Aerial view over the gardens of Xanadu Villas, the white sails of Villa Kimwondo and the turquoise Indian Ocean beyond

Dongwe · Zanzibar · Tanzania

Now you can breathe.

Nine uncompromising villas on a stretch of pristine white sand — each with its own plunge pool and private butler, on the east coast of Zanzibar.

Discover the villas

One MICHELIN Key · 2026
Small Luxury Hotels
of the World

01Welcome to Xanadu

Xanadu is an experience, a lifestyle, an awakening of what life can be — what it should be.

It exceeds tranquility, luxury and expectation. Nine uncompromising villas on a stretch of pristine white sandy beach, crafted holistically out of a desire to breathe.

We firmly believe that to truly settle into the pace of Zanzibar, one must find one’s own rhythm in time with the waves.

Handwritten “Now you can breathe”, signed by Eileen

Eileen, creator of Xanadu

9private villas, each with its own plunge pool and dedicated butler
26guests in all, 35 with extra beds — the whole retreat can be yours alone
6°south of the equator, on Zanzibar’s sunrise coast
15′by private helicopter from Zanzibar Airport, on request

02The villas

Nine villas, nine ways to breathe.

At Xanadu we value privacy and tranquility. Each of our nine villas comes with its own private outside space, plunge pool and dedicated butler — from the cosy Umande to the presidential Nyota and Mbingu.

Compare the nine villas

01 / 09 Presidential ocean-view villa

NyotaSwahili for Stars

2 bedrooms
400 m²
Ocean view

Our newest presidential villa: two bedrooms, a large private pool and lounge, and a private rooftop pool under the stars.

Step inside

The domes, balconies and garden pool of Villa Mbingu

02 / 09 Presidential villa with ocean-view balconies

MbinguSwahili for Heavenly Sky

2 bedrooms
300 m²
Ocean view

Our presidential villa: a majestic ground-floor lounge and pool, two bedrooms with sea-view balconies and a domed rooftop pool.

Step inside

Courtyard and plunge pool of Villa Mlima in its lush garden

03 / 09 Two-bedroom garden-view villa

MlimaSwahili for Mountain

2 bedrooms
225 m²
Garden view

Ideal for friends and families: a super-sized living and dining area, a private plunge pool, an outdoor shower and luscious gardens.

Step inside

Plunge pool and arched dhow-wood windows of Villa Korongo

04 / 09 Two-bedroom garden-view villa

KorongoSwahili for Canyon

2 bedrooms
210 m²
Garden view

Two roundhouse bedrooms, a super-sized living and dining area under a Xanadu dome, a plunge pool and an outdoor shower.

Step inside

The sail-like thatched roof and curved white walls framing Villa Mawingu’s plunge pool

05 / 09 One-bedroom ocean-view villa

MawinguSwahili for Clouds

1 bedroom
120 m²
Ocean view

Our largest one-bedroom villa: an outside lounge with superior ocean view, a private plunge pool and its own beach area.

Step inside

Private pool of Villa Mawimbi seen between white columns and lanterns

06 / 09 One-bedroom ocean-view villa

MawimbiSwahili for Waves

1 bedroom
100 m²
Ocean view

Right on the beach: an outside lounge with superior ocean view and a private plunge pool.

Step inside

Plunge pool of Villa Alfajiri seen through an arch and palm leaves

07 / 09 One-bedroom villa, ocean view from the bedroom balcony

AlfajiriSwahili for Dawn

1 bedroom
120 m²
Ocean view

Ideal for honeymooners: a ground-floor lounge with plunge pool, and a first-floor bedroom with an ocean view from its balcony.

Step inside

Rooftop dining terrace of Villa Kimwondo between its white sails

08 / 09 One-bedroom garden-view villa with a rooftop pool

KimwondoSwahili for Shooting Star

1 bedroom
50 m²
Garden view

The architect’s favourite: a ground-floor bedroom and, up the exterior staircase, our famous rooftop pool and dining terrace.

Step inside

Villa Umande’s dome and plunge pool in its tropical flowering garden

09 / 09 One-bedroom garden-view villa

UmandeSwahili for Dewdrop

1 bedroom
40 m²
Garden view

Our cosy hideaway in the flowering gardens, with an outside seating area, a private plunge pool and the Xanadu dome.

Step inside

Plan your experience

We make your stay unforgettable.

Tell us what type of activity or experience you like, and we will do our best to satisfy you.

Ganda restaurant and bar at night beneath its giant makuti roof, around the main pool

03Dining

Ganda, under the great makuti roof.

Our restaurant and bar is the focal point of Xanadu: around the main pool, a shady lunch or a romantic candlelight dinner under our giant makuti roof.

The tableFresh seafood, home-grown spices, fruits and vegetables, organically farmed or sourced proteins — rounded off by world-class wine.
The teamEight chefs, local and international — Tanzanian, South African and Kenyan.
The placeYour villa, the restaurant, the beach — or a remote sandbank.
IncludedAll meals and snacks, soft drinks, local beers, spirits and house wines.

Discover Ganda & our cuisine

Zanzibari dishes served on a banana leaf with hibiscus flowers — Zanzibari dishes on a banana leaf

Hands holding freshly picked curry leaves — Freshly picked leaves

Hands opening annatto pods — Annatto pods

Colourful seafood dish prepared by the Xanadu culinary team — Seafood from the surrounding waters

A massage table prepared on the spa deck facing the ocean

Kiota Spa

04Kiota Spa

Built right on the beach, where the breeze lets you breathe.

A couples treatment room and a private deck where treatments are enjoyed in the ocean breeze — with products from the Africology range, supplemented by organic, locally produced care.

Pamoja experience90 min · for two$ 400
Lomi Lomi75 min$ 180
Hot stone massage60 / 90 min$ 200 / 240

All treatments

05Experiences

Beyond our oasis of calm.

Outside of Xanadu, Zanzibar has so much to offer. Our on-site activities manager arranges every excursion — and the ocean begins a few steps from your villa.

Guests on the deck of the dhow Free Spirit at sunset

Ocean

Sunset sail on Free Spirit

Our traditional Zanzibari dhow is called Free Spirit with good reason. Cruise the sunset hot spot of the east coast, see the mangroves, swim or snorkel while your butler serves delicacies and keeps the drinks topped up.

A helicopter flying over the turquoise sea off Zanzibar

Sky

Private helicopter flights

With Tropic Air Tanzania, from Xanadu’s own landing site: transfers to Zanzibar Airport in about 15 minutes, to Dar es Salaam in about 40, scenic flights of 30 or 60 minutes, or a day trip to Emerald Bay on Pemba Island. On request, subject to availability and weather.