Sultan Sands Island Resort & Spa - Zanzibar

Package price from, per person sharing

Zanzibar works particularly well when beach time is balanced with a little exploration, and the east coast provides a relaxed base away from Stone Town’s busier streets. This Zanzibar holiday package can combine return flights from South Africa, road transfers, accommodation and selected meals, leaving travellers free to divide their time between the Indian Ocean, spice-country excursions and the island’s historical sights.

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Property Overview

Sultan Sands Island Resort & Spa is a five-star beachfront resort on Kiwengwa’s east coast, sharing a 582-metre stretch of shoreline with sister property Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa. Its accommodation is arranged across traditional African-style rondavels and bungalow-style sections, surrounded by tropical gardens. The atmosphere is relaxed rather than formal, with a main pool, several dining venues and access to selected shared facilities next door. Families, couples and beach-focused travellers are all well catered for.

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How far is the nearest beach?

The resort sits directly on Kiwengwa Beach, one of Zanzibar’s best-known east-coast beaches, so there is no road transfer or walk required to reach the sand. Guests have immediate access to the Indian Ocean from the resort frontage, with sunbathing and water activities centred around the shared 582-metre coastline. As elsewhere on Zanzibar’s east coast, tidal changes can noticeably affect swimming conditions during the day. The beachfront setting remains one of the property’s strongest features.

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Distance from Airport

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the relevant international arrival point for travellers coming from South Africa. Sultan Sands is roughly 43 kilometres away by road, with a private transfer typically taking around 45 minutes to one hour depending on traffic and routing. The journey heads across the island to Kiwengwa on the east coast and requires no domestic flight or boat connection. Stone Town lies on the western side of the island and can also be visited by road during the stay.

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Rooms

The current official accommodation range includes Baobab, Pwani and Bahari rooms, all using Zanzibar-inspired décor and outdoor terrace or veranda space. Baobab rooms sit among the gardens, Pwani rooms occupy elevated landscaped areas, while Bahari rooms are positioned closest to the beach with ocean views. The resort’s current website lists 24 Baobab rooms, 81 Pwani rooms and 20 Bahari rooms, showing a larger inventory than older fact sheets. Air conditioning, Wi-Fi, safes and television are standard features across the categories.

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Food & Drink

Dining centres on Mwambao, the main restaurant serving buffet meals, live cooking and rotating themed dinners, including Zanzibar and Swahili nights. Kivuli sits directly on the beach with Far Eastern fusion dishes, while Cinnamon adds Indian cuisine and Mawimbi provides poolside drinks. Local entertainment accompanies some evenings, including traditional Zanzibar dancers and Taarab music. All Inclusive is currently available, with the precise inclusions and access to à la carte venues depending on the booked plan.

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Experiences & Activities

The resort combines beach activities with access to a broader programme shared with Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa. Guests can arrange kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, snorkelling, diving, fishing, dhow cruises and other ocean-based experiences, while tennis and a gym add land-based options. Cultural and sightseeing excursions include Stone Town, spice tours, Jozani Forest, Prison Island and slave caves. A kids club for ages 3 to 12 also gives families a dedicated programme during the stay.

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SPA & Wellness

Oasis Spa is shared with the neighbouring Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa and sits close to the beachfront. It offers a range of massages and beauty treatments delivered by trained therapists, giving Sultan Sands guests a dedicated wellness option without the hotel operating a separate full-scale spa of its own. The wider wellness offer also includes access to an air-conditioned gym. This is a useful complement to the resort’s active programme, although the spa itself is part of the shared sister-property infrastructure.