Zanzibar has exactly one overwater resort: Isaraya Luxury Over Water Villas, built on Konokono Beach Resort's jetty on the Michamvi Peninsula, with direct stairs down into the Indian Ocean. It's adults-only, comes with a private plunge pool on the deck, and starts from approximately $600 per person per night, all-inclusive.
The best overwater bungalows in Zanzibar
The only confirmed overwater property in Tanzania – built on a jetty over Chwaka Bay, adults-only.
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| Hotel | From/night | Area | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaraya Water Villas (Konokono Beach Resort) | ~$600/person/night | Michamvi Peninsula, Zanzibar | Only overwater resort in Tanzania · private plunge pool · adults-only | Check price →Review ↓ |
Isaraya Luxury Over Water Villas
Isaraya Water Villas sit on Konokono Beach Resort's jetty, extending from the Michamvi Peninsula into Chwaka Bay on Zanzibar's south-east coast. Private stairs lead directly from the villa's own deck into the Indian Ocean below – genuinely overwater construction, not a beachfront room marketed as one.
Each villa comes with a private plunge pool on its terrace alongside a 35m² sundeck built for sunset views over the water, plus a 65m² interior with a king bed and a full bathroom. The villa category is adults-only, with children under 12 not permitted – a deliberate choice that keeps the jetty quiet, and one of the few adults-only overwater properties on this side of the Indian Ocean.
What it doesn't have is a glass floor panel, which some travelers expect from overwater rooms after seeing them in the Maldives or Fiji. The emphasis here is the private pool and the direct water access, not underwater viewing.
When to go
Zanzibar's driest, calmest window runs from late June to October, after the long rains (April–May) and before the short rains (November). This is also the coolest period, which suits the exposed jetty setting. December to February is warm and mostly dry too, though it overlaps with Europe's peak holiday season and the villa books out further ahead.
The long rains from March to May bring the heaviest weather to Zanzibar's east coast, including Chwaka Bay – worth avoiding for a jetty-based stay specifically, even though rates drop.
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Images: Wegmann / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
