Matemwe Bungalows, Zanzibar

Matemwe Bungalows - key facts

• Located on the north-east part of Zanzibar, a tropical island east from Tanzania
• Can be visited all year round except April-May
• 12 stand-alone en-suite bungalows with private verandas overlooking the ocean
• Intimate restaurant with seafood specialties (meat & vegetarian as well)
• Multi-level swimming pool with pool-side bar
• Activities: snorkeling, diving, massages, reef walks, dhow trips, village visits, spice tour, day trips (stone town, Jozani Forest, Prison Island)

1. Location / surroundings

Zanzibar Island is a tropical island east from Tanzania measuring 60 miles long and 20 miles wide. Zanzibar is known for its beautiful beaches and coral reefs, its palm trees, its seafood and the magic of historic Stone Town, which was recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The northeast part of the island is known as Matemwe. This part of the island is well known for its fine weather and natural beauty - the contrasting colors of the Indian Ocean, the fine white powder sand of the beach, the extreme beauty of the coral reef of the Mnemba Atoll and the wild bush vegetation. Matemwe Bungalows borders a small village of fishermen, Kigomani, who go out sailing with their armada of traditional dhows on a daily basis.

When to go there?
Matemwe Bungalows is an excellent stay at almost any time of the year, as Zanzibar has a tropical climate which is fairly stable - average temperature never drops below 25 degrees. Water temperature is just as nice with an average temperature of 20 degrees. Matemwe Bungalows is closed during the rain season (For 2005: from 1/4 until 30/6).

How to get there?
Zanzibar has an international airport with direct connections to Europe and regional destinations (o/a Dar es Salaam, Nairobi). Travel by sea is also possible: there are regular ferry services between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam. We can arrange transfers for you to/from the airport, the sea port or Stone Town.

2. Facilities

Matemwe Bungalows has 12 en-suite bungalows available built from local materials, each with a personal touch. While the sea is always available, a multi-level swimming pool is available to refresh guests during the sunny Zanzibar days. All the rooms, as well as our restaurant are directly overlooking the Indian Ocean. You can enjoy the comings and goings of the local ngalawa fishing fleet from the comfort of your veranda, from the poolside relaxation area or from the restaurant. Matemwe Bungalows is tucked between two perfect, white-sanded beaches, inviting you to relax and unwind.

All 12 suites have private verandas where you can laze in your own hammocks. Although mosquitoes are rare in Matemwe, all rooms are equipped with a large mosquito net. Our suites have large king-size beds especially suited for honeymooners. An extra single bed makes them also suitable for small families.

Seafood is the specialty of the house, with all produce bought daily from the local markets. Lunch is a buffet offering a delicious mix of African and European flavors. Dinner offers a choice of main courses between fish, meat and vegetarian.

For the early birds the sunrise is a sight to savor. Early morning, tea and/or coffee and delicious cookies will be served at your veranda. In the evening, the full moon rising out of the sea is a wonderful romantic experience you're not likely to forget. On moonless nights gaze and get lost in the star-filled sky.

Our pool-side bar under the palm trees on the sand is a peaceful retreat, as is our swimming pool overlooking the ocean (available as from July 2005). Also, you can enjoy a cocktail in the relaxing lounge area, overlooking the ocean and the activity of the fishermen.

For those who need to keep in contact with the world outside, we offer internet and telephone/fax facilities in our main building. Television still didn't make it into Paradise.

3. Activities

Matemwe Bungalows arranges ocean trips with snorkeling equipment, which enables you to enjoy the local reef and discover Mnemba Atoll in a relaxed and informative manner. Come to join us on our traditional wooden sailing dhow! Matemwe Bungalows organizes diving trips in co-operation with a professional diving centre. For the ones who don't like boats, snorkeling can be done straight from Matemwe's beach or during reef walks. Kayaks are also available to explore the crystal clear sea.

Local snorkeling/diving sites are suitable for all levels of experience, from beginning snorklers or experienced divers. Variety is the key word on the reefs around Matemwe. Soft and hard corals, sponges and anemones abound, and you will be amazed by the sheer range of fish species to be found in these waters. You might find dolphins in the water or - for the lucky ones - even spot a whale passing by the reef (best chance for whales in the period August - October).

Visits to the neighboring village can be arranged for those who want to explore the local Zanzibar culture and village life and for those who wish to learn about the community projects that Matemwe is involved in: Matemwe Bungalows has created strong, mutually beneficial relationships with its neighbors and has undertaken various community projects, including the building of a local library.

From Matemwe Bungalows, day-trips can be arranged to the historic centre of Stone Town, Jozani Forest or Prison Island. We can also organize a Spice Tour for you, a highly interesting way to get introduced to the great variety of the spices that the island is famous for.

