A Honeymoon Suite with Private Pool in Zanzibar, Made for Two
Escape to a suite where the terrace is as much a room as the bedroom behind it. The honeymoon suite with private pool that Zanzibar couples search for exists at TOA Hotel & Spa Zanzibar, an oceanfront property in Pongwe: 60 square metres, a 45 square metre terrace, and a private swimming pool facing the ocean.
The Honeymoon Suite is designed for couples and accommodates up to two adults. That is the whole brief, and the room follows it closely. There is no sofa-bed arrangement and no family configuration to work around. The space, the terrace and the pool are all arranged around two people.
Stepping Onto the Terrace: 45 Square Metres and a Pool of Your Own
Most of what sets this suite apart happens outdoors. The terrace measures 45 square metres, large enough to treat as a living space rather than a place to stand with a coffee. The private swimming pool sits on it, facing the Indian Ocean, so a swim does not involve a walk, a towel queue or a shared deck.
Think of the terrace as the day’s second room. Morning tea can be made in the suite (an electric kettle and coffee and tea-making facilities are standard) and carried outside. An afternoon can disappear between the water and the shade.
Inside the Room: What Is Already There When You Arrive
Step back through the doors and the suite works the way a well-planned room should. The in-room details listed for TOA Hotel & Spa rooms are practical ones:
- Air conditioning for the hours when the sun is at its height
- A spacious shower room
- A seating area and a working desk
- A Smart TV
- A mini-fridge and a safe
- An electric kettle with coffee and tea-making facilities
- Wi-Fi
Rooms at the property come with king-size or twin beds. The desk is a small detail but a useful one. It means that a quick email can be dealt with at a table instead of from the bed, and then the laptop can be closed for the rest of the trip.
If a Pool Is Not the Only Thing You Want: Other Suites on the Oceanfront
The Honeymoon Suite is the answer for two adults who want a private pool above all. TOA Hotel & Spa has 101 rooms and suites, ranging from about 35 m² to 60 m², and several of the larger suites suit slightly different ideas of a honeymoon, or a trip with extra company.
- Royal Suite: 60 square metres with a 60 square metre balcony and an outdoor Jacuzzi facing the ocean. It accommodates up to two adults with two children and a baby.
- Suite with Sea View: 60 square metres, with a private balcony that includes a hot tub overlooking the beach. There are 6 suites of this type, sleeping up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
- Suite with Direct Pool Access: a ground-floor suite of 60 square metres with a large terrace and a direct step from room to pool. There are 6 of these, sleeping up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
The distinction is simple. The Honeymoon Suite gives you a pool that belongs only to your stay. The Royal Suite and the Sea View suite trade the pool for a Jacuzzi or hot tub, and the Direct Pool Access suite puts the pool at your door but within a resort that has pools for everyone. For honeymooners who are also bringing a child or a friend, the choice often settles itself.
Beyond the Terrace: Pongwe, White Sand and the Indian Ocean
TOA Hotel & Spa sits at 12 Pongwe Road, Pongwe, adjacent to a beach of white sand and Indian Ocean water. Private beach access is provided directly from the property. A private pool is a pleasure in itself, but the shoreline is close enough that you can alternate between the two, a swim in your own water in the morning and a walk on the sand later.
The property has more than one pool, along with sun decks, shade cabanas and quiet solarium decks, for the days when you would like some company or a different view. It also has a swim-up pool bar with crafted cocktails, which is a good reason to leave the terrace for an hour at sunset.
Dinners for Two: Under the Stars or at the Beach Table
Honeymoon evenings tend to be remembered for their dinners, and the setting here is the beach. Beach dinners are held on Tuesday, which is Swahili Night, and on Saturday, a barbecue with live entertainment. For something quieter, a private beach dinner under the stars can be arranged with prior reservation, so mention it when you book rather than on the night.
Coconut Restaurant serves Indian Ocean cuisine and international classics. Breakfast is a daily buffet from 7:00 to 10:00 am, lunch runs from 12:30 to 2:30 pm, buffet-style or à la carte, and dinner from 7:00 to 9:30 pm, also buffet or à la carte. Dietary needs are catered for: custom vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals are available, alongside fresh tropical fruit and organic seafood.
Slow Afternoons at Raha Spa
Raha Spa is the on-site place to spend an afternoon together. It offers custom wellness treatments, massage therapies and beauty rituals, including deep tissue and Swahili massages and exfoliating spice scrubs. The ingredients are organic coconut oil and harvested cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon, the same spices that Zanzibar is known for. The spa also has a steam room and a sauna.
It is open daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Advance reservations are recommended, and guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their treatment.
Marrying Here, or Arriving Already Married
Some couples come to TOA Hotel & Spa Zanzibar after the wedding, and some come to hold it. The hotel offers wedding planning services, including personal wedding planning, a dedicated wedding concierge, ceremony and reception settings, floral arrangements, décor, photography, music, entertainment, and spa and beauty services. Fine dining and custom menus are available for the celebration itself.
Beachfront and outdoor settings, surrounded by tropical gardens and views of the Indian Ocean, are available for events. If a wedding and a honeymoon will run together, the Honeymoon Suite is a natural place to end the day.
Planning Your Honeymoon Stay in Pongwe
The hotel is approximately 48 kilometres from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, about 1 hour 15 minutes by road. The 24-hour concierge manages airport transfers, spice farm tours, ocean safaris and Stone Town visits, so the first conversation to have is about your arrival time.
Once you have settled in, the island is worth a day or two. A guided spice tour passes through villages and plantations and includes tasting tropical fruits. Stone Town (Mji Mkongwe) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, and Prison Island is a 30-minute boat ride from the shore, passing the Stone Town skyline. From Fumba, a traditional sailing dhow goes in search of dolphins and snorkelling in Menai Bay, Zanzibar’s largest marine reserve. To reserve, write to [email protected] or call +255-772-222-999.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Honeymoon Suite at TOA Hotel & Spa Zanzibar have its own private pool?
Yes. The Honeymoon Suite at TOA Hotel & Spa in Pongwe, Zanzibar, includes a private swimming pool facing the ocean, set on a 45 square metre terrace. The suite itself is 60 square metres and is designed for couples.
How many people can stay in the Honeymoon Suite?
The Honeymoon Suite accommodates up to two adults. If you are travelling with children or friends, the Royal Suite sleeps up to two adults with two children and a baby, and the Sea View and Direct Pool Access suites each sleep up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
How far is TOA Hotel & Spa from Zanzibar airport?
The hotel is approximately 48 kilometres from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, which is about a 1 hour 15 minute drive. The 24-hour concierge can manage airport transfers.
Can we have a private dinner on the beach during our honeymoon?
Yes. A private beach dinner under the stars can be arranged at TOA Hotel & Spa with prior reservation. The hotel also holds group beach dinners on Tuesday (Swahili Night) and Saturday (a barbecue with live entertainment).
Which suites have a Jacuzzi or hot tub instead of a private pool?
The Royal Suite has an outdoor Jacuzzi facing the ocean on a 60 square metre balcony. The Suite with Sea View has a hot tub on its private balcony overlooking the beach, and there are 6 suites of that type.
Is the Wi-Fi in the suites fast enough to work or stream?
Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi at 250+ Mbps is available throughout the resort, including the guest rooms. Rooms at TOA Hotel & Spa also have a working desk if you need to get something done.
What are the gym hours at TOA Hotel & Spa?
The gym is open from 0600 to 2200 hours. It is a modern, fully equipped fitness centre on site.
