Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
village, life moves at its own pace, with women making their way across the shallows at
low tide to harvest seaweed, strings of fish drying in the sun, and cows and chickens wan-
dering across the road - all thousands of miles from the world of ringing mobile phones,
traffic jams and high-rise office buildings that most of Matemwe's visitors have left behind.
As you head south along the coast, the sands of Matemwe slide almost imperceptibly in-
to those of Pwani Mchangani, a large fishing village that acts as a buffer before the string
of Italian resorts further south at Kiwengwa.
Sleeping
Matemwe Beach Village
LODGE $$
( 0777-417250, 0777-437200;
www.matemwebeach.net
;
r per person with half-board
US$80-135, asali ste with half-board US$400; ) This recommended beachfront
place has a wonderful setting on a beautiful stretch of coast, a low-key ambience and spa-
cious, airy, good-value bungalows with small verandahs. Most are on the beach, separated
only by a low wall of vegetation, with a few more set back about 100m on a low rise.
There's also a private beachfront honeymoon suite with its own plunge pool, outdoor bath-
room, chef and separate stretch of sand, plus several two-storey '
shamba
suites' and an
open lounge area with throw pillows. One Ocean/The Zanzibar Dive Centre (
Click here
)
has a branch here.
Sunshine Hotel
HOTEL $$$
( 0774-388662;
www.sunshinezanzibar.com
;
s/d US$140/210, garden apt s/d US$100/
130, ste from US$280; ) This new, good place on the beach next door to Zanzibar
Retreat Hotel has about 14 rooms in two-storey blocks, all with louvered doors and stand-
ing and ceiling fans. All look over the small garden towards the beach. There are also two
suites, a garden apartment and a restaurant
Nyota Beach Bungalows
BUNGALOW $$
( 0777-484303, 0777-439059;
www.nyotabeachbungalows.com
;
s/d/tr from US$40/75/
100) Nyota has straightforward but atmospheric bungalows (including one two-storey bun-
galow) set amid the palms and papaya trees in a garden just back from the beach. There's
also a restaurant on-site.
Matemwe Bungalows
BUNGALOW $$$
(
www.asiliaafrica.com/matemwe
; ste per person full board US$337; mid-Jun-Easter;
) Matemwe Bungalows, about 1km north of Matemwe Beach Village, is a relaxing,