4. Weddings and honeymoons

Candle lit private beach dinners under the stars, Champagne breakfast, honeymoon suites, aromatic massage oils…Matemwe Bungalows offers special packages for honeymooners and is proud to offer dream weddings at its pristine beaches.

Honeymoon packages can include other Asilia destinations to create an unforgettable honeymoon in Tanzania, combining a romantic stay at Matemwe Bungalows with an exclusive and intimate safari.

Prices:

Matemwe Retreat, Zanzibar

Matemwe - key facts

• Located just north of Matemwe's main lodge, on the north-eastern part of Zanzibar, right opposite the Mnemba Atoll
• Can be visited all year round, except for the rainy season of (mid) April to May
• 3 fantastic rooms with an air-conditioned bedroom, a bathroom with double sinks, a shower and a bath overlooking the Indian Ocean, a private plunge pool and cocktail bar, sun decks and spacious verandas
• Small, private beach in front of rooms
• Full room service, with drinks, private dining.
• Massages and beauty treatments (henna and hair braiding) in the main building
• Activities: diving, snorkeling, massages, beauty treatments, kayaking, reef walks, dhow sailing trips, village visits, biking, day trips (spice tour, stone town, Jozani Forest, Prison Island)
• Possibility to enjoy Matemwe's main lodge facilities: intimate restaurant, swimming pools, tropical garden
• Included in rates: full board accommodation, all drinks (except champagne, cellar wines, premium brand spirits), laundry, snorkeling, kayaking, guided reef and village walks
• Tide dependent

1. Location / Surroundings

Zanzibar Island is a tropical island east of Tanzania measuring 60 miles long and 20 miles wide. Zanzibar is known for its beautiful beaches and coral reefs, its palm trees, its seafood and the magic of historic Stone Town, which was recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The northeast part of the island is known as Matemwe. This part of the island is well known for its fine weather and natural beauty - the contrasting colors of the Indian Ocean, the fine white powder sand of the beach, the extreme beauty of the coral reef of the Mnemba Atoll and the wild bush vegetation. Matemwe borders a small village of fishermen, who go out sailing with their armada of traditional dhows on a daily basis.

When to go there?
Matemwe is an excellent stay at almost any time of the year, as Zanzibar has a tropical climate which is fairly stable - average temperature never drops below 25 degrees. The January to March period is warmer than the dry season period of June to October. November and early December have a pleasant temperature with some short rains. During the main rainy season, from (mid) April to May, Matemwe is closed.

How to get there?
Zanzibar has an international airport with direct connections to Europe and regional destinations (o/a Dar es Salaam, Nairobi). Matemwe arranges transfers to/from Stone Town or the airport. Travel by sea is also possible: there are regular ferry services between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.

2. Facilities

Retreat
Matemwe Retreat is constructed on a private stretch of land, just north of Matemwe's main lodge and right opposite the Mnemba Atoll. The Retreat consists of 3 fabulous rooms, full of personal touches. The ground floor (150 m2 including verandahs) features spacious verandahs, a private cocktail bar, an air-conditioned bedroom, a bathroom with double sinks, a shower, and a bath overlooking the Indian Ocean. On the private roof terrace (60 m2), guests will find a plunge pool (10 m2) and sun and shade decks. In front of the rooms, there is a small beach that is only used by the guests of the Retreat.

The service in the Retreat is of the highest standards: breakfast will be served on the veranda of the room, without the need to disturb guests lazing in the bed. Every day the manager or chef will stop by to discuss lunch and dinner preferences of the day: the catch of the day served in the privacy of the garden or roof terrace or a dinner at Matemwe's main lodge, to enjoy the company of other guests. Drinks are served in the room or on the beach and guests can receive massages and beauty treatments in the comfort of their roof terrace.

The Retreat is built by local craftsmen, where possible from local materials. Walls are of local stone and roofs are made of makuti (woven palm leaves) and most furniture is made of locally produced coconut wood. Soft furnishings are locally produced by women groups and the matting is produced by the blind association in Stone Town. The sun, through our solar system, supplies hot water to the lodge. Only where local produces would jeopardize the quality of the experience, materials from outside the region have been applied. Of the lodge staff, over 60% is from the villages close by Matemwe.

2 day rooms are available at the main lodge for guests that check out late. Late check outs need to be booked in advance to ensure the a day room is available.

Meals
Dinners offer a choice of main courses between fish, meat and vegetarian, with fresh seafood being the absolute specialty of the house. Breakfast offers a wide choice of fruit juices, fruits, yoghurt, cereals, pancakes and full English breakfast. Lunches are delicious buffets with a mix of African and European flavors. For the early birds the sunrise is a sight to savor. Early morning, tea and/or coffee and delicious cookies will be served at your veranda. In the evening, the full moon rising out of the sea is a wonderful romantic experience you're not likely to forget. On moonless nights gaze and get lost in the star-filled sky.

3. Activities

Matemwe offers a