Good and reliable mid range Zanzibar beach hotel
Guide Price: From: $265 To: $310
We love Matemwe Lodge. It has bundles of personality and excellent standards in a lovely setting overlooking the Mnemba Island, on the north east coast of Zanzibar island. After an imaginative and generous makeover a couple of years ago, it has emerged as a high-class sassy and original hotel which belies its rather mundane name, with enough flare for younger, and comfort for older independent travelers.
Matemwe Lodge is basically for couples who are looking for a bit of exclusivity, but not too much gloss. It suits those who enjoy high standards, even flare, but also admire character. Matemwe isn't five-star in the conventional sense - no TVs, shining chrome or hairdryers here - but one of a new breed of sophisticated hotels that value other things more. In a crowded, processed world where luxury comes off the shelf, qualities like privacy, authenticity and natural beauty come at a premium, and are well understood here at Matemwe Lodge.
Matemwe is perhaps not for really small children, with cliffs to fall off and stairs to tumble down everywhere -and that ever so slightly hushed atmosphere which could make a parent with boisterous kids rather neurotic. The setting of Matemwe is one of the best: a relatively remote, ragged little Ras - or coral cliff - about twenty feet above an unspoilt, and meltingly pretty stretch of ocean and beach . The twelve rooms straggle one by one right along the Ras edge, so each room has great sea views. Dawn on our very private verandah was sublime: sunrise across a turquoise sea, the sound of waves breaking out on the reef, and a flotilla of ngalawas (dug-out canoes with dhow sails) sliding past after a night's fishing. Behind, a lower path to the rooms winds through a quirky little garden of tropical plants, ponds, coral crevasses and marine sculptures.
At the heart of Matemwe Bungalows are two lovely swimming pools, not large or particularly deep but just the job: an infinity pool that goes right to the edge of the Ras, and another one below, with its own falls. Around the pool edge is timber decking for serious tanning, an open lounge bar, and cushy chill out area for sundowners over the ocean. There's more space to relax in a small lounge at the end of the dining room, and under some rough beach umbrellas on the beach itself.
12 rooms
From: 265 To: 310
Good and reliable mid range Zanzibar beach hotel
Zanzibar, along with nearby Pemba Island lies just off the coast of Tanzania and is a heady mix of tropical island life and historic Swahili culture that has beckoned travellers for centuries. During our years of living and working in Tanzania, we often took time out here, and have wound our way through Zanzibar's crumbling streets and padded along the miles of soft white beaches working out how to make the most of this fabulous island. In a nutshell, the first basic choice you'll need to make on Zanzibar is between beach and heritage - and you can, luckily, do both. Zanzibar's Stone Town is the vibrant, cultural heart of Zanzibar, the ancient capital of the sultans and site of the main trading port. As it has been a major hub for traders, explorers, and invaders for centuries, it boasts most of the historic buildings. As the island's only proper town, it is still very much alive and bustles with activity. Many visitors choose to stay a couple of nights here to really get the vibe of the place. There are also a number of beaches near Stone Town, either a little way north or south of the town,or on small islands that lie a short distance from the harbour in the Zanzibar channel. These places offer a great way to get a bit of everything, with private hotels that allow an easy trip to Stone Town at any time of the day, and peace and quiet for some blissing out at the beach. Serious beach fanatics will head for the east coast of Zanzibar, which is lined with long white stretches of fabulous sands, the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean and a good variety of beach hotels. Though development has been fast and dramatic along this coastline in recent years, many of the beaches are still pratically empty of tourists, and traditional coastal village life continues unabated. Some of the most lovely beaches are to be found on the north coast of Zanzibar,which because the island ends here in a sharp point, encompasses some eastern and western coastline. Here the sea is textbook turquoise, the beaches smaller, often more exclusive, and, most importantly for underwater adventurers, yields a wide and wonderful choice of snorkelling and dive sites within easy reach of all the hotels. As Zanzibar is a small island - 53 miles long by, at its widest point, 23 miles wide - these beaches are far flung enough to feel well castaway, yet they are still less than two hours' drive from the airport and Stone Town. The largest island beyond the main island of Zanzibar (or Unguja) itself, is Pemba Island,which lies 25 miles north north east. A little smaller than Zanzibar, and much, much less developed , it has superbly beautiful seas, world renowned diving and real tropical tranquillity, and is one of the most stunning islands on the whole African coast. Read more?
Tanzania safaris rival a safari any other country in Africa in terms of sheer wilderness, formidable landscapes and volume of wildlife. At Natural High, we have travelled all over the country, worked in some of its best Tanzania safari camps and lodges and flown all over as bush pilots so we feel qualified to venture such opinions. Read more?
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Vanessa's 16 years in travel has seen her knowledge develop from sub-Saharan Africa into North Africa, Central and Southern America and the Galapagos. Consequently, she’s a veritable encyclopaedia of travel information and exceptionally cool, calm and collected in the face of the greatest planning demands.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
