13/10/2020
Thank you all - it was an amazing ride!
After over 10 years the time has come to move on to new challenges away from Zanzibar, which means the end of the Red Monkey Lodge as we knew it.
A combination of various factors have made leaving the lodge, an unavoidable and final decision.
We want to extend special thanks to the amazing team we shared the journey with, and our gratitude goes out to former neighbours, suppliers, friends and past clients for their support over these unforgettable years.
Having started out on the 19th December 2010 with just a few hundred dollars, 6 rooms and a charcoal grill on the kitchen floor, we're proud to move on knowing how we grew our little piece of paradise at the end of Jambiani and changed lives in the process.
Red Monkey Lodge, was home to uncountable days and nights of laughter and fun, birth of lifelong friendships, engagements and infinite stories of new and old friendships - individuals and groups from all over the world shared unforgettable moments at our Zanzibar home.
Proudly, we have been among the first establishments in Tanzania to be certified by RTTZ and to introduce a zero plastic policy as well as having organised the first permaculture course held in Zanzibar.
Many local and international artists gifted our stage at the Crazy Monday jam sessions. Culinary highlights where brought to us by Michelin starred chefs through our Zanzibar Gourmet project. Active travellers enjoyed kitesurfing, bike tours, special events and exploring the the island through our other partnerships and initiatives.
It was the starting place for the first Kite School in Jambiani, the birthplace of the first rugby tournament and the first dedicated Bicycle Tour company on the island. Not forgetting, being hosts of 9 editions of the Zanzibar Beach and Watersports Festival.
Among the legends and artists who graced our tiny stage at the Crazy Monday Jam Sessions are: Fela Kuti’s Dele Sosimi, jazz star Cleveland Watkiss, Sona Jobarteh, Seputura’s Igor Cavalera, the late Oliver Mtukudzi & Adel Dabo (may they rest in peace), Grammy winning Joss stone, the improvised acoustic session by Brit award winner Finlay Quaye and DJ sets by luminars of electronic music such as Richard Dorfmeister (K&D) and Philippe Cohen Solal (Gotan Project). We have left but the legacy of Crazy Monday continues in Zanzibar and has moved to our long time friends at the neighbouring Coral Rocks Hotel.
We've run numerous free workshops for the benefit of the local music scene, along with the unforgettable week with 'In Place of War' and we gladly remember Pete OTC’s Radio show on Worldwide FM from our bar.
Other special moments included, Cesare Prandelli, then coach of the Italian national football team, refereeing for a tournament of the local teams; Sports Illustrated doing a swimsuit shoot on the beach and the Spanish Amazing Race running through the lodge.
We hope that the seeds of our projects and collaborations will in some way continue to bring people together and bring joy.
Thank you all - it was an amazing ride!
After over 10 years the time has come to move on to new challenges away from Zanzibar, which means the end of the Red Monkey Lodge as we knew it.
A combination of various factors have made leaving the lodge, an unavoidable and final decision.
We want to extend special thanks to the amazing team we shared the journey with, and our gratitude goes out to former neighbors, suppliers, friends and past clients for their support over these unforgettable years.
Having started out on the 19th December 2010 with just a few hundred dollars, 6 rooms and a charcoal grill on the kitchen floor, we're proud to move on knowing how we grew our little piece of paradise at the end of Jambiani and changed lives in the process.
Red Monkey Lodge, was home to uncountable days and nights of laughter and fun, birth of lifelong friendships, engagements and infinite stories of new and old friendships - individuals and groups from all over the world shared unforgettable moments at our Zanzibar home.
Proudly, we have been among the first establishments in Tanzania to be certified by RTTZ and to introduce a zero plastic policy as well as having organized the first permaculture course held in Zanzibar.
Many local and international artists gifted our stage at the Crazy Monday jam sessions. Culinary highlights where brought to us by Michelin starred chefs through our Zanzibar Gourmet project. Active travelers enjoyed kitesurfing, bike tours, special events and exploring the island through our other partnerships and initiatives.
It was the starting place for the first Kite School in Jambiani, the birthplace of the first rugby tournament and the first dedicated Bicycle Tour company on the island. Not forgetting, being hosts of 9 editions of the Zanzibar Beach and Watersports Festival.
Among the legends and artists who graced our tiny stage at the Crazy Monday Jam Sessions are Fela Kuti’s Dele Sosimi, jazz star Cleveland Watkiss, Sona Jobarteh, Sepultura's Igor Cavalera, the late Oliver Mtukudzi & Adel Dabo (may they rest in peace), Grammy-winning Joss stone, the improvised acoustic session by Brit award winner Finlay Quaye and DJ sets by luminars of electronic music such as Richard Dorfmeister (K&D) and Philippe Cohen Solal (Gotan Project). We have left but the legacy of Crazy Monday continues in Zanzibar and has moved to our long-time friends at the neighboring Coral Rocks Hotel.
We've run numerous free workshops for the benefit of the local music scene, along with the unforgettable week with 'In Place of War' and we gladly remember Pete OTC’s Radio show on Worldwide FM from our bar.
Other special moments included Cesare Prandelli, then coach of the Italian national football team, refereeing for a tournament of the local teams; Sports Illustrated doing a swimsuit shoot on the beach and the Spanish Amazing Race running through the lodge.
We hope that the seeds of our projects and collaborations will in some way continue to bring people together and bring joy.
It's the end of a beautiful and heartfelt project for us but also the start of a new chapter.
During our time at Red Monkey Lodge we met some of the world's most incredible people and we hope to keep in touch. Stay tuned and we'll see you soon.
If you're interested to stay in touch and curious about our next projects please write us an email!
Jambiani is always in our hearts.
Kristine & Mark
