From Vision to Reality: The Birth of Casa Rodi
The journey of Casa Rodi began in 2022, when Anas Houssaini identified a rare opportunity along Zanzibar’s southeast coast. Drawn to Jambiani’s natural beauty, slow-paced village life, and long-term tourism potential, he acquired beachfront land with the intention of creating something intimate, culturally grounded, and enduring.
Developing a luxury boutique hotel in a remote coastal location came with inevitable challenges from logistics and infrastructure to sourcing quality materials while preserving local craftsmanship. Anas remained hands-on throughout the process, ensuring the project stayed aligned with its original vision: a serene retreat that feels organically connected to its surroundings.
Casa Rodi was never designed to be a standalone hotel. From the outset, it was conceived as a living concept one that could evolve, expand, and set a standard for future developments built on the same philosophy.
Casa Rodi Boutique Hotel, located along the untouched shores of Jambiani Beach in Zanzibar, is set to welcome its first guests in February 2026. More than a luxury hospitality opening, Casa Rodi represents the foundation of a broader vision one that blends design, culture, and long-term development rooted in authenticity and intention.
Built using natural materials and inspired by African craftsmanship, Casa Rodi offers an immersive experience where refined design meets the raw beauty of Zanzibar’s coastline. Every detail reflects a deep respect for nature, locality, and thoughtful luxury.
Behind this vision is Anas Houssaini, whose decade-long experience in real estate investment and development shaped the strategic and architectural direction of the project. What began as a single hospitality concept has now evolved into a larger, forward-looking partnership aimed at redefining boutique development in Zanzibar.
A defining milestone in Casa Rodi’s journey came with the partnership between Anas Houssaini and Ahmed Bawazir, marking the beginning of a new chapter built on shared values, complementary strengths, and a unified long-term strategy.
This partnership goes beyond a single hotel. Together, Houssaini and Bawazir have established a complete business model new to Zanzibar focused on sustainable boutique developments that respect culture, environment, and long-term value creation.
Casa Rodi now serves as the operational and conceptual base for this partnership. With additional land acquisitions already underway, the vision extends toward developing multiple projects across Zanzibar, each aligned with the same principles of authenticity, design integrity, and meaningful hospitality.
Rather than scaling through mass development, the partnership emphasizes precision, quality, and experience-driven destinations positioning Casa Rodi as the beginning, not the destination.
Casa Rodi’s architecture and interiors celebrate natural materials, locally sourced stone, handcrafted woodwork, and artisanal finishes. Modern luxury is subtly integrated, allowing the surrounding environment to remain the focal point.
The hotel is deeply connected to the culture of Jambiani, a village known for its fishing traditions, seaweed farming, and strong community identity. Instead of imposing a foreign aesthetic, Casa Rodi blends into the landscape honoring local heritage while offering refined comfort.
With a limited number of rooms, the boutique model allows for personalized experiences. Guests can enjoy tailored wellness offerings, curated cultural excursions, sunrise beach walks, and intimate dining experiences inspired by regional flavors. Every stay is designed to feel personal, calm, and immersive.
The completion of Casa Rodi stands as a testament to perseverance and clarity of vision. Infrastructure limitations, remote logistics, and coordination with local artisans tested the project at every stage. These challenges, however, strengthened the foundation and reinforced the importance of hands-on leadership and long-term thinking.
Today, Casa Rodi represents more than a hospitality project. It reflects a transition from a single development to a scalable, values-driven model that balances investment, culture, and sustainability.
Through the partnership between Houssaini and Bawazir, Casa Rodi evolved into a platform for future projects each one contributing to Zanzibar’s growing reputation as a destination for meaningful, design-led boutique experiences.
Casa Rodi contributes to a growing movement within Zanzibar’s tourism sector one that favors intimacy over scale and authenticity over excess. Boutique developments like Casa Rodi attract discerning travelers seeking connection, privacy, and purpose-driven experiences.
By integrating seamlessly with its environment and community, the project enhances Jambiani’s profile as a refined yet grounded destination. Its success is expected to encourage a new wave of thoughtfully planned developments that respect the island’s character while elevating its global appeal
As Casa Rodi opens its doors in February 2026, it signals the start of a broader journey. With new projects in development and additional land acquisitions underway, the partnership between Anas Houssaini and Ahmed Bawazir is focused on building a lasting presence in Zanzibar one project at a time.
Casa Rodi is the foundation. What follows is a carefully curated portfolio shaped by vision, discipline, and respect for place.
Casa Rodi Boutique Hotel is more than a luxury destination it is a living vision built on partnership, purpose, and cultural integrity. From its thoughtful design to its evolving development strategy, the project reflects what is possible when ambition is guided by clarity and collaboration.
As guests begin to experience its serene beaches, intimate spaces, and authentic hospitality, Casa Rodi stands as both a destination and a beginning setting the tone for a new chapter in Zanzibar’s boutique hospitality story.
Check their Website to know more.
Do follow on Instagram.
Read More:- Gold Prices Drop Sharply: Could a Big Index Shift Be Behind It 2026?
