Starting from $480,000 – Fully furnished with high-end appliances, VAT included
Nuru Apartment – One-of-a-Kind 3-Bedroom Zanzibar Penthouse | Vela Blu Zanzibar
Nuru means light in Swahili, and when you stand on the 109 m² terrace of this residence and watch the Indian Ocean catch the morning sun, the name speaks for itself. Three bedrooms, 102.65 m² of carefully proportioned interiors, and a private outdoor area that matches the home in scale. The Nuru Apartment is not a unit in a complex. It is a standalone proposition: the only residence of its type at Vela Blu, conceived for those who recognise that certain things are not produced in multiples.
Nuru Apartment Layout & Dimensions
Over 211 m² of combined interior and terrace space, divided between 102.65 m² of built interior area and a 109.22 m² private outdoor platform that has no equivalent anywhere else at Vela Blu. This is the sole three-bedroom residence in the development. The sole unit whose terrace rivals the home in square meterage. And the sole address where the outdoor living area can comfortably host a jacuzzi, a dining table for eight, a lounge zone, and still leave room to stand at the edge with nothing between you and the Indian Ocean. Every room is proportioned for permanence, not just for short stays.
Architecture & Interior Design
The Nuru Apartment occupies a singular position at Vela Blu, both architecturally and in terms of what it offers its owner. Where the rest of the complex is designed around replication and efficiency, Nuru is designed around the idea that a single residence can be a destination in its own right. The materials, proportions, and finishes all reflect that ambition.
A Rooftop Perspective
At the uppermost level of the complex, the apartment’s layout takes full advantage of its unobstructed exposure. Wide glass panels on the ocean side pull the horizon into every main living space. The 109.22 m² terrace wraps the residence in outdoor floor area that functions as a second home: furnished, lit for evening use, and oriented to capture the full arc of the Paje coastline. Below, the lagoon pool and courtyard gardens are visible but distant enough to feel private. Above, nothing but open air.
Material Integrity
The same locally sourced stone and warm timber that define the rest of Vela Blu are used here, but at a scale and level of finish that reflect the apartment’s status within the development. Photovoltaic panels on the roof offset the energy demands of the unit and the complex. Water-conscious fittings reduce resource use across all wet rooms. And the structural materials themselves, coral stone, hardwood, poured concrete, are specified to improve with exposure to the coastal climate rather than resist it.
Room by Room
The three-bedroom layout is arranged to give communal spaces the volume they need and private rooms the quiet they deserve.
- Master Bedroom: The largest of the three rooms. A queen bed, full-height wardrobe system, and an en-suite bathroom with stone-finished walls and both a soaking tub and a separate shower.
- Bedroom 2: A well-proportioned private room with quality furnishings, its own natural light source, and the same level of material care found in the principal suite.
- Bedroom 3: Deliberately flexible. Furnished as a bedroom but equally usable as a home office, a media room, or a children’s space depending on how the owner chooses to live.
- Living & Dining Area: The largest interior volume in the apartment. Seating for eight at the dining table, a lounge arrangement facing the ocean, and wide openings onto the terrace that make the two spaces feel continuous.
- Kitchen: Proportioned for actual use, not display. Full-depth counters, professional-specification appliances, and enough cabinet space to stock for a household, not just a weekend.
- The Terrace: The feature that defines Nuru. At 109.22 m², it is larger than many apartments. A jacuzzi anchors one zone. A dining table seats a full group in the open air. And the remaining space is left deliberately uncluttered: room to walk to the edge, lean on the railing, and watch the Indian Ocean shift colour through the day.
Light, Air, and Orientation
The apartment is positioned to receive morning sun on the bedroom side and afternoon light across the terrace, giving each part of the home its own character at different times of day. Trade winds enter through operable glazing and move through the open-plan layout without interruption, reducing the need for mechanical cooling and keeping the interior temperature comfortable year-round.
The Nuru Investment Proposition
There is no way to replicate this apartment. One unit, one terrace, one position at the crown of the building. That singularity is the core of the investment case. Combine it with a projected nightly rate of $685 under professional management, Zanzibar’s 15% income tax rate, and a 60/40 revenue split in the owner’s favour, and Nuru becomes not just a residence but a high-performing financial asset with a built-in moat: there will never be a second one to compete with it.
Price
$480,000
– Fully furnished with high-end appliances, VAT included
Predicted ROI
12% – 21%
Breakeven Period
4.8 years*
Management Support
Full-service property management, from guest acquisition and check-in to upkeep and revenue reporting
One apartment at the top of the building, one owner, and a revenue profile shaped by the rarest thing in coastal real estate: zero competition from an identical product.
Key sustainable features include:
Sustainable by Design, Not by Afterthought
At the top of the building, the Nuru Apartment benefits directly from the environmental systems that serve the entire Vela Blu complex. But it also carries its own responsibility: as the largest residence, its resource demands are the highest, and the design addresses that head-on through material choices, energy infrastructure, and water management that keep its footprint proportionate to the rest of the development.
The philosophy is straightforward. Use local materials that belong in this climate. Generate clean energy on-site. Consume less water without asking residents to notice. And build with enough quality that the next renovation is decades away, not years.
On-Site Solar Power
Photovoltaic panels mounted on the complex roof supply renewable electricity, reducing grid draw and lowering the shared utility charges passed on to owners.
Reduced Water Consumption
Engineered fixtures throughout the apartment maintain full performance while cutting per-unit water use, protecting Zanzibar’s limited freshwater resources.
Built for the Long Term
Coral stone, hardwood, and marine-grade hardware are chosen not only for appearance but for their ability to endure decades of salt air, tropical rain, and direct sun without degradation.
The Vela Blu Common Ground
Beyond the front door of the Nuru Apartment, the full Vela Blu amenity programme is available to every resident and guest:
24/7 Security
Dedicated personnel and integrated surveillance systems operate continuously, covering entry points, shared spaces, and the complex perimeter.
Restaurant & Pool Bar
A full-service courtyard restaurant paired with a thatched poolside bar. Open from morning through the evening, serving Zanzibari and international menus without requiring anyone to leave the grounds.
Lagoon Pool & Garden Courtyard
A sinuous, multi-depth lagoon pool with palm-crowned islets, warm hardwood sun decks, and a surrounding courtyard of tropical species, stone walkways, and softly lit evening gathering spots.
Gym & Fitness Center
Strength and conditioning equipment housed in a naturally lit space with garden-facing openings, designed for consistent use rather than occasional visits.
Complex-Wide Energy Systems
Solar generation, standby power, and water-saving infrastructure operate at building level, keeping service charges predictable and environmental performance measurable.
Paje: The Location Behind the Investment
The Nuru Apartment sits within Vela Blu, and Vela Blu sits at the edge of a village that has become one of the Indian Ocean’s most compelling coastal addresses. Paje’s combination of natural beauty, growing infrastructure, and international visitor traffic is the engine that powers rental demand and property appreciation across the area.
The Beach
Paje Beach begins 480 meters from the complex entrance. It is one of Zanzibar’s longest unbroken stretches of white sand, backed by warm, shallow water and trade winds that have established it as a world-class kitesurfing venue.
The Village
Within walking distance: Maalum Cave (350 meters), a remarkable natural pool set in dense vegetation; Shanga Restaurant, known for artisan Zanzibari cuisine; Bento Food Court for casual international dining; and a growing corridor of independent cafés, co-working hubs, and design-led retail.
The Connections
Zanzibar International Airport is 50 km northwest, offering direct routes to Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, and Doha. Vela Breeze, the adjacent Vela project, sits 700 meters south, reinforcing the district’s emergence as a recognised residential and hospitality hub.
A single-unit penthouse in a village with year-round tourism, expanding flight connectivity, and a property market where demand continues to outpace new supply. The location does not just complement the apartment; it underwrites it.
Securing the Nuru Apartment
There is one apartment and one process to claim it:
Express Interest
Contact the Vela team to confirm availability and schedule a detailed consultation on the Nuru Apartment.
Reserve with a Deposit
A $20,000 deposit takes the apartment off the market and secures your position as the sole buyer.
Agree a Payment Schedule
Remaining payments are mapped to construction progress, with a tailored timeline that reflects the scale and exclusivity of the purchase.
Take Ownership
On handover, choose your path: move in, use it seasonally, or hand the keys to the professional management team and let the rental income begin.
One apartment. One terrace. One opportunity. It will not come around again.
Reserve the Nuru Apartment Today
Over 211 m² of indoor-outdoor living at the very top of Vela Blu. Three bedrooms, an ocean-facing terrace with no equal in the complex, and an investment profile built on the simple fact that supply is permanently fixed at one. If the numbers, the views, and the singularity speak to you, the next step is a conversation.