Matemwe Lodge

a unique and special location

Matemwe Lodge is located in the Matemwe area of Zanzibar Island.

This property is owned and operated by Attitude Hotels, a company which owns a large portfolio of properties in Mauritius.

Matemwe Lodge is the original and arguably still the best small beach lodge on the island, somewhere which has gone from strength to strength over the years.

It is in an absolutely stunning position on coral rocks above the incredible turquoise lagoon at the northern end of a 17 km long white-sand beach.

The lodge looks directly out over Mnemba Atoll, location for the best diving and snorkelling in Zanzibar.

It is set on a very large plot, with almost 400 metres of ocean frontage and surrounded on either side by related properties. It is very unusual to have this level of insulation and exclusivity on the island these days.

Approaching from the small dirt road that leads up through the village, we pass through the entrance gates and descend down into the magical gardens and the lovely reception building.

Up a small flight of steps to the right we arrive in the understated main restaurant, directly over the ocean and with an extraordinary view along the palm-lined lagoon to the south.

Immediately to the south of the rocks upon which the restaurant sits there is a beautiful white-sand beach, this end of which is effectively private, especially at high tide.

Set into the foliage to the back of the beach is a substantial watersports centre, more on the various activities below.

Climbing back up to the restaurant and continuing north along the ridge of coral above the ocean, we next come to the swimming pool area. There are actually two lovely little pools, an infinity pool on the upper level, cascading down to a lower pool tucked down in the gardens below, ideal for windy days.

Alongside the upper pool there is a pleasant chillout space, with a small spa above. Just past the lower pool there is a lovely lounge area and a bar constructed out of an old dhow.

From here we follow a meandering path through gorgeous gardens, some of the prettiest on the island, filled with flowers, butterflies and interesting items collected from the ocean. These gardens are tucked in behind the coral rocks and are extremely tranquil.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Matemwe Lodge is in 12 Suite Rooms immediately above the ocean, some of which have an upper mezzanine level.

Access to the rooms is via a range of different stairways and bridges which take you back up to the top level and that awesome turquoise lagoon.

Activities

Matemwe Lodge provides access to the following activities, not all of which are necessarily included in the usual room rate …

• Snorkelling
• Diving
• Kite-surfing
• Sailing
• Kayaking
• Reef-walking
• Village walks
• Cultural interaction
• Island tours
• Spa treatments

Of all the diverse beach locations that can be added to a safari in East Africa, Zanzibar is by far the most popular and therefore tends to feature in a high proportion of trips.

The usual stay duration is 3-7 nights.

Seasonality

The climate on Zanzibar Island is tropical, with predominantly hot, humid and sunny conditions.

There is rain on most days of the year, usually taking the form of light showers. During the Nov-Dec and Mar-May rainy seasons these can turn into heavy and persistent downpours.

There can also be very strong winds during the May-Jun early dry season period.

The best times down on the coast are therefore considered to be Jul-Oct and Jan-Mar, when there is usually slightly less rain and wind.

Unfortunately these best periods happen to coincide with the two peak seasons for visitor traffic.

Getting around

The majority of visitors to Zanzibar Island arrive via the international airport just southeast of Stone Town.
People including Zanzibar at the front end of their trip may arrive into Dar es Salaam over on the mainland, from where it is a short hop by light aircraft to the island.

Once on the island it is usual to travel around by guided overland transfers. Self-drive is most definitely not recommended.

by far the most popular beach location in East Africa