Hotel Riu Jambo
Our verdict
Riu Jambo is our first suggestion for families who want everything included and a beach in the north, where the tide matters least. It's on Nungwi beach at the northern tip of Zanzibar, about an hour from the airport. RIU opened it in 2022: 461 rooms, 24-hour all-inclusive, five pools including one for children, RIU Land for ages 4 to 7 and 8 to 12, and a wooden pier over the sea with restaurants and a bar. It stands where La Gemma dell'Est stood, a hotel we sold from 2005 until RIU bought and rebuilt it. The trade-offs: it's big and lively, it's four-star rather than five, and the spa and diving cost extra. Two more RIU hotels share the beach: Riu Palace Zanzibar, five-star and much smaller, and Riu Palace Swahili, for adults only. For a five-star family all-inclusive with a kids club from age 3, look at The Mora at Matemwe, where you plan swims around the tide.
Best for
- families with children aged 4 to 12 (RIU Land, in two age groups)
- 24-hour all-inclusive: meals, snacks and drinks at any hour
- swimming in the north, where the tide matters least
- a lively resort with entertainment and a weekly RIU party
- dinner over the water, on the hotel's pier
At a glance
| Category | 4-star (RIU's grading), opened 2022 |
|---|---|
| Location | Nungwi beach, at the northern tip of Zanzibar |
| Airport transfer | About an hour by road |
| Rooms | 461, 93 of them at ground level on the seafront |
| Meal plan | 24-hour all-inclusive |
| Restaurants | Maisha (the main buffet) and specialty restaurants including Italian and Asian; two on the pier over the sea |
| Bars | The Bahari bar on the pier, a lounge bar, a pool bar with swim-up bar, a beach snack bar |
| Pools | Four outdoor pools and a children's pool |
| Kids | RIU Land, ages 4 to 7 and 8 to 12 |
| Spa | Spa and wellness centre (treatments at a charge), gym, RIU Fit classes |
| Neighbours | Riu Palace Zanzibar and Riu Palace Swahili (adults only) on the same beach |
Which room to book
- Couples: a Double Room with sea view, or for less, a Double with lateral sea view (a side view of the sea).
- More space: a Superior Double, or a Double Superior with sea view.
- Families of four or more: a Family Room. Tell us the ages and we'll confirm how many it takes.
- Wake up by the beach: 93 rooms are at ground level on the seafront, set in steps so they don't block each other's view. Ask us for one.
- Riu Jambo's facilities are accessible for guests with disabilities, says the hotel.
Children
- RIU Land: the RIU kids club, with daily activities in two age groups, 4 to 7 and 8 to 12.
- Pools: a children's pool alongside the four main pools.
- Under 4: there's no club for babies and toddlers. For a kids club from age 3, look at The Mora or Karafuu.
- Teens: RIU Fit classes, water sports and the entertainment programme. There's no separate teens club.
- The beach: Nungwi, in the north, is the part of Zanzibar least affected by the tide (see our Zanzibar guide), which makes it easier with children.
Meal plans
Riu Jambo sells only all-inclusive, 24 hours a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks, activities and entertainment, at any hour. The specialty restaurants are part of it.
What's paid:
- the spa (treatments and massages);
- diving and motorised water sports, run by Scuba Caribe;
- excursions.
If you're comparing Zanzibar's all-inclusives, our Zanzibar all-inclusive guide sets out what each resort includes.
Restaurants
- Maisha: the main restaurant, a buffet with international food and a terrace.
- On the pier: two restaurants and the Bahari bar stand on a wooden structure over the sea, reached by a walkway. RIU opened them as an Italian restaurant and a fusion restaurant.
- Asian: Yunnan.
- In all: RIU now lists five specialty restaurants, including Italian, Asian and a gourmet restaurant.
- Bars: a lounge bar with a terrace, the Hakuna Matata pool bar with a swim-up bar, and Rafiki, a snack bar on the beach.
Honest downsides
- Big and busy. 461 rooms, and two more RIU hotels next door. Guests of all three come to the weekly RIU party here. For something quieter, Riu Palace Zanzibar has about 200 rooms.
- Four-star. The rooms and service are a step below RIU's Palace hotels. For five-star at a similar price, compare The Mora.
- The spa and diving are paid.
- No club under 4.
- Nungwi is the lively end of the island. For a quiet beach, the south-east coast is calmer: see Reef & Beach or Karafuu.
Hotel Riu Jambo holiday packages
Packages from R24,693 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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Riu Jambo, Zanzibar: 5 nights with flights from Johannesburg, from R24,693 pps
From R24,693 per person - 5 nights, in Zanzibar, flights included & transfers included.
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Riu Jambo, Zanzibar: 5 nights with flights from Johannesburg, from R25,870 pps
From R25,870 per person - 5 nights, in Zanzibar, flights included & transfers included.
Frequently asked questions
Is Riu Jambo good for families?
Yes. It's built for them: RIU Land for ages 4 to 7 and 8 to 12, a children's pool alongside four more, Family Rooms, and 24-hour all-inclusive. There's no club for children under 4.
Is Riu Jambo all-inclusive?
Yes, 24 hours a day: meals, snacks, drinks, activities and entertainment, including the specialty restaurants. The spa, diving and excursions are extra.
Can you swim at Riu Jambo at low tide?
Nungwi, in the north, is the part of Zanzibar least affected by the tide, so swimming off the beach is easier here than on the east coast. Riu Jambo also has five pools.
Is Riu Jambo the same hotel as La Gemma dell'Est?
No. RIU bought La Gemma dell'Est in 2019 and built Riu Jambo on the same plot, keeping some elements such as the structure over the sea. It opened in 2022. We sent clients to La Gemma dell'Est from 2005.
What's the difference between Riu Jambo and Riu Palace Zanzibar?
They're neighbours on Nungwi beach. Riu Jambo is four-star, big (461 rooms) and made for families, with RIU Land. Riu Palace Zanzibar is five-star, about 200 rooms, with no kids club listed. Both are 24-hour all-inclusive.
How far is Riu Jambo from the airport?
About an hour by road, to the northern tip of the island.
How much does a Riu Jambo holiday cost from South Africa?
Packages from R24,693 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.