Strictly speaking, the term “luxury hotel” is a misunderstanding. Luxury is, to have friends in a foreign place who welcome you to stay with them.

(Alexander von Schönburg)

Bao Zanzibar is a project for a unique luxury resort on the Island of Zanzibar off the coast of East Africa. The 7’669 square meter luxury hospitality project is located on a 25’400 square meter beachfront-property on the tip of the Michamwi Peninsula, with view of both sunrises and sunsets, 25 minutes away from Paje, the bustling centre on the east coast of Zanzibar.  The project features 20 guestrooms in two categories, 4 ateliers/studios and two spacious and luxury villas with each 3 bedrooms, spacious living areas and private pools as well as own kitchens.

The project features an enchanting Arab architecture in the tradition of the renowned Moroccan moderniser of Arab architecture, Charles Boccara, perfectly blending in with the Arab-Omani tradition of Zanzibar. It features a unique approach to sustainability with a lush permaculture jungle, natural building materials and a social component that sets it truly apart with studios for artist residencies, workshops and retreats and a set-up that allows for the integration of the local staff (which is often one of the highlights of a Zanzibar visit). This project opens the door to a dimension of transformational hospitality for a clientele demanding an experience beyond a standard luxury vacation. 

A concept for a new tropical cuisine on the highest culinary level has been developed with Boris Buono, former Sous-Chef of Noma in Kopenhagen, reviving and reinterpreting local traditions, integrating them with other tropical cuisine-traditions and building a sustainable food concept unique for Zanzibar.

The projects design-architecture is largely completed as well as the structural engineering, a technical architect has been engaged, and two of the highest quality Tanzanian contractors have been involved from an early stage of planning. The sustainable building materials have been tested together with the contractors. The permaculture jungle has been planted already and a full sustainability master plan has been completed by the renowned German sustainability engineers Transolar. The interior design concepts features Alberto Cortes with KSAR, with its unique blend of Indonesian, Moroccan and European features and a timeless eclectic design.

Morpheus Company Ltd., owning the business licenses and the lease for the property is for sale, we are looking to find a buyer to step-in to this project ready to be executed. Apart from the building permit all permits have been obtained and highly competent local partners are part of the project, ready to bring in their decades long local experience with regulatory and all other aspects of running hospitality projects and businesses in Zanzibar (see under Partners).

For inquiries and questions, please contact Wolfram Klingler.