Reef & Beach Resort
Our verdict
Reef & Beach is the resort we suggest for friends travelling together and for anyone who wants a big pool and a swim-up room at a fair price. It's on the south-east coast between Jambiani and Makunduchi, with more than 600 m of seafront, a 300 m jetty with a bar and sun deck, a pool of more than 1,200 m², 35 swim-up rooms and a wooden walkway through a mangrove forest to the beach. About 1 in 3 of our bookings here were groups of three or more adults. It's a four-star of 222 rooms, sold from bed and breakfast to all-inclusive, and its packages are among the better-value all-inclusives we sell. The trade-offs: it's about 1 hour 20 minutes from the airport, the east coast's tide rises and falls by up to 4 m, and there's a play area but no kids club. For a kids club and a beach where the tide matters least, Riu Jambo in Nungwi. For a natural pool at low tide on the same coast, Karafuu.
Best for
- friends travelling together: about 1 in 3 of our bookings here were groups of three or more adults
- swim-up rooms: 35 of them, for adults and children 12 and over
- pool lovers: a pool of more than 1,200 m² and a 335 m² oceanfront pool
- the quieter south-east coast
- value: all-inclusive packages from under R20,000 with flights (November 2026 prices)
At a glance
| Category | 4-star (the group's own grading) |
|---|---|
| Owner | Paradise & Wilderness Group, a Dutch family-owned Tanzanian hotel and safari company |
| Location | South-east coast, between Jambiani and Makunduchi |
| Airport transfer | 63 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Rooms | 222, from rooms and suites to bungalows, swim-up rooms and one villa, 39 to 78 m² |
| Meal plans | Bed and breakfast, half board, full board or all-inclusive |
| Restaurants | Makuti (buffet), Peponi (oceanfront), Bahari, the Mango Beach Club (wood-fired pizza) |
| Pools | A pool of more than 1,200 m², a 335 m² oceanfront pool and a children's splash pool |
| Jetty | 300 m, with a bar, sun loungers and a sun deck |
| Kids | Play area and splash pool; no kids club |
| Spa | Spa, wellness and hammam centre; gym |
Which room to book
- Friends sharing: a Garden Room or an Ocean Front Room (51 m², 15 and 41 of them) has a king-size bed and a double sofa bed, for up to 4.
- Swim-up: a Garden Swim-Up or an Ocean Front Swim-Up Room (51 m², 12 and 23 of them), on the ground floor with steps into the pool, for up to 4. Children under 12 can't stay in them.
- Couples: a Suite Room Ocean View (41 m², up to 3), or an Ocean Bungalow (39 m², 10 of them), free-standing under thatch with a sea view.
- Honeymoons: the Villa (76 m², only one), on the seafront with a private patio, a bedroom with its own bathroom and a living room.
- Families with young children: a Family Room Mangrove/Pool View (78 m², up to 6) or a Family Room Ocean View (52 m², up to 5, with a separate small room with bunk beds). Both need at least 4 guests, and there are only seven in all.
- Value: a Standard Room (45 m², 8 of them, for 2), with partial pool views.
Children
- No kids club. There's a kids' play area and a children's splash pool.
- Swim-up rooms aren't for under-12s. Families with young children book a family room or a suite.
- Family rooms: seven, for 4 to 6 guests, with bunk beds.
- Our view: fine for families who live by the pool; about 1 in 5 of our bookings here were families. With children who want a club, Riu Jambo, The Mora or Karafuu.
Meal plans
Reef & Beach sells bed and breakfast, half board, full board or all-inclusive. Our current packages are all-inclusive, and that's what we'd suggest here. Peponi, the oceanfront restaurant, is described by the hotel as its all-inclusive restaurant.
What else to budget for:
- Zanzibar's infrastructure tax: USD 5 per person per night at the hotel;
- the spa and hammam, and excursions.
The fact sheet doesn't list what the all-inclusive covers (drinks, hours, which restaurants). We send the current list with your quote.
Restaurants
- Makuti: the main restaurant, with a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Peponi: open and breezy, on the oceanfront, with Italian favourites at dinner.
- Bahari: an international menu at lunch and Indian dishes at dinner.
- Mango Beach Club: wood-fired pizza and drinks looking over the ocean.
- Bars: several, including the bar at the end of the 300 m jetty and pool bars.
Honest downsides
- A long transfer: 63 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes from the airport. The north coast is nearly two hours away.
- The tide. On this coast the sea can rise and fall by up to 4 m twice a day. High tide is best for swimming, says the hotel; at low tide you can walk out to the coral reef. The jetty and the big pools are the answer.
- No kids club, and no under-12s in the swim-up rooms.
- Few family rooms: seven in all, and they need at least 4 guests.
- The all-inclusive isn't published in detail. We confirm it in writing.
Reef & Beach Resort holiday packages
Packages from R17,904 per person, including flights from Johannesburg (prices checked 15 Nov 2026).
R500 off your holiday when you book with us by 31 December 2026.
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Reef & Beach Resort, Zanzibar: 5 nights with flights from Johannesburg, from R17,904 pps
From R17,904 per person - 5 nights, in Zanzibar, flights included & transfers included.
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Reef & Beach Resort, Zanzibar: 5 nights with flights from Johannesburg, from R18,140 pps
From R18,140 per person - 5 nights, in Zanzibar, flights included & transfers included.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Reef & Beach Resort in Zanzibar?
On the south-east coast, between the villages of Jambiani and Makunduchi, 63 km and about 1 hour 20 minutes by road from the airport.
Does Reef & Beach have swim-up rooms?
Yes, 35: 12 Garden Swim-Up and 23 Ocean Front Swim-Up Rooms, each 51 m² with a king-size bed and a double sofa bed, for up to 4. Children under 12 can't stay in them.
Is Reef & Beach all-inclusive?
You can choose bed and breakfast, half board, full board or all-inclusive. Our packages here are all-inclusive. We confirm the current all-inclusive list in writing before you book.
Is Reef & Beach good for families?
For families happy by the pool, yes: there's a play area, a children's splash pool and seven family rooms for 4 to 6. There's no kids club, and under-12s can't stay in the swim-up rooms.
Can you swim at low tide at Reef & Beach?
At low tide the sea retreats a long way on this coast and you can walk out to the reef. For a swim, use the 300 m jetty or the pools, which include one of more than 1,200 m². High tide is best for swimming off the beach.
Is Reef & Beach good for a group of friends?
It's the Zanzibar resort we suggest most for friends: about 1 in 3 of our bookings there were groups of three or more adults. Garden, Ocean Front and swim-up rooms take up to 4.
How much does a Reef & Beach holiday cost from South Africa?
Packages from R17,904 per person, including flights from Johannesburg (prices checked 15 Nov 2026). We quote flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban, transfers, your room and meal plan in one price.
Reviewed by Marthinus Strydom, CEO, Exotic Vacations, 14 Nov 2026.