Beautiful homes at convenient rates in Fumba Town – Studio rentals from $150

By Andrea Tapper

Living light is the new buzzword in Zanzibar. Affordable apartments for sale and rent in a clean and safe environment attract more and more people to the growing seaside development Fumba Town.

Sharmin Esmail tightly holds onto her tape measure. The town manager knows: Every centimetre counts in a home with about 21 square metre living space. And yet, furnished with a queen size bed handmade of coconut wood, a matching corner couch with inviting cushions in African colours, a dining table for two, a cabinet for clothes and home office, the new mini apartments in Fumba Town are renting out faster than they can be built. Inspecting practical drawers under the bed and couch, nurse Rachel, 28, seems happy with her home-to-be, and so is Omar, 27, a sales agent wanting to settle in Zanzibar for at least two years. “This is exactly what I was looking for”, he said, his mobile constantly ringing – obviously a man on the move.

Starting at a rent of $150, the mini units are perfect for a younger, aspiring clientele. “Fumba Town is not only for foreigners and rich people”, stresses Tobias Dietzold, COO of CPS, the German developer behind the project, “we are constantly widening our portfolio to enable ever larger parts of the local community to enjoy the Fumba lifestyle.” 900 residential units are sold, occupied or under construction. Eventually, the green dream town will house 3000 residential units, from apartments to town houses and chic villas. The first house was handed over in 2018. 

Every inch and corner of the new Fumba mini homes – available also unfurnished – is intelligently equipped with ample built-in storage space. The kitchenette near the entrance has a toaster oven, a two-plate cooker and fridge; a fully tiled bathroom with shower and toilet offers enough space for toiletries and towels in wooden wall fittings. “Such a studio is ideal for one person”, explains town manager Esmail, “for young professionals or students. Busy all day, they want a convenient and safe place to crash at night. The refrigerator is bigger than a hotel bar fridge; you can prepare a simple meal in your own kitchen and afterwards relax in your totally private space.”

The concept of comfy living space at very affordable rates is new for Zanzibar, even for East  Africa. The Fumba homes are part and parcel of a top-notch contemporary infrastructure with high-speed Wifi, permaculture gardens, waste recycling, clean drinking water and 24/7 safety. Overlooking palms and moringa trees, five shiny-white apartment buildings with balconies and large windows appear practically from nowhere when visitors approach Fumba Town near the village Nyamanzi. The seaside estate stretches out on 160 acres along the Indian Ocean only 18 kilometres south-west of Zanzibar City and 15 kilometres away from the airport. 

“Some five years ago all this was just a dream, a vision on the drawing board”, says one of the chief developers of the project, Tobias Dietzold. Now there’s a school, a fully operating clinic, a colourful Adobe-playground and at night, most windows in the new buildings are lit. During the day one can watch house owners driving up in pick-ups, loaded with fridges, mattresses and lampshades. Each four-storey apartment block in Fumba Town houses 16 to 24 apartments. Nine more blocks are already under construction making it a total of around 300 new living units coming up. “Until the end of the year, we will bring about 50 studios for rent on the market”, says town developer Tobias Dietzold,  “on top of that 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units.” All property in Fumba Town is individually owned; the owners can furnish and rent out their property supported by a town management rental scheme (see box). 

 “From the beginning it was our concept to provide equitable living space for a whole range of income groups”, says Sebastian Dietzold who in cooperation with his wife Katrin and brother Tobias started Fumba Town. “Sure, not every house will be seafront, but all have the same infrastructure comfort”, adds Tobias Dietzold. The brothers, who grew up in Tanzania, promise: “We’ll open up Fumba Town even further with yet more affordable living concepts.” 

Meanwhile, after making her first coffee in her new studio and enjoying her sea view, tenant Rachel has one more question: “Will it be safe for me to return here at night?” Town Manager Sharmin Esmail does not hesitate to reassure her: “Being a single woman myself I know how important safety is. With CCTV cameras and patrolling guards, Fumba Town is every bit your secure home away from home.”

3 questions to the town manager

Sharmin Esmail about the advantages of Fumba Town:

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What can I rent? With more and more housing being completed, new rentals are coming on the market almost daily, among them 50 furnished or unfurnished studio apartments, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments and townhouses with up to 5 bedrooms. Fumba Town is a new seaside town, only 20 minutes drive away from Zanzibar City. We provide quality living with a complete infrastructure for all budgets. And we have beautiful sunsets here!

How much is the rent? 

Studio apartments start at $150, 1 bedroom apartments at $250, 2 bedrooms are available from $350. Townhouses with 2-5 bedrooms start from $450. 

Can I also buy a budget home? Anybody, local or foreigner, can purchase units in Fumba Town with a 99-year lease. Prices start as low as $25,900 for a studio apartment and go up to 300.000 and more for a villa. More than 900 homes have been sold as investments, holiday homes or permanent homes. We offer furnishing and rental packages for homeowners.

Information:  fumba.town, Tel.255 623 989 900