TOA Hotel & Spa Zanzibar: Inside the Rooms and Suites in Pongwe
TOA Hotel & Spa is an oceanfront resort at 12 Pongwe Road, Pongwe, Zanzibar, with 101 rooms and suites. The rooms are the clearest way into its character. They run from approximately 35 m² to 60 m², and the balcony is treated as part of the room rather than an afterthought. Some open onto gardens, some face the sea, and the suites add private pools, a Jacuzzi or a hot tub. Here is how each is made and what it is like to be inside one.
Rooms at TOA Hotel & Spa Zanzibar: Space First, Then Views
Start with the numbers, because they say a lot. The smallest room at TOA Hotel & Spa is the Superior Room, at 35 m², and it comes with a 15 m² balcony overlooking the garden or the pool. A balcony that size is more than a place to stand. It is outdoor floor space with room for a seat and a slow morning. Inside, the room is modern, with either a king-size bed or two twin beds, so friends and couples can both be accommodated.
Step up to the Deluxe Room and the footprint grows to 45 m², with a 20 m² balcony and garden or sea views. The bed choice is the same, king-size or twin. Both categories are planned around people travelling together. The Superior Room sleeps up to two adults with one child and a baby, and the Deluxe Room sleeps up to two adults with two children and a baby. If you are travelling as a young family, this is where the two room types separate: the Deluxe Room gives you the extra child space and the larger outdoor area.
A Superior Sea View Room is also part of the mix, with the same occupancy as the Superior Room: two adults, one child and a baby. If the sea matters more to you than extra floor area, it is the category to ask about.
What Is Inside Every Room
Across the room types, the everyday essentials are consistent, and they are the ones that decide whether a week feels easy or fiddly:
- Air conditioning and a spacious shower room
- A Smart TV, a seating area and a working desk
- A mini-fridge and a safe
- An electric kettle with coffee and tea-making facilities
- Wi-Fi, complimentary and high-speed at 250+ Mbps, across the guest rooms, public lounges and pool areas
The kettle and the desk are small details with big consequences. The first means a first coffee on your own balcony before anyone else is up. The second means a few emails can be answered without leaving the room. The seating area gives a family somewhere to regroup out of the sun in the middle of the day.
Suites With Private Pools, Jacuzzis and Hot Tubs
Every suite at TOA Hotel & Spa is 60 m², and each one is organised around a different way of using the outdoors.
The Honeymoon Suite is designed for couples and sleeps up to two adults. Its 45 m² terrace holds a private swimming pool facing the ocean. That proportion is the point: the terrace is nearly as large as three-quarters of the interior, so the pool and the view are the centre of the suite rather than a feature at its edge.
The Royal Suite swaps the pool for an outdoor Jacuzzi facing the ocean, set on a 60 m² balcony, which matches the suite’s interior in size. It accommodates up to two adults with two children and a baby, so it works for a family that wants a soak at the end of the day and the space to spread out.
The Suite with Sea View, of which there are 6, has a private balcony with a hot tub overlooking the beach. It sleeps up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children, which makes it a practical choice for two couples travelling together or a family with older children.
The Suite with Direct Pool Access is also a set of 6, on the ground floor, with direct access from the room to the pool and a large terrace. It has the same occupancy of 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. For children who want to be in the water the moment they wake up, a ground-floor door to the pool removes a good deal of morning logistics.
The Setting: An Oceanfront Property in Pongwe
TOA Hotel & Spa is oceanfront, adjacent to a beach with white sand and Indian Ocean waters, and the hotel provides direct private beach access. Relaxation spaces include quiet solarium decks, shade cabanas and sun decks, so there is a choice between full sun and a shaded afternoon.
Getting here is straightforward to plan. The hotel is approximately 48 kilometres from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, around 1 hour 15 minutes by road. The 24-hour concierge manages airport transfers, so your arrival can be arranged before you leave home.
Eating, Unwinding and the Rhythm of a Day
Meals follow a clear daily rhythm. Breakfast is a buffet from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. Lunch runs from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, buffet-style or à la carte, and dinner from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, buffet or à la carte. Coconut Restaurant serves Indian Ocean cuisine and international classics, with fresh tropical fruits, organic seafood, and custom vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals available.
Two evenings are held on the beach. Tuesday is Swahili Night, and Saturday is a beach barbecue with live entertainment. If you would prefer something quieter, a private beach dinner under the stars can be arranged with prior reservation. There are multiple bar areas, including a beach bar and a pool bar, with the pool bar’s swim-up counter serving crafted cocktails. A lobby cafe covers the hours in between.
Raha Spa offers custom wellness treatments, massage therapies and beauty rituals. Treatments include Deep Tissue and Swahili massages and exfoliating spice scrubs, and the ingredients are organic coconut oil with harvested cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon. A steam room and sauna are on site. The spa 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.
Beyond the Resort: Zanzibar Excursions Worth Planning
The concierge arranges spice farm tours, ocean safaris and Stone Town visits, which gives a stay a story beyond the beach. A guided spice tour passes through villages and spice plantations and includes tasting tropical fruits. It is a natural companion to the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon you may meet again in the spa.
Stone Town (Mji Mkongwe) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Prison Island is reached by a 30-minute boat ride from the shore, passing the Stone Town skyline on the way. For wildlife, Zanzibar’s only national park is a forest for observing Red Columbus monkeys, and it is described as suitable for visitors of any age. On the water, a traditional sailing dhow departs from Fumba to search for dolphins and snorkel in Menai Bay, Zanzibar’s largest marine reserve.
Choosing Your Room at TOA Hotel & Spa
Match the room to the trip. Choose a Superior Room for a compact base with a generous 15 m² balcony. Choose a Deluxe Room for 45 m² and garden or sea views. Choose a suite when the outdoor space is the main event: a private pool for two in the Honeymoon Suite, a Jacuzzi in the Royal Suite, a hot tub over the beach in the Suite with Sea View, or a ground-floor step into the pool in the Suite with Direct Pool Access.
Frequently asked questions
What room types does TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar offer, and how big are they?
TOA Hotel & Spa in Pongwe, Zanzibar, has 101 rooms and suites ranging from approximately 35 m² to 60 m². The Superior Room is 35 m² with a 15 m² balcony, and the Deluxe Room is 45 m² with a 20 m² balcony. The suites, including the Honeymoon Suite, Royal Suite, Suite with Sea View and Suite with Direct Pool Access, are all 60 m².
Which rooms at TOA Hotel & Spa can fit a family with children and a baby?
The Superior Room and Superior Sea View Room each accommodate up to two adults with one child and a baby. The Deluxe Room and the Royal Suite accommodate up to two adults with two children and a baby. The Suite with Sea View and the Suite with Direct Pool Access sleep up to 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
Is there a room with a private pool at TOA Hotel & Spa Zanzibar?
Yes. The Honeymoon Suite is a 60 m² suite for up to two adults, with a 45 m² terrace and a private swimming pool facing the ocean. If you prefer a Jacuzzi or hot tub, the Royal Suite has an outdoor Jacuzzi facing the ocean, and the Suite with Sea View has a hot tub on its private balcony overlooking the beach.
How far is TOA Hotel & Spa from Zanzibar airport?
TOA Hotel & Spa is approximately 48 kilometres from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, around 1 hour 15 minutes by road. The hotel’s 24-hour concierge manages airport transfers, so you can arrange your arrival in advance.
What are the meal times and beach dinner nights at TOA Hotel & Spa?
Breakfast is a buffet from 7:00 am to 10:00 am, lunch runs from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and dinner from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Beach dinners are held on Tuesday (Swahili Night) and Saturday (barbecue with live entertainment). A private beach dinner under the stars can be arranged with prior reservation.
What are the gym opening hours at TOA Hotel & Spa?
The modern gym at TOA Hotel & Spa is open from 0600 to 2200 hours. It is a fully equipped fitness center on site, so you can fit a workout in before breakfast or after a late afternoon on the beach.
Can TOA Hotel & Spa host a business meeting or conference in Zanzibar?
Yes. TOA Hotel & Spa has a fully equipped conference space for up to 40 guests, suitable for meetings, presentations, workshops and corporate gatherings. The Half Day package runs from 08:00 to 14:00, while the Full Day and Executive Full Day packages both run from 08:00 to 17:00.
Does TOA Hotel & Spa offer wedding services?
Yes. The hotel offers 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 wedding celebrations, and beachfront and outdoor settings surrounded by tropical gardens look out over the Indian Ocean.
How can I contact TOA Hotel & Spa in Pongwe?
You can call TOA Hotel & Spa on +255-772-222-999 or email info@toazanzibar.com. The hotel is at 12 Pongwe Road, Pongwe, Zanzibar.
