All photos courtesy of Kizikula
Kizikula
Zanzibar, Tanzania
www.kizikula.com
Contact us and book with us to get these perks at Kizikula:
Upgrade to next room category, based upon availability at check-in
Guaranteed 2pm late check-out
Welcome treat in room on arrival
25 USD hotel credit per room, per stay
Nestled along the sleepy southwest coast of Kizimkazi, a quiet village on Zanzibar’s rugged edge, Kizikula rises as a humble retreat born from the dreams of two childhood friends. One carries the island’s blood in their veins, the other shares a youth forged in Dubai’s electric sprawl; together, they once fantasized about retiring amid Zanzibar’s serene shores. Decades ago, an early-career chance to claim this land sparked their vision, and now Kizikula takes shape—a scattering of simple guest houses, a pool, and a restaurant, a sanctuary for themselves, their loved ones, and wanderers seeking the island’s unspoiled calm.
Kizikula is more than a place to rest; it’s a communal home rooted in memory and intention. Set on a permaculture farm overlooking the Indian Ocean, its guest houses weave spaces for connection—open areas to meet fellow travelers—with just enough seclusion to soak in the sensual hum of nature: salt air, rustling leaves, and the sea’s gentle pulse. Each room, inspired by muses from Frank Ocean to Rei Kawakubo, hums with a personal touch, blending Zanzibari aesthetics with echoes of Burning Man, 90s Dubai, and African diasporas. It’s a retreat where simplicity meets soul, designed to slow time and stir the senses.
The land itself tells a story. The friends seized this coastal plot with youthful daring, letting it simmer until their vision ripened. Now, the farm blooms with herbs, vegetables, and fruit, free-range chickens cluck for eggs, and goats offer milk—ingredients that join seasonal bounty from Tanzania’s finest, like Masifio Farm’s highlands harvest, Pakacha’s organic yields, and YYTZ cashews. Coffee from Atom and Asili, bean-to-bar cocoa, and teas from the Tanzania Tea Collection fuel the day, while the restaurant celebrates Zanzibar’s flavors with a nod to local cultures. Pavilions invite yoga, meditation, and Movnat-inspired movement, grounding guests in body and place.
Kizikula’s heart beats in its details. The sea-facing pool and bar perch at the horizon, framing Kizimkazi’s legendary sunsets—blazes of amber and violet that melt into the night. Spacious rooftops stretch across the property, crafted for stargazing under a sky so vast it humbles. Inside, art, music—think Gilles Peterson, Meshell Ndeocello, J Dilla—and shelves of literature and film spark inspiration, drawing from influences as wide as Kiss FM’s heyday, Purple Magazine, and Helmut Lang’s quiet genius. It’s a space where nature and culture dance, where the ocean’s whisper meets the rhythm of a well-loved playlist.
This retreat is a gift from two friends to the world—a place to host their families when the island calls them home, and to welcome guests the rest of the year. Kizikula’s rugged charm lies in its setting: Kizimkazi’s untouched coast, where dolphins glide offshore and the horizon stretches free. It’s a haven for those craving tranquility, creativity, or a taste of Zanzibar’s soul, blending the founders’ eclectic lives into a retreat that feels both intimate and infinite. Here, amid the farm’s bounty and the sea’s embrace, old dreams find new life, offering a quiet corner of the island to simply be.