Unguja. Zanzibar\u2019s tourism has long been defined by turquoise waters, coral beaches and the heritage of Stone Town. In recent years, however, a quieter economy has emerged, centred on wellness, healing and a slower, more intentional way of living.<\/p>\n
From boutique retreats to high-end spas, the islands are positioning themselves as a destination where rest and culture intersect.<\/p>\n
Few stories reflect this transformation as vividly as that of Svitlana Nikolaieva, known as Nuru (pictured), a Ukrainian-born former paediatrician who arrived in Zanzibar by chance and built a life, and a business, around a new understanding of care.<\/p>\n
Trained as a medical doctor, Ms Nuru began her career in paediatrics, driven by a desire to help children heal. Over time, however, hospital systems left her uneasy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started questioning a model of healthcare that focused almost entirely on illness and pain,\u201d she recalls. \u201cThere was little space for prevention, balance or happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seeking a different approach to health, she left clinical medicine and travelled to Nepal, where she studied Ayurveda, the ancient holistic system of wellbeing.<\/p>\n
There, she realised that healing could focus on harmony, between body, mind and environment, not just diagnosis and treatment.<\/p>\n
Zanzibar entered her life unexpectedly. Drawn by the coast and the island\u2019s calm rhythm, Ms Nuru settled in south-east Unguja and, in 2020, opened a small wellness space in Jambiani. The timing was challenging, with global tourism in flux, yet the concept, personal, culturally grounded and deeply human, carried it through.<\/p>\n
Rather than focusing solely on physical treatments, the spa blended Ayurvedic principles with African rituals and emotional wellbeing, offering guests a chance to reconnect with themselves.<\/p>\n
Three years later, Nuru Spa and Wellness was named Africa\u2019s best spa, an accolade that surprised its founder. By 2025, the venture had outgrown its original premises and moved to a larger, purpose-built space in Bwejuu, reflecting growing demand and the island\u2019s evolving tourism offer.<\/p>\n
Running a business in Zanzibar comes with challenges, Ms Nuru says, but none insurmountable. \u201cYou have to manage many moving parts at once, and as a single female business owner on a male-dominated island, earning respect matters,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n
Supply chains for specialised products are limited, and reliable electricity, water and internet require careful planning. Still, she finds the experience deeply rewarding.<\/p>\n
\u201cZanzibar is a paradise, but more importantly, the people are kind and genuinely care. I\u2019m very grateful for my life here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Nuru\u2019s guiding philosophy is simple: a happy person rarely falls sick. From this flows a menu of experiences, sound healing, chakra cleansing, African hammam rituals, and water-based singing bowl massages, designed to restore rather than impress.<\/p>\n
Her team reflects the same ethos. All therapists are women, a deliberate choice to create trust and mutual care.<\/p>\n
The spa has become a rare source of stable, long-term employment in an industry often characterised by short contracts and seasonal work. Elizabeth Mshana, a therapist trained at Maruhubi Tourism College, joined in 2022.<\/p>\n
Originally from Moshi, she describes Nuru as \u201cwarm, generous and deeply human,\u201d noting that staff welfare is treated as seriously as guest experience.<\/p>\n
Beyond wellness treatments, Nuru has expanded into hospitality through Kimulimuli Ayurveda Spa, a small accommodation facility combining family-friendly rooms, wellness services and a restaurant offering local and international cuisine, including vegetarian, vegan and halal options.<\/p>\n
Located near Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park, it serves both tourists and locals, linking tourism to community livelihoods.<\/p>\n
The expansion comes as Zanzibar\u2019s tourism sector records strong growth. In 2025, the islands welcomed a record 917,167 international visitors, nearly 25 percent more than the previous year.<\/p>\n
While European tourists dominate, arrivals from Asia and other regions have grown, broadening the sector\u2019s resilience.<\/p>\n
Tourism remains a pillar of Zanzibar\u2019s economy, supporting employment across hospitality, transport and services. As the sector matures, smaller, skills-based enterprises like Nuru\u2019s add depth to an industry long dominated by large resorts.<\/p>\n
Today, Ms Nuru calls Zanzibar home. From paediatric wards in Ukraine to Ayurvedic classrooms in Nepal, and finally to the shores of the Indian Ocean, her journey mirrors a wider shift in the islands\u2019 tourism narrative, one that values not only what visitors see, but how they feel when they leave.<\/p>\n
As she often tells her guests, the message is simple: the world is beautiful because you are in it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Unguja. Zanzibar\u2019s tourism has long been defined by turquoise waters, coral beaches and the heritage of Stone Town.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":254818,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[134,524,111,139,121412,147302,69,147303,1297],"class_list":{"0":"post-254817","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-medication","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-newzealand","12":"tag-norwegian","13":"tag-nuru","14":"tag-nz","15":"tag-paediatrics","16":"tag-wellbeing"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254817"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254817\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=254817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}