Reviewed by Michael Cullen
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SHANGANI HOUSE - AT A GLANCE
My mother always told me not to judge a book by its cover. I think she was trying to persuade me to go out with the neighbour’s daughter (who was not a looker), but that’s not the point. The point is that a drab exterior often hides a jewel inside.
That’s certainly the case with this old townhouse, whose walls, like many in central Stone Town, are peeling and grime-covered from years of tropical sun and rain. But step through the beautifully-carved door and you enter another world. A winding mahogany staircase leads you up to one landing after another, off which lie a total of four elegant, high-ceilinged bedrooms. Carved four-poster beds and stained-glass windows hint at the care that has gone into the redecoration, with input from that pioneer of Zanzibari style, Emerson Skeens. At the top is a covered crow’s nest with unrivalled views over the motley rooves of Stone Town. It may not have all the trappings of a proper hotel, but for a discerning couple or group of friends on a medium budget, it’s a real jewel. Which just goes to show that mothers are always right. |
