Stories from Kilimani.The village, the family, the days in between.
Photos, short notes and longer pieces from our family compound in Jambiani. Some are about guests, some about Haji's tours, some just about life here. Written by people who actually live in the village.
Local guide · Jambiani
A local guide to staying in Jambiani.
Tides, village life, culture, food and transport — a practical guide to the slower side of Zanzibar.
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Local guide · Things to do
Things to do near Kilimani Lodge.
Beach walks, Kuza Cave, Paje, snorkeling, Jozani Forest and the day you do almost nothing.
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Local guide · Food
Where to eat near Kilimani Lodge.
Little Pompeij, Sharazad, Karibu with Hassan, Aurora, Flamingo — and how eating in Jambiani actually works.
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Community
A table everyone sits at.
Friday rice, family, neighbours, guests — the meal that taught us what Kilimani was going to be.
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Spice farm
Coconut, cardamom, and a forest walk.
A small family spice farm — not the tourist circuit. Drink a coconut straight from the tree.
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On the water
Out on the dhow to catch fish.
The captain who knows where the fish are, and which reefs to leave alone.
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Snorkelling
Watermelon on the sandbank.
Out to the reef in the morning, a tray of fruit on the way back. The way snorkelling should be.
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Spice farm
Annatto on your cheeks.
A spice walk that turns into face paint, laughter, and a slower afternoon than you planned.
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After dark
A guitar, a kitchen, a friend.
Evenings around the bar at the back of the property. Sometimes someone brings a guitar.
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Getting around
Renting a piki piki, the honest way.
How we help guests rent a scooter — fair prices, real paperwork, and someone to call if anything happens.
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Community
The second Friday.
Guests who came back to eat with the family again. We took a few more photos this time.
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