Matemwe Beach Village is strung along its own stretch of palm-fringed, white sandy beach, on the north-east coast of Zanzibar. The Mnemba Atoll, which has some of the best diving in East Africa, is a short boat ride from the lodge, and the original village of Matemwe and its friendly locals is only one kilometre north. It's a good-value lodge, set in lush tropical gardens.
Matemwe Beach Village is not overly luxurious. Rather, theirs is a very relaxed beach feel – with their motto 'no shoes, no news' capturing the laid-back style of the lodge.
The large main central area is a relatively simple open-sided thatched space with a lounge and bar. The low-walled lounge is furnished with plenty of very low cushioned seats and tables, making it a great place to keep out of the heat of the sun. Up some stairs there is also a TV room with lots of comfy sofas – a good distraction for families with children.
The lodge's bar offers local beers, cocktails and fresh juices, while the restaurant serves Zanzibar cuisine. The chef uses fresh products provided by people within the community and prepares a small menu, changing on a daily basis.
The two pools at Matemwe Beach Village (one raised up and trickling into the lower pool) are surrounded with comfortable sunloungers, and there are plenty of areas to relax in the shade.
There are three different types of accommodation at Matemwe Beach Village:
16 standard rooms (also called Kijiji rooms) are simple, yet comfortable, and some have sea views.
Five very spacious Shamba suites are described by Matemwe Beach Village as 'funky and romantic' which is quite an accurate description. They're good for couples and families, with a double bed and enough space for an additional single bed and a 'barazza' bed upstairs for smaller children. These suites are fitted with air conditioning and a ceiling fan.
The Asali suite is specifically designed for honeymooners or romantic couples. Set right on the beachfront, it's very spacious and entirely separate from the rest of the lodge. It even comes with its very own chef!
Matemwe Beach Village is a good choice for those hoping to dive or snorkel as it has its own five-star PADI-affiliated dive operation called One Ocean. Non-divers may enjoy relaxing on the beach, swimming, taking a cruise in a dhow, or free reef walks at low tide.
Our view Matemwe Beach Village is a simple lodge with a lovely beach location. It is great value and so a good option for those looking to keep the costs down.
Lodge overview
Lodge type: Beach
No. of bedrooms: 23 rooms
Season: June to March
Ideal length of stay: 3–4 days to properly relax and enjoy the atmosphere
Central facilities: Matemwe Beach Lodge has a main central area, featuring a comfortable lounge, a bar offering cool drinks, a restaurant and a swimming pool. Also, there's a dhow available for diving and cruising.
Owner: The lodge is owned by Zanizibarian Suleiman Nyanga.
Staff: Camp/Lodge Manager: Matemwe Beach Village is managed by Gail, who is South African and has been in Zanzibar since 1995.
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Half Board
Food quality:Breakfast is served from 7.00am to 10.00am. The menu changes on a daily basis, but it usually includes fresh fruit and fruit juices, cereals, and cooked options like pancakes, eggs or bacon.
Lunch is served between 12.30pm and 3.30pm and includes dishes such as beef biriani, or the catch of the day.
For dinner, the focuses mainly on Zanzibar and Swahili cuisine. The menu is small, but it changes on a daily basis and includes options of fish, chicken and red meat (eg: grilled fillet of fish with passion fruit sauce, or chicken kebabs with a chilli garlic dressing). Vegetarian dishes are available on request.
Dining style: Inidividual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Room service: Room service at Matemwe Beach Village is available only in the honeymoon suite.
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: £10-15
Drinks included: Drinks are not included.
Special interests
Honeymoons: Matemwe Beach Village has a secluded honeymoon suite, the Asali suite, specifically designed for newlyweds. It's a spacious room, and comes complete with a stretch of private beach, a plunge pool and its own staff, including a chef, to cater for your every need.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for honeymoons in Zanzibar
Diving & snorkelling: The famous Mnemba Atoll is located just off-shore from Matemwe Beach Village. The circular reef offers some of the best diving in East Africa, and both turtles and dolphins are regular visitors. With its own PADI-affiliated dive centre offering certificate courses, Matemwe Beach Village is an ideal base for keen divers and snorkellers.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for diving & snorkelling in Zanzibar
Children
Attitude towards children: Children are welcome at Matemwe Beach Village.
Age restrictions: There are no specific age restrictions here.
Activities: There are no special facilities for minding children, although there is a TV room with DVD player and satellite TV. Children are welcome to take rides on the resident donkey, Jenny, and buckets and spades are available in the shop.
Equipment: Matemwe Beach Village has cots and highchairs available for guests.
Generally recommended for children: Yes
Notes: The lodge's five Shamba suites are spacious enough for an additional single bed and a 'barazza' bed for smaller children. However, please note that the staircases do not have a banister so are not recommended for very young children.
Central communications
Power supply: Generator
Communications: There are no phones in the rooms at Matemwe Beach Village. Guests may use the phone or access the internet on the office computer, at extra cost.
TV & radio: There is no radio at Matemwe Beach Village but they do have satellite TV in the TV room.
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: A five-minute drive away there are basic first-aid facilities and a decompression chamber. The lodge has affiliations with a local doctor.
Dangerous animals: Low Risk
Security measures: There are a number of guards who patrol the grounds at night.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers dotted around the premises.
Extras
Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: Full Laundry Service - Extra Charge
Money: The lodge accepts Tanzanian shillings, US dollars, pounds and Euros.
Accepted payment: Matemwe Beach Village does not accept debit cards or traveller's cheques, but will accept major credit cards. Note, however, that these will incur a 5% surcharge.
Matemwe Beach Village review
The rooms at Matemwe were nicely decorated and clean. The rooms had nice touches like sun hat, sarongs, mosquito coils etc. There seemed to be problems with the water pressure so the showers did not w...
Not as cool as it thinks
The beach location and room were very good. There were some nice little touches, like hats, sarongs and beach baskets in the rooms and the stories left on the beds in the evenings. The service was p...
Matemwe Beach Village review
very nive hotel and very good food (especially when served at the table): the buffet style food was not as good (in the boma or around the pool) .
the suite was very nice (colorfull and spacious) b...
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