The breath-taking Sea Cliff Resort & Spa is situated on the North West coast of the island and is perched on a cliff overlooking the warm Indian Ocean. Sea Cliff offers tranquillity, peace, stunning beauty, rooms situated in lush scented tropical gardens, crystal-clear infinity swimming pools, exciting and varied entertainment and, unique to the island, a golf course. Does the thought of enjoying breakfast overlooking the ocean, having dinner under the stars or sipping sundowners on the jetty tickle your taste buds? Well, then Sea Cliff offers just that … and more!
Speaking of “unique”, Zanzibar fits that description perfectly. It brims over with fascinating history, wonderful people and even more wonderful experiences. Zanzibar has a strong tourist culture, backed up wholeheartedly and enthusiastically by its political leadership. Zanzibar is a holiday destination that should be on every beach worshipper and sun-seekers bucket list. Whether you’re picturing yourself lounging on the silky soft beaches for days on end, or splashing around in the warm, clear waters with the kids, there’s no doubt that this Tanzanian island is what dreams are made of!
The Sea Cliff golfing experience offers a par 71, Matkovitch 9-hole course that has been designed to emulate an 18-hole course. The final two holes are played along the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, it boasts its own clubhouse and even has an under-cover driving range.
Thinking about doing something different during your stay at Sea Cliff? Riding a horse through a tropical paradise down to a stunning azure ocean is something you will remember for the rest of your life.
Of course, Zanzibar is world-famous for its pristine beaches. Castor sugar soft, white beaches are spread all over the island.
These coral sands are the reason so many people come to the island and undoubtedly the place to do this is Nungwi, on the north-westernmost tip of Zanzibar. Nungwi has not yet fallen victim to swarms of international tourists, and the islanders mingle casually with visitors. The water sports are plentiful, as are sundown cruises, and you can also organise deep-sea fishing excursions from here.
We also recommend a trip to Changuu Island, commonly referred to by the locals as Prison Island.
Although it was previously owned by an Arabian slave trader to house unruly slaves, the prison was fortunately never used. The island is now a tortoise sanctuary and visitors are guaranteed to see the giant100-year-old-plus tortoises imported over a hundred years ago from the Seychelles.
Enjoy a sandbank picnic lunch and if you feel up to it after such a great meal, snorkel the underwater life surrounding the sandbank or if you don’t feel like exerting yourself, simply relax on the beach.
Relaxation is a watchword at Sea Cliff. And where better to enjoy relaxation than in the Shwari Spa? Here there’s an understanding that the modern lifestyle is stress-filled and can be sometimes overwhelming so the belief that a holiday should also be tailored for personal “time out”, for finding yourself, for peace and tranquillity, but most of all for restoring your energy so that you can face the world afresh on your return home is what the therapists at Shwari want for you most of all.
With a variety of activities and excursions on offer, your days are guaranteed to be filled with sun, sea and an appreciation for the rich history of Zanzibar. For the more energetic visitor to Zanzibar, some fascinating excursions can be taken, especially those taken on foot.
For instance, follow in the footsteps of sultans, slaves and explorers as you traverse the twisting, winding streets of ancient Mji Mkongwe, widely known as Stone Town, itself a world heritage site.
Stone Town is part of the island’s capital, Zanzibar City.
Visit the former slave market and the amazing House of Wonders (before it collapses entirely!*) if it is open to the public. This building was completed in 1883 and it was the first to have a lift and electricity, hence the House of Wonders name! Also visited is the Sultan’s Palace museum, the old Arab Fort, the Anglican cathedral and, a surprise to many a visitor, the small Freddie Mercury museum dedicated to that iconic music legend situated in his family home, and the mystical Zorastrian temple where he worshipped with his parents during his youth.
During this trip, you will also visit some modern Zanzibar sites, including the fish and vegetable markets. And as it draws towards evening, the Forodhani Gardens transforms into Zanzibar’s spectacular night-time food market. The aromas are fabulous, the range of succulent dishes leaves you spoilt for choice and no visit to Zanzibar would be complete without experiencing this for yourself.
Not keen on eating street or market food or risking the local alcoholic brews sold in the markets?
Well, visit Sea Cliff’s restaurants which offer casual or luxury dining, a variety of meals expertly prepared and served in luxurious surroundings. How about enjoying sundowners and cocktails at the Jetty Bar or a more formal evening at the aptly named Zanzi-Bar? The choice is yours.
One of the most sensory and unforgettable ways to appreciate Zanzibar is to be led by an experienced guide through twisting backstreets while inhaling fabulous aromas of turmeric, vanilla, cardamom, chilli and black pepper. At the end of the tour, you’ll enjoy a Swahili lunch flavoured with what has recently driven your sense of smell off the wall, and you will also be able to buy supplies at very reasonable prices to take home with you.
Introduced around 500 years ago by Portuguese traders who carried them from their colonies in India and South America, spices have made Zanzibar a trading hub for centuries. Cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and more are still produced by micro-enterprises.
What better way of experiencing a country is there than touching and enjoying its flavours? No wonder Zanzibar is known as the Spice Island.
A treat lies in store for nature lovers. The Jozani tropical rainforest is home to many endemic species, including the endemic Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey, the Zanzibar leopard (which is critically endangered and could possibly be extinct with the last sighting of this member of the cat family decades ago) and the recently described Zanzibar servaline genet.
Sea Cliff has world-class conference facilities that have been utilised by many international entities, amongst which are Visa International, Garmin, The World Economic Forum, Johns Hopkins University and Vodacom. Our international management team has extensive experience in hosting conferences and furthermore are adept at arranging all the required and associated logistics for conferences, which includes airport transfers, catering of private meals, team-building exercises and any excursions. Sea Cliff can cater for between 10 and 120 delegates and have all the latest tech available which includes the usual vital conference hardware/software items found at a top facility, as well as a language translation system. With all the modern technology at your fingertips, you can be assured that we will always have an IT technician on standby to ensure that all goes to plan.
Breakaway rooms are also available.
There’s also a private Boma overlooking the ocean that can accommodate up to 200 guests. Specialist dining options such as beach barbeques and private cocktail parties on the jetty round off your conference experience.
Sea Cliff’s rooms are light-filled, airy, spacious and luxurious and we are justifiably proud of them.
At the other end of the scale, at Mangapwani, you can take a walk back in history through the dark and dank caves where hundreds of slaves waited for the arrival of the vessels that would take them to be sold. Thank goodness times have certainly changed for the better!
Surrounded by astonishing underwater seascapes that are alive with strange and wonderful marine creatures, Zanzibar is a dream destination for scuba divers. It is home to some of the best dive sites in Africa, and according to many professional divers, the world. At Sea Cliff’s Sports and Recreation Centre, Scuba Fish Zanzibar offers instruction, equipment and transport for the scuba diving enthusiast.
Kwaheri (‘goodbye’ in Swahili)! See you soon!
