Imagery courtesy of Riu Hotels & Resorts.

Riu Hotels & Resorts has opened its second hotel in Zanzibar, a four-star, 461-room resort in the north of Unguja island.

Riu Jambo makes the most of its idyllic Nungwi beach location with a unique stilted structure that stretches out over the sea, housing the hotel’s dining services.

African influence

The latest opening is right next to the Riu Palace Zanzibar, which was refurbished in 2019 and has luxurious facilities.

The main building, with five and six floors, houses the hotel’s reception and most of the rooms. It boasts a spectacular façade with murals inspired by African culture, and several of its towers are crowned with masks.

Eco considerations

Sustainability and energy efficiency also play an important role in this building. The lobby is completely open-plan with natural cross ventilation and plenty of natural light thanks to numerous openings, which also allow customers to see different areas of the hotel. The main showpiece in this area is a large skylight in the middle of the lobby. Natural materials are used in the furniture, decoration, floors and coverings alike.

93 of the site’s 461 rooms are at ground level on the seafront, staggered so as to not obstruct views of the surrounding landscape. They are all fully equipped to ensure that customers enjoy maximum comfort during their stay. The rooms are decorated in earthy tones and wood once again plays a central role. This combination, along with paintings of typical Tanzanian scenes, is designed to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Dining on the water

The dining area’s stilted structure is an original wooden construction that is accessed by a walkway and stretches out over the sea. Two of the hotel’s three restaurants are located here — the Italian restaurant il Panzotto and the fusion restaurant Kulinarium,  as well as the Bahari bar.

The hotel also has an Asian restaurant, Yunnan, and the main restaurant, Maisha, with a terrace and international cuisine. Guests will also find the “Bongo Flava” lounge bar with a terrace and the “Hakuna Matata” pool bar with a swim-up bar, as well as “Rafiki”, a snack bar on the beach.

Riu Jambo features a total of five pools in its outdoor areas, one of which is exclusively for children, plus a spa area is located next to the gym.

The plot of the new establishment was previously home to the La Gema dell’Est hotel, which Riu bought in 2019. Certain elements of the previous hotel have been maintained, such as the spectacular stilted structure.

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