(8 rooms) PO Box 1543, Kendwa, Zanzibar; Ø 0777 411314/414957; e info@rosazanzibar.com
rosazanzibar@hotmail.com
www.rosazanzibar.com (LAROSA 5º45.207'S; 39º17.429'E).

In spite of opening only in 2003, La Rosa Dei Venti already feels tired and unkempt. Owned by an Italian, Franceso, and his Tanzanian wife, Esta, it all appears a little thrown together – the central areas are covered in salmon pink, yellow and orange paint; the rough-hewn coral-stone paths are dangerously uneven; the restaurant chairs sport particularly tasteless Mickey Mouse cushion covers; and rips in the window mesh are patched with plasters from the first-aid box.

There are 2 bungalows and 6 rooms available. Each bungalow contains a dbl and a sgl bed, AC, fans, a small safe and a fridge. There are a couple of basic easy chairs, but no cushions; similarly, in the tiny kitchen area, there are cupboards with no internal shelves. The large shuttered patio doors open onto a wide terrace from where you can just see the sea through the feathery pines. Of the rooms, 5 are dbls and one's a tpl made up of sgl beds. All feel grubby thanks to chipped painted floors, dusty curtains and dim lighting, but they do offer mosquito nets, electricity, fans and en-suite bathrooms. The restaurant, though appearing bare, is actually able to offer most of the dishes on the menu: a novelty at many of the budget beach options. US$75 in the bungalow based on dbl or tpl occupancy b&b. A room in the guesthouse is US$30/45 sgl/dbl.