Matemwe Beach House, Zanzibar

This traditional three-room residence is the perfect escape for families or groups looking for a private slice of Zanzibar’s beautiful coastline.

The warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean are on your doorstep, which means snorkelling, kayaking, boat trips and diving excursions are easy to arrange – although you may find lazy days relaxing in the private swimming pool and soaking up the tranquil surroundings equally appealing. A team of staff – including a private chef and butler – is dedicated to looking after your every need, so you have the freedom to relax completely.

“Days spent at Matemwe are breezy and genuinely carefree.” - Lize W on TripAdvisor

“Everything about Matemwe is perfect... the staff, the food, the beach, the lodge, the diving and snorkelling - highlights are the Muyuni trip and romantic beach dinner organised by the resort... we didn't want to leave!” - Pru B on TripAdvisor

“A wonderful resort and location to relax and recharge. Lovely accommodations, great food and top-notch management make this a wonderful getaway. From the managers to the staff, everyone was warm and attentive. Activities include expert guided snorkelling and reef walks! Highly recommend and hope to visit again!” - CMseattle on TripAdvisor

“From the time we arrived up to our departure we were treated like royalty. The accommodation is really great and the view spectacular.
The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. They went the extra mile by setting up a "special family dinner" just for us and it was one of those evenings that will stay with our family forever. Please visit the Spa for one of the most relaxing massages ever. We are going back next year.” - bmr0 on TripAdvisor

The Matemwe Beach House team are great at keeping children entertained – from beach football with children from the local village to reef walks looking for starfish at low tide, there’s plenty to do without going far at all.

Choose your meals from the fishermen’s daily catch and watch as your personal chef cooks up a fusion of traditional Zanzibari and international flavours. A personal butler is also on hand throughout the day and will assist with activity bookings and spa treatments.

At a glance

Accommodation & Amenities

3 rooms (2 doubles and 1 twin)
Private plunge pool (with pool net)
Air conditioning in downstairs double bedrooms
En-suite bathrooms for downstairs double bedrooms
Butler service
Personal bar
Spa (at Matemwe Lodge)
Not suitable for disabled guests
In-room lockable box
Hair dryer
Laundry service
Power: 240V mains & generator back-up
WiFi

Closest Airstrip

Zanzibar Airport: approximately 75 minutes

Activities

Reef walk
Snorkelling
Village visit
Kayaking

Diving
Dhow sailing trips
Stone Town visit
Spice tour

Matemwe Beach House Dates

Closed 3 April to 31 May
High season 1 – 31 July; 1 September – 31 October
Peak season 1 – 5 January; 1 – 31 August and 20 – 31 December
Low season 6 January – 2 April; 1 – 30 June and 1 November – 19 December

Child Ages

Children of all ages are welcome at The Matemwe Beach House.

Need more information? Get in touch

Accommodation

Family Accommodation

The house sleeps six people in two double bedrooms on the ground floor and has a mezzanine bedroom with two single beds, all with mosquito nets.

Both downstairs double bedrooms are air conditioned. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with shower and the second bathroom contains a bath and shower.

“This was so relaxing that we tried to extend our stay beyond original booking.”

A Typical Day at Matemwe Beach House

Matemwe Beach House is the perfect holiday home for a family or a small group wanting a private slice of this beautiful coastline.

You’re free to structure your days as you desire to suit your family’s needs. A wide range of family-friendly activities and excursions are on offer to suit all ages and activity levels, and your private pool awaits on those days when you feel like staying in. It’s entirely up to you.

Meeting point for norkeling and scuba diving trips

Family Holidays

Matemwe Beach House (with its own private chef and activity guide) is superb for family beach holidays.

Personal attention, accommodation and service come together to give you a once-in-a-lifetime tropical island escape. A superb range of activities – from snorkelling, kayaking, boat trips and diving excursions – keeps the entire family entertained.

Other exciting activities include a fascinating reef walk, learning more about the endangered turtles of the island, a tour of the exotic Stone Town, a cultural visit to Prison Island, a fragrant Swahili cooking class, or a tour of the local village, among others.

The private swimming pool is perfect for lazy days in the tropical sun.

Location

Secluded Matemwe Beach on the northeastern coast of Zanzibar Island is perfectly situated opposite the spectacular diving and snorkelling reefs of the Mnemba Atoll and surrounded by some of the best beaches in Zanzibar.

Privacy and exclusivity are paramount at Matemwe, where the beach is still one of the quieter and more exclusive locations on the island.

Matemwe Beach House is situated slightly south of Matemwe Lodge, right on the beachfront. A short walk across the beach provides access to the lodge and all its facilities, including the spa and open-air restaurant.

A 30-minute boat ride away is Mnemba Island and the world-renowned coral reef that provides some of the most spectacular diving and snorkelling in the world.

A hammock and large sofa take prime position on the wooden deck outside, a shady spot in which to while away an afternoon or enjoy evening sundown cocktails overlooking the ocean.

The Matemwe Beach House is perfect for groups and families who enjoy home-away-from-home island hospitality

Beach House experience

Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements – our chefs will be happy to cater to your needs. We are able to accommodate most dietary requirements, unfortunately very strict kosher cooking is not possible.

Delicious Fresh Meals

All our food is sourced locally (including fruit and vegetables), and seafood is bought from local suppliers who use sustainable techniques. This means, for example, that we do not buy net- or spear-caught fish but only that caught on lines.

Meals are a mix of gourmet-style cooking and traditional Zanzibari cuisine with loads of seafood. The buffet-style breakfast includes fresh fruit, muffins, croissants, cereal and yoghurts as well as a full English breakfast.

Lunch and dinner are three-course meals: choose between two starters, three main dishes (including a meat, fish and vegetarian option) and two desserts. Simpler meals can be arranged for children – please advise ahead of time what your children’s preferences are and we will do our best to cater accordingly. Meal times are entirely flexible, and can accommodate your schedule and meal times as you desire, including earlier meals times for children, should you require this.

Tuesdays and Fridays are barbecue night (with a range of seafood and meats) and Sunday is a Swahili buffet, offering a large selection of traditional dishes enjoyed communally at Matemwe Lodge.

We offer picnic lunches during excursions to the sandbank and Muyuni beach. Guests who go on the Stone Town tour or spice tour can be taken to a restaurant in Stone Town if they wish.