Next Paradise

Zanzibar Island
Walk Boatride Fishing Swimming

Star Rating
Game Viewing
Price Guide $$$

Next Paradise: Our View

Next Paradise Boutique Resort is a really upmarket, sparkling, and well-run lodge on the east coast of the main island in the Zanzibar Archipelago, called Unguja. We have seen many other lodges on the very same long Indian Ocean beach from Matemwe beach, all the way down. Next Paradise is the best we have experienced!

To get to Next Paradise Resort by taxi you would either be coming straight from Zanzibar Kisauni Airport (ZNZ), or quite possibly from Stonetown after spending a couple of days exploring that magical town. Entering the huge Next Paradise Boutique Resort compound, one is struck by three things. The dazzling brightness of the palm tree fringed accommodation right on the beach, the sparkling blue swimming pools, and the calm, friendly, and efficient service of the Next Paradise staff. A cool breeze blows in to the lodge from the Indian Ocean while large overhead wooden fans add to the coolness and ambience. Each bright, spacious, and modern room is efficiently air-conditioned, such a relief from the sometimes oppressive Zanzibar heat.

There are warning signs on the hot white sand paths between the rooms and the main lodge making guests aware of the possible danger of falling coconuts!

Next Paradise Resort offers spacious, classic, accommodation for every type of guest. From solo travellers to honeymoon couples to families. All can be catered for here. From single suites to large double storey whitewashed duplexes that can accommodate up to 8 or even 9 people. Each room is cool, spacious, and sparkling bright. Room furnishings are mostly wooden, offset by cool white cottons. For East Africa standards the bathrooms are really amongst the best we’ve comes across. As European in style as one is ever going to get in Tanzania.

Beyond the reception area there is a huge dining and bar area from where you can see the first of four sparkling blue swimming pools and…the sea! Next Paradise Boutique Resort is literally on the beach, just a few meters from the warm Indian Ocean. At high tide guests swim and bob in the gentle swell close to the beach before rinsing off the sea salt in one of the Next Paradise swimming pools.

Next Paradise: Quick Facts

  • 25 Spacious air-conditioned rooms
  • 4 swimming pools
  • On site restaurant and bar
  • Room service
  • Right on the beach
  • Private terraces for each room
  • Tennis Court, Table Tennis and Bicycles
  • Swimming
  • Snorkelling, and Scuba Diving (extra charge)
  • Kitesurfing (extra charge)
  • Jozani Forest visit (extra charge)
  • Sailing boat excursions with lobster lunch and Mangrove Forest visit (extra charge)
  • Game Fishing (extra charge)
  • Stonetown and Spice Farm excursions (extra charge)
  • Taxis to other areas of the island and airport shuttle (extra charge) 

Next Paradise: The Details

Next Paradise Boutique Resort is in the village of Pwani Mchangani, which is right on one of the most stunning beaches on the entire island of Unguja – an endless stretch of impossibly fine coral sand lined with palm trees on one side and the startling aqua-blue Indian ocean on the other. In common with the rest of the east coast of Zanzibar, there is a significant tidal range here. When the tide is out you can wade through ankle-deep water right out to the protective reef which lies about a kilometre offshore!

Next paradise has four swimming pools in which guests can take a dip to escape the summer heat during low tide. Compared to other busy resort areas of Unguja Island, the beach here is still relatively isolated with not too many hawkers, although there are a few. Next Paradise Askaris (security guards) ensure that only guests staying at the Resort are permitted to enter the compound though.

Next Paradise really ticks all of our boxes as the perfect Zanzibar beach lodge. If we were to mention potential drawbacks though, there could be some hawkers on the beach, the lodge is fairly remote (although that may be a blessing for some!), and there can be some sea grass in the shallow ocean in front of the lodge. However, sea grass is actually farmed here by the local people, so they tend to scrupulously collect most of it each day!

Next Paradise is owner managed. The owners made a point of approaching us when we stayed there to chat about their stunning lodge. Both the good news stories, and the challenges that they face and have faced over the decades. They are passionate and committed. That approach has certainly borne dividends!

We highly recommend this beautiful lodge, either for a stand-alone beach holiday or for a relaxing beach break after a busy Tanzania mainland safari.