FACT FILE Kholle House, 607/608, Malindi PO Box 842, Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania info@khollehouse.com, +255 772 161 033
Kholle is located in the heart of Zanzibar s Stone Town. Built in 1860, it is now recognized as an exclusive boutique hotel on the Island. Located close to the old fort and the Forodhani Gardens, it is ideal to walk around and discover the historical monuments. By combining colonial style and elegance, sophistication and charm, Kholle House brings you to a boutique hotel experience with its uniquely styled chic rooms offering the upmost in comfort on Zanzibar. Now after 3 years of restoration you can experience the history and care that went to every detail of Kholle House. Restoration was done in close cooperation with the Stone Town Development and Conservation Authority (STCDA) strictly adhering to UNESCO requirements regarding this heritage site's preservation. We spread this spirit of preservation of the architectural heritage of Stone Town by promoting artists and craftsmen who contributed to the rebirth of this house. Each of the 10 rooms is uniquely designed with combinations of Swahili and French-Creole influence. Kholle House is rich with history and color with turmeric walls, stained window details, polished nutmeg colored floors with in-laid marble accents floor tiles from the original Kholle House all reflecting the shades of vibrant Zanzibarian spices. Kholle House bears the name of a famous princess of Zanzibar, Kholle, daughter of the first Sultan of Zanzibar. Kholle House was a magnificent showcase for Princess Kholle's most treasured collectables displaying her fine china, furnishings, and artifacts from around the world and as a place to entertain friends and visiting dignitaries. Kholle, a princess whose you should know the history Context Of The Time Princess Kholle spent most of her life in the lavish Palace Beit il Sahel. Each of the Sultans Palaces had many residents including relatives, eunuchs, slaves, and all of the Sultan s wives & children from a variety of cultures. Palace gardens were beautifully landscaped with lush vegetation and grand water features. Exotic animals like peacocks, flamingos, ostriches and gazelle roamed freely behind the walls of the palace gardens.to feed the hundreds of residents at the palaces, cooks worked round the clock bringing in thousands of pounds of imported delights daily Princess Kholle and her siblings would spend their days horse-back riding, embroidering, bathing, reading, eating, and praying. The Turkish baths were a favorite place to be and were filled with people for most of the day and into the night, lounging in them for many hours each day while praying, working, reading, eating and even sleeping in them! Princess Kholle Princess Sayyidat Kholle, was considered a woman of rare beauty. Her charming manners, grace and bright spirits earned her the nickname "Njidjm il Subh" or "Morning Star".* Born in 1828, she was the daughter of Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al-Busaid, the Sultan of Oman and the 1st Sultan of Zanzibar. Her mother was an Assyrian from Mesopotamia. Her famous siblings include Princess Salme and Sayyid Barghash bin Said Al-Busaid. She was favored by her father and appointed superintendant of multiple palaces in his absence. Although this inspired jealousy in some siblings, she was renowned for her sweet temper and fairness to both family and servants. As all royalty were required to live in one of the many palaces during her father's life, this did not prevent her from acquiring property. Princess Kholle purchased one of the finest clove plantations with a beautiful palace called Sebe. There she kept some of the rarest exotic plants in the world. She also built Kholle House in Stone Town to display her most valued collectables and entertain her family, friends and visitors.*- *From Princess Salme's Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar
LOCATION Kholle House is located in the heart of town at Malindi, near the House of Wonders, by the ocean promenade and just by a 2 minutes walk of the ferry dock to Dar es Salaam and a 20 minutes ride to Zanzibar International Airport. Restaurants and Bars can be found in the surroundings. THE COMMON AREAS The common areas include a lounge Directories period, a lobby with a marble fountain, dinning room, garden conservatory with Swahili decoration, swimming pool, tea house rooftop with panoramic views over the city, harbour and islands off of Stone Town.
FACILITIES IN ROOM FEATURES Air-conditioning Ceiling fan Complimentary wireless internet Complimentary mineral water In-room safe deposit boxes HOTEL FEATURES : Outdoor swimmingpool Restaurant Wi-fi throughout hotel Spa (massages, manucures, pedicures ) Hair dry on request Laundry Service
ROOM CATEGORIES The rooms are a combination of contemporary and antique furnishings letting a perfect combination. All rooms have air-conditioning, ceiling fan, exposed beams and WiFi available. PRESTIGE SUITES : 4 Prestige Suites with sea views, the port and the old town with a private balcony, queen size beds. Deluxe Rooms : 3 Deluxe Rooms with views to the old city or the nearby mosque with a queen size bed. CLASSIC ROOMS : 1 Classic Single Room with Swahili bed and 1 Classic Double Room with Swahili bed. BREAKFAST / LUNCH/ DINNER Breakfast is served from 7.30 am to 10 am All meals are served at the terrace or dining room or under the veranda Lunch and dinner can be served on the rooftop on request Kitchen closes at 9pm Cultural events happening on bookings : EVERYDAY at 4pm: Traditional Swahili Tea with local pasteries in the Tea House Rooftop Swahili Tea US$15 per person Friday to Sunday: Swahili dinners in the tea house, with traditional musical representation of qanun Swahili Buffet US$30 per person CHILD POLICY: All ages are welcome Please enquire for special child rates PETS Pets are not allowed at Kholle House
PRESTIGE SUITES : OUR MOST LUXURIOUS PRESTIGE SUITES HAVE SEATING AREAS AND PRIVATE BALCONIES THAT OPEN UP TO BREATH-TAKING VIEWS OF THE OLD TOWN, PORT AND SEA. Each suite is uniquely designed with a mixture of Zanzibarian or French- Creole furnishings and adorned with a vast collection of antiques and Swahili influenced décor. The large and elegant bathrooms have built-in gold-stained cement tubs with inlaid traditional Zanzibarian tile detail and fine European fixtures - providing you with both comfort and style. Each room comes with: Queen size Swahili or French-Creole bed, ensuite bathroom, balcony with views of old town, port and sea, seating area, A/C, ceiling fan, mosquito net, and WiFi.
DELUXE ROOMS : OUR DELUXE ROOMS HAVE THE SAME RICH ZANZIBARIAN ELEGANCE AS OUR PRESTIGE SUITE. Each large room is unique in design and two rooms have direct access to the second floor terrace that provide you with a view of the old city or the nearby mosque. Each room includes: Queen size bed, en-suite bathroom, two rooms have views of old town, pool or mosque, A/C, ceiling fan, mosquito net, and WiFi. CLASSIC ROOMS : OUR QUAINT SINGLE CLASSIC ROOMS ARE ELEGANT, SMALL AND COZY WITH SWAHILI STYLED BEDS THAT REFLECT THE ORIGINAL STYLE OF THE HOUSE. LOCATED IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE HOUSE. Each room is different and endowed with all of the richness of the Prestige Suites and Superior Rooms designed with a gorgeous spice color palette and a mixture of antique accents and modern fixtures. The en-suite bathrooms are charming and designed with Swahili styled stained cement with in-laid traditional tile accent tiles.