Destination
Opened her own hotel in Zanzibar: "I cry when the guests leave"
There are no room numbers on the doors. That's because you should feel at home when you check in here. But with a good dose of luxury and turquoise blue sea, Elga, originally from Italy, believes there is a reason why tourists choose to vacation at her hotel.
Guro Holmene
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
Uzuri Villa in short
Uzuri Villa is a small boutique hotel on the beach at Jambiani on Zanzibar's east coast, with three suites and three junior suites. Guests on Hotels.com rate it 9.6 out of 10 (as of October 2026). It suits couples who want quiet, the day's catch for dinner and the sea at the bottom of the garden.
Picolo has been here. We stayed at Uzuri Villa and spoke to Elga Giannini in the hotel she built. The photographs on this page were taken by Toni Delegado during our stay.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices
Many of us dream about it... packing our bags, abandoning our humdrum existence, and moving to a secluded and beautiful place by the sea. But few dare to pursue this dream, and even fewer succeed in living out life surrounded by chalk-white sand beaches and palm trees.
"Something changed me when I first came here," says Elga Giannini.
Following her passion, she now runs the exclusive Uzuri Villa boutique hotel in Tanzania, off the east coast of Africa.
The hotel is located right by the beach on the outskirts of the fishing village of Jambiani, so guests can start their day by wading straight into the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.
From Tuscany to Zanzibar
The year is 2008. Elga, from Tuscany in Italy, is on holiday in Zanzibar with her then-husband. She will be gone for two weeks, and the first ten days will be spent travelling. She visits the city, does some sightseeing, and enjoys lazy days on the beach.
Zanzibar is especially known for its sandy white beaches and crystal clear waters and is popular for snorkelling and water sports such as kiting and sailing. It also contains rainforests and is home to, among other things, the rare red colobus monkey.
The capital Stone Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is rich in historic buildings and markets, and an excellent example of a Swahili trading post on the east coast of Africa.
"We travelled around a lot on the first few days of the holiday. We were here on vacation, like everyone else. But then we got into more and more conversations with the locals, and I began to understand Zanzibar in a different way. One day we met someone who ran a hotel in the area, and we were inspired," says Elga.
Dream destination
Turquoise sea and chalk-white beaches on Zanzibar.
In the midst of African jungles and nature
Elga and her husband headed to the east coast of the island, about an hour's drive from Zanzibar's airport. They looked at areas and properties and came across the place where the villa is located today.
"At that time, it was completely deserted there and there was a lot of vegetation. It was so incredibly peaceful and something about the energy of the place attracted me to it. It felt very special to me coming from Europe, where we run to and from things all day, from morning to night."
Elga pauses as she thinks back to the first time she stood on the beach, before the boutique hotel was built. She feels something changed for her there that day amidst the jungle and an energy she describes as strong.
Kitesurfing
When the wind blows in from the sea, the sky over the east coast fills with kites.
Luxury boutique hotel
Elga's hotel sits almost on the beach.
Built holiday homes in Zanzibar
"You know when something calls you? And you just have to check. That was what the place was like. It is absolutely breathtaking: the sea, the silence and the white sand. In addition, both the light and the water change depending on the time of day you stand there, and I never cease to be amazed at how incredible nature can be. That is what changed my life. I realized that I don't need anything other than this view and the sound of the ocean, that's what makes me find meaning inside myself," says Elga, adding:
"As well as the people here. They're so nice. Even when you see someone who looks serious, they can suddenly smile and their face lights up."
At this point, many of us might start to make plans and dream of returning to the resort and leaving everything at home behind. Maybe you can run something of your own? But most people don't have the opportunity, or the courage, and find their way back to being content with work and everyday life at home. But Elga chose otherwise.
She left Tuscany and built a house in Zanzibar. The idea was to have the place as a holiday home in the winter. But she felt much more at home in her holiday home than in Italy, so they eventually expanded to building hotels.
Meditation and beach
Elga has found peace in Zanzibar, and wants the guests to do the same.
A hotel without room numbers
"I realised it's so special here, it's like coming home, and I want the guests to have that feeling as well. We don't have room numbers, because we want life to be shared, and in my view, it's an opportunity to get to know each other. I actually think there's a meaning behind those who come here, maybe it's just me, but I feel it. So, I often cry when people leave."
