In 1991 three partners - a Dane, an Italian and an Englishwoman - obtained the land beside the Mbweni Ruins. They started to build a new hotel on the site and later bought the ruins themselves as well, combining the two properties to make a property big enough to plant a botanical garden in.

Inspired by the exotic flora of Zanzibar, many trees, shrubs and flowers were collected and palm seeds were imported from all over the world and germinated. Today the collection boasts over 600 plant species including over 120 species of palms. Many of them are labelled.

The ruins were stabilised, as they had been crumbling fast, the lime and coral rag they are built of being vulnerable once the outer protective coating of lime wears away. There were large fig trees rooted into the walls, and when these were removed many of the rooms collapsed.

The history of the Mbweni area was carefully researched in the Zanzibar Archives and a picture of the old mission buildings began to emerge. Today these are being restored and in some cases rebuilt with great care.
The Mbweni area is becoming more built up as time goes by, being a sort-after place to live. The old Anglican church of St John remains nearby.

Many of the staff at Mbweni were the original workers on the site and after the hotel openened in December 1994, they turned their hands to becoming waiters, gardeners and chambermaids.

In 2004 the hotel became part of Adventure Camps, as the owners felt that the kind of guests who enjoy safari and being close to the bush and wild animals of the mainland, would enjoy being in this natural environment for a rest after visiting the game parks.
New suites are being built in the ruins, a new entrance is being designed where the original entrance came into the property, closest to the old church.

A new bar has being built out from the cliff by the restaurant, and a spiral staircase leads down to the beach where a jetty enables guests to take dhow trips to the stone town, or to the islands, or for a sunset cruise.

We are dedicated to preserving the beautiful environment of this old mission for freed slaves, and we hope you will enjoy visiting us.


Mbweni 2007