OUR STORY
The family and team
Haji and Marina raised their four children at Mangrove Lodge. Their sons Ali and Rama are now part of the lodge team, alongside people from Chuini and surrounding villages working across the garden, kitchen, housekeeping, reception, maintenance, guiding and guest care.
Haji and Marina remain involved behind the scenes but are less present in day-to-day guest hosting than in earlier years. The final page can introduce current team members by name and role where they are comfortable being featured.
Marina
Marina moved from Italy to Zanzibar in 2006 and made the island her home. She understands both the excitement of arriving from elsewhere and the care needed to welcome travellers into a culture that is not their own.
Her attention to food, detail and the practical flow of the lodge continues to influence how guests are looked after without making the experience formal.
Haji Ramadhan Ali
Haji was born in Chuini and founded Mangrove Lodge in 2008. He purchased the land, followed the design and construction, and worked with local carpenters and locally sourced materials to bring the lodge to life.
His years of guiding and deep knowledge of Zanzibar continue to inform the team, the experiences they recommend and the way the lodge shares the history and culture around Chuini.
Rooted in Chuini
Mangrove Lodge grew from two lives, one family home in Chuini and a shared belief that hospitality can help people understand a place. It remains personal because the family, team and community around the lodge continue to shape the experience, even as day-to-day hosting has evolved.
At Mangrove Lodge, responsible travel begins with everyday relationships: who welcomes guests, prepares food, guides experiences, supplies the lodge and cares for the garden and coast.