Elga describes the villa she runs as a home and says that the staff want guests to feel like they are at home. There is no dress code, and you can walk barefoot throughout your stay, yet it is luxurious. The hotel has a swimming pool, is located right on the beach, and has three suites and three junior suites. The property has a private garden and offers a variety of water activities as well as massages. The hotel also has its own chefs who prepare fresh meals made from freshly caught fish, lobster, or crab, among other ingredients.
"There is generally a lot of seafood on the menu in Zanzibar," says Elga.
"My favourite is octopus and mashed potato, which we like to prepare with coconut. Otherwise, the fish here is often marinated with ginger or lime, but it is important that the seafood retains its flavour."
Seafood
Picolo tried the seafood on the island. We would order the grilled prawns again.
Hakuna Matata meaning
Besides seafood, water activities, and tranquillity by the sea, there is one thing that is at least as important in Zanzibar: Hakuna Matata. Most people know the phrase from The Lion King.
"That was one of the first words I learned on the island," Elga says with a laugh.
"It's Swahili and means 'there are no problems'."
"The funny thing is that when I was here at the very beginning, it could take 1-2 hours for the food to arrive when I was at a restaurant... you know... But then they smiled and said hakuna matata, the food is coming, we just don't know when. That mentality is impressive.
We don't have to keep up with the times, nothing changes if we're just a little patient and wait a bit!"
The Rock
At low tide you walk out to The Rock across the sand. At high tide a wooden boat picks you up.
Around Jambiani: four things we would do
Kitesurfing in Paje
Paje is a few minutes' drive north of Jambiani. When the wind blows in from the sea, kites fill the sky above the lagoon, and the kite schools are based along the beach. Beginners learn in the shallow water inside the reef.
Maalum Cave
Elga's favourite place is a cave with a natural pool beneath the rock. Come here for a swim in clear water when the sun gets too strong; there is a restaurant on site too.
Jozani Forest
Jozani Chwaka Bay is Zanzibar's only national park. It is the easiest place to see the rare red colobus, a monkey found only on the island. The butterfly centre is close to the entrance.
The Rock
The restaurant stands on a rock in the sea off Michamvi Pingwe, north-east of Jambiani. At low tide you walk out across the sand; at high tide a wooden boat takes you over. There are only twelve tables, so book well ahead and time dinner for sunset.
There are more ideas in our guide to things to do in Zanzibar. To compare Uzuri with hotels on other beaches, see Zanzibar hotels: where to stay, beach by beach. If you are planning a honeymoon, six hotels for newlyweds are in our Zanzibar honeymoon guide.
Our first choice in Jambiani
Uzuri Villa
We have stayed at Uzuri Villa, and it is the hotel we would choose in Jambiani. With three suites and three junior suites it never feels crowded around the pool, and there are no room numbers on the doors. The hotel has its own garden, pool and bar, and the garden runs straight onto the sand. There is no dress code, and you can go barefoot for your whole stay. In the evening the chefs cook fish, lobster or crab from the day's catch. Uzuri suits couples who want a personal welcome rather than a large resort.
Frequently asked questions about Uzuri Villa in Zanzibar
Where is Uzuri Villa in Zanzibar?
Uzuri Villa is on the edge of the fishing village of Jambiani on the south-east coast, around an hour's drive from the airport. The hotel sits right on the beach, so guests can start the day by wading straight into the turquoise Indian Ocean. Paje and its kite beaches are a few minutes further north.
Who runs Uzuri Villa?
The boutique hotel is run by Elga Giannini from Tuscany in Italy. She came to Zanzibar on holiday in 2008, was inspired by meeting local people and found the plot on the east coast where the villa stands today. She built a holiday home first and later turned it into a hotel.
Can you swim in Jambiani all day?
Not always. On this coast the tide goes a long way out, and at low tide the water is shallow with seaweed for quite a distance. That is the time for a walk along the sand or a swim in the pool. At high tide you can swim right in front of the garden, so check the tide table when you arrive.
When is the best time to stay at Uzuri Villa?
Zanzibar is driest from June to October and from December to February. March to May is the long rainy season, and November can bring showers too. Outside the high season there are fewer guests and prices are often lower, but the rain tends to come in heavy bursts.
How far is Jambiani from the airport?
The drive from the airport near Stone Town takes around an hour. Ask the hotel about a transfer when you book, so you do not have to find a taxi on arrival. Stone Town is the same distance away, which makes a day trip to the old town easy from Jambiani.
Keep reading
Planning a honeymoon? Six hotels and the best time to go are in our Zanzibar honeymoon guide.
Have a nice trip to Zanzibar
Guro Holmene