A family,
a beach, a boat-builder.
We set out to build a place that felt like home, and then we tried very hard to keep it that way.
Built slowly,
by hand.
SeVi sits on the northeast coast of Zanzibar, near Kigomani village, directly on the longest beach of the island. The shore is lined with coconut palms; the water is turquoise and protected by an outer reef where coral, fish and the rest of the shallow reef community goes about its day.
For diving, snorkeling and sunset cruises, our hotel keeps a small fleet of dhows and ngalawas — the traditional Swahili sailing boats — alongside the village fishing boats. The Mnemba Atoll snorkel and dive site is a short ride out from our beach.
We welcome guests aged 12 and up. Teenager rates on request, individual family offers on request, and every reservation goes through a person, not an algorithm.
We share
this island.
Solar energy keeps the lights on. Rainwater keeps the garden alive. We minimize plastic everywhere we can.
Fish from the village dhows at dawn. Spice from farms a short drive inland. Vegetables from our own patch.
Bathroom amenities by INAYA Zanzibar — an all-women initiative making skin and hair products from African botanicals on the island.
We keep the village's traditional boat-builders at work, making dhows and ngalawas on our beach — even as motorboats take over the island.
Coral, palm, timber, and Zanzibari craftsmanship — every room reflects the place it stands in.
Staff from Kigomani, trained over years as waiters, chefs, receptionists, gardeners, housekeepers. Most have been with us a long time.
A house
with 35 guests.
When the hotel is full, you'll meet the other guests at dinner; when it's quiet, the beach will be mostly yours. That's the way we like it. We are small, on purpose. We are careful, by design.
Many staff have been with us for years. Their children are in school because of their jobs here. That is not a tagline. That is our ledger.
Talk to a person