevated so that you are not bothered by the beach boys, 180 degree views over a beautiful stretch of beach and seaweed farms during low tide, full of village life. A cue but very usable infinity pool overlooking the beach, so precious in the hot midday hours. No big hotels in the close neighborhood but a good diving school (Nakupenda) in 200 meters. Very nice owners, really fun to hang around with them. Great food, never had a bad meal and nice choices. Very fair price for the quality delivered. I am surprised this is not booked out constantly. I always end up in Jambiani as it is so much quiter and more "normal" than Paje. Its still a village of locals and tourists are not so dominant here than in other places. End of November was a perfect time: hot but never too hot as the breeze was sooo good. And you get really dramatic skies which make great pictures. Stone Town/West Coast at the same time was suffocating. Not Jambiani - great climate. Snorkeling is not really worth it. This a place to hang around, admire the skies and the mesmerizing colors of the sea, stroll along the beach and the tidal zone, and maybe visit the Jozani forest. Not to be missed: a sunset evening at Kae Funk, half an hour drive away. What a cool place. If I come back to the East Coast I will not think twice and come back here.
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Date of stay: November 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Bingalows 1 and 2 are the best
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kerry Pollen, General Manager at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 11 Dec 2020
So glad that you enjoyed your stay with us here Stefan and that Julian got his diving in. Thank you for the beautiful pictures that you gave me....I will get busy with them as soon as I have a minute :) It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and we most certainly look forward to having you back again in the future. Take care, Best wishes and kind regards, Kerry, Brady and the Driftwood team.
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We loved our stay at Driftwood and wished we'd stayed longer!
The bar & restaurant staff (Teddy, Rashid & JJ) were super friendly and welcoming, and Anne very kindly helped us arrange day trips which was much appreciated (do the paddle boarding and snorkelling if you can!).
The food was delicious, as were the cocktails! Lovely place to relax with a sea view. It was great being able to swim in the pool with a sea view when the tide is out too.
The location was ideal to explore Jambiani, and you can walk along the beach to Paje if you enjoy a long stroll with beautiful sea views!
This felt like the ideal place to relax by the beach but also get a feel for local life (you're not stuck in an isolated resort like on other parts of Zanzibar).
Driftwood is a more rustic style which was what we wanted. Relaxing at a beach front hotel in a good location with very friendly staff and a lovely, relaxing atmosphere - it was amazing!
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you are looking for a laid back beach escape with stunning blue seas and wonderful food then you will love Driftwood.
Jambiani Beach is relatively quieter than other parts of the island, which suited us as there was no late music from open air bars etc. However you can easily get taxi's to busier spots.
The rooms are simply furnished but bright and airy, and ours opened right onto the beach. You can walk for miles along the beautiful sand and there are lots of places for watersports within walking distance, as well as other hotels and restaurants. However we mostly ate the lodge because the menu (and cocktails) were awesome!
In terms activities would highly recommend the snorkling experience with seafood BBQ lunch on a sand bar afterwards :)
We would highly recommend and can't wait to return!
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Driftwood Beach Lodge, Other at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 19 Sept 2023
Hi, thank you so much for these very kind words, we are really glad that you enjoyed your stay with us, we will really give the words to the staff members as well We really hope to see you soon
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I loved my stay at Driftwood! The managers Kerry & Brady were so friendly and the proximity to the beach is literally 20 steps away. Would highly recommend for travelers, couples and friends. There’s also a nice pool with a view for sunrise lovers.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kerry Pollen, General Manager at Driftwood Beach Lodge
Responded 29 Aug 2021
So glad that you enjoyed your stay with us at Driftwood. For next time you know where we are now. Stay safe and take care, Kerry, Brady and the Driftwood Team :)
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Hi there.
No we do not have tea/ and coffee in the rooms , but we have a central tea/ coffee/ hot chocolate station in the restaurant. Available from 6.30 to close.
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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