Bawe Island, Tanzania

While we were vacationing in Zanzibar Stone Town, my brother mentioned that his client had a long-term lease on a resort island nearby and that we could visit it. In my line of work, it’s pretty rare to know anyone with a private island, let alone go to spend time on one, so I was excited for the opportunity to visit Bawe Island Resort.

Introduction

Bawe Island is a small, idyllic spot just off the coast of Stone Town. Known for its pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, the island offers a tranquil escape from the bustle of the mainland. With its palm-fringed shores and gentle breezes, Bawe is the perfect place for visitors seeking peace, relaxation and a taste of tropical paradise.

The island is not only renowned for its natural beauty but also its rich history. Once used as a quarantine station during the colonial era, Bawe Island now attracts travellers who want to snorkel among vibrant coral reefs, sunbathe on quiet shores or simply soak up the laid-back atmosphere.

Getting There

The fun started at the Africa House Garden where we waited for our private boat taxi to take us to the island. Africa House Garden deserved more time as it was a beautiful place to relax and have a drink. It’s too bad that we didn’t arrive early enough to use it more extensively, but I’d recommend visiting that spot and having a nice glass of wine while watching the sunset.

The private boat taxi noted that we would not be able to dock directly on Bawe Island due to privacy concerns. Instead, we would transfer onto another boat in the water a few hundred meters from shore. If you’re older or have mobility issues, this could be a concern. The day we went, the water was very choppy, so it was an adventure to get on the first boat, transition to the second boat and then disembark on the island. The ferry ride took only 15 minutes, even in the choppy conditions.

On-Shore

Arriving at Bawe Island Resort was akin to what we saw in White Lotus. There was a team of people to welcome us, including the manager of the resort. Their posture, way of speaking and the words used were clearly carefully crafted, rehearsed and delivered. There was an immediate feel of relaxation and that anything we wanted would be taken care of, likely before we even knew we wanted it.

While we didn’t stay overnight on the island, we received a full tour of the amazing facilities and had drinks in the cocktail bar jutting out into the ocean. Out of respect for the type of clients who would stay at this kind of resort, I limited my photos to areas where there were no people. It should be noted that the ratio of white sand and beachfront to humans is very much tilted in favour of the humans! There are only 70 villas on the whole island, with half facing the sunrise and half facing the sunset.

Prior to our visit, I hadn’t checked the pricing, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that villas (which include private pools and butler service) were going for a relatively inexpensive USD $990 per night for half board and USD $1,400 per night for all-inclusive sunrise 200sqm villas. When considering the Park Hyatt we stayed at in Stone Town was costing us nearly the same money, this resort is perhaps a real bargain!

Returning Back

The return private boat taxi was easier. We were able to board on the island and take a single boat taxi back to the dock in Stone Town. The return ride was shorter as the waves had gone down and the captain was able to go at full speed.

Conclusion

Based on what I observed and experienced at Bawe Island, it’s somewhere that I want to return to and would like to spend 2-3 nights there. It would be the perfect place to wind down after a few nights in the Stone Town, prior to heading back home from Zanzibar. The service we experienced was top notch and didn’t have any of the Pale Pale that we experienced in Tanzania in general. At Bawe Island Resort, they really cater to the individual client’s needs.