Asili House

A guest in the clawfoot bathtub of Room Dunia, looking out at the Indian Ocean.

Asili House from above: the makuti roof, the pool and the beach.

The wooden balcony of Room Maji, with a sunlounger, a dining table and a view of the ocean. The butler serves meals here.

The Asili House pool, set above the beach, with a palm tree standing in the middle. Swimmers go around it.

The bedroom of Room Hewa, on the upper floor. “Hewa” means air in Swahili, and the room is white and light.

The giant swing bed at Asili House, facing the Indian Ocean. A couple sits on it.

A butler serving fresh coconuts to guests on the pool edge. Each room has a small phone for reaching the butler by call or WhatsApp.

The freestanding clawfoot bathtub in the round, thatch-roofed bathroom of Room Maji, with a stone wall and windows with blue curtains.

The Asili House pool with the ocean behind it. The Matlai logo in the pool is cut into black tanga stones.

Asili House from above, between tall coconut palms and the beach. “Asili” means nature in Swahili.

Room Maji from the back: wardrobe, safe, tea and coffee station, hairdryer, yoga mats and small weights. A 90 × 200 cm extra bed fits in this area.

Asili House from the beach: the pool and the shared lounge with an indoor garden.

The view from the bed in Room Maji: the balcony, the pool and the Indian Ocean. The room is in blue and turquoise tones.

The Asili lounge: a baraza by the pool, a bookshelf of dhow wood, sun loungers and a large dining table. A fridge with soft drinks and beer and a water dispenser are in the room.

Sunrise at Asili House: the sun comes up over the ocean and reflects in the pool, and the lounge glows orange.

A small wooden gate leads from the garden of Asili House to the sand.

A guest at the balcony door, looking over the pool to the Indian Ocean.

On arrival the butler serves a fresh coconut. A splash of Malibu can be added instead if you prefer.

The bed in Room Dunia is made from an old Zanzibar dhow. The room is in earth-brown tones; “dunia” means earth.

The bathroom of Room Dunia: river-stone sinks, brass taps, a clawfoot bathtub, a walk-in shower and a view of the ocean from the tub and the sinks.

The clawfoot tub in Room Dunia, with river-stone details, brass fittings and a view of the ocean.

A couple standing at the pool edge, looking at the Indian Ocean.

From the bathroom of Room Dunia into the bedroom with the dhow-wood bed. River-stone sinks and brass fittings are in the foreground.

From the bathroom of Room Maji into the bedroom. The layout is open.

Room Hewa at night, photographed from behind the bed.

Room Hewa by day: the bed, a baraza and the balcony facing the garden and the ocean.

The round, thatch-roofed bathroom of Room Maji: a long wooden vanity with two stone basins, a freestanding bathtub in the centre and blue curtains at the windows.

Juani, one of the sunlounger areas at Asili House, on the beach side. “Juani” means sun in Swahili.

The thatched balcony of Room Moto: a dining table with chairs and kanga-print daybeds under the palm-leaf roof, with palm trees and the ocean beyond. Moto means fire, and the warm reds of the room carry through to the cushions.

A couple on the pool edge with a drink, looking over the Indian Ocean.

Bougainvillea flowers arranged on the bed in Room Hewa.

Both villas, Asili House and Villa Kidosho, from the air, with their pools, the gardens and the beach.

Asili House from above: the makuti roof, the pool and the beach a few steps away.

A couple sitting on the pool edge, looking at each other, with the Indian Ocean behind them.

A couple kissing on the pool edge, with the Indian Ocean behind them.

A couple stepping away from the balcony of Room Maji, hand in hand.

A couple in the bathroom of Room Maji: she is in the bath, he sits beside her.

The wooden terrace of Room Maji: two wooden chairs with blue cushions on the deck, with palm trees, the pool and the Indian Ocean beyond.

A guest reading on the sunbed on the balcony of Room Maji, with the pool and the ocean in view.

Asili House from the pool edge. Dunia is at lower left with its balcony, Moto above it, Maji at lower right and Hewa at upper right. The shared lounge and the pool access are in the centre.

Bathroom products made in Zanzibar by Inaya: shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion. Each room also gets a handmade Mwani seaweed soap from a local women’s cooperative.

The Asili House pool with baraza seating next to it, looking out to the Indian Ocean.

Two sofas made from dhow wood in the Asili lounge.

The bed in Room Maji, dressed in white and blue under a mosquito-net canopy, with towel swans and fresh flowers.

Room Maji from the back. The cloth holders on the wall are made from blue sparkling-wine bottles, the candle holders and plates are cast by hand, and the candles are made from recycled cooking oil.