We first fell in love with Pongwe on our first visit back in 2006 as we walked from reception into the lounge area to enjoy a welcome cocktail and got a first glimpse of the beach – a jaw-droppingly beautiful little cove of perfect white, fluffy sand liberally sprinkled with picture-perfect palm trees and hordes of scurrying ghost crabs. Quite simply, in all our travels in Zanzibar this has to rate as without question THE most beautiful beach on the entire island! (and we've pretty much seen them all) Yet whilst the beach remains unmatched, the evolution of this blissfully isolated lodge has been quite fascinating to watch over the last couple of decades as Pongwe has become progressively more luxurious and upmarket whilst still successfully retaining its authentic character and charm!

As you might imagine, it’s the stunning beach that will dominate your stay here. Take a good novel and flop into one of the many loungers and hammocks-for-two scattered on the sands amongst the palm trees and get yourself a decent helping of sun-worshipping. When the tropical heat gets too much for you, either retreat into the welcome shade offered by the palms or better still take a dip in the azure waters of the bay or the gorgeous swimming pool positioned on a coral bluff that offers fantastic views out over the cove. If you've worked up a thirst then simply plunge the little red flag thoughtfully provided to you into the sand and - hey presto! - a waiter promptly appears to take your order! (a simple yet ingenious system that we're amazed more lodges haven't copied) Come 4 o'clock in the afternoon, one of the staff will come around offering delicious fresh fruit, whether you're lazing around the pool or under the palm trees on the beach!

When marketing people talk about rooms being “on the beach” they must have had Pongwe in mind! Even the lodge's 3 so-called "Garden Rooms" are only set back about 20 metres from the beach - in just about every other lodge they would be touted as prime beachfront units! As mentioned previously, Pongwe has shown a steady evolution over the years with new, more luxurious rooms being built on a fairly regular basis. The 3 Garden Rooms are largely unchanged since our first visit back in the 2000's both in terms of décor and facilities offered - think traditional terrazzo floors and Zanzibari 4-poster beds under romantic mosquito netting and cooled by ceiling fans. Next up are the 11 Beachfront Rooms which lie curved around the little cove - it’s simply a case of walking off your porch directly onto some of the softest, whitest sand you’ll find anywhere on the planet! The rooms themselves are clustered together in little semi-detached bungalows of 2 or 3 rooms that are reached via a short stroll down winding sandy paths from the main lodge – don’t be concerned about being disturbed by your neighbours though, as the walls are so thick we never heard a peep from the room next door when we stayed there. Again these Beachfront Rooms are quite simply and traditionally decorated - however, they have been upgraded with the introduction of either air-conditioning or innovative Evening Breeze beds (a clever system whereby cold air is piped down over your bed keeping you blissfully cool at night which is when you need it most!)

If you're looking for something a little more luxurious (and have a bit more moola to spend) then you can consider some of the newly built rooms introduced in recent years. First up you could look at 4 stunning Sea View Suites (again boasting either air-conditioning or Evening Breeze beds) where the highlight is undoubtedly having their own private plunge pools! They're set back a bit further from the beach, but many find the extra space and privacy (and having your own pool of course!) well worth it. Families on the other hand will love the two 2-bedroomed Family Beachfront Suites  which are more modern in their decor and also much larger at 120sqm and so perfect for families - and the kids will also no doubt love chilling off in their private plunge pools! (and there's air-con too) The stars of the show however have to be the newest introductions - the 3 gorgeous Cliff Ocean Suites which boast the best location out of all the rooms at Pongwe being perched on the headland at the end of Pongwe's beach and offering stunning views out over the sands! They also offer private decks, again complete with private plunge pools - these really are the perfect choice for honeymooners and couples looking for a stunningly romantic sanctuary!

Yet despite all the room upgrades in recent years, the main attraction at Pongwe remains the stunning beach which is unquestionably the prettiest on the entire island! Like all the lodges of the East Coast, the beach here at Pongwe is affected significantly by the tide – the good news is that the lodge boasts a lovely swimming pool stunningly perched on a low cliff overlooking the beach which offers all day relief from the heat. A large makuti-thatched structure houses the sociable bar as well as a lounge area with comfortable baraza seating and the dining area. Talking of dining, the food at Pongwe boasts an enviable reputation, which is a good thing given that there are few other restaurants nearby! Service too is wonderfully friendly with the Pongwe team doing a great job in keeping their guests happy. One of the highlights that many of our clients rave about is the (extra cost) option of a romantic candlelit lobster dinner on the beach - an unforgettable experience!

The result is all of this is that Pongwe is probably the most in-demand lodge on the entire island and a huge favourite amongst honeymooners in particular - in fact the biggest problem here is getting a room as the lodge is often booked out more than 6 months ahead! And little wonder too as Pongwe has been getting consistent rave reviews on travel review website tripadvisor.com for a couple of decades now! For romantics looking for a great value beach holiday on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, there’s little or nothing to touch it!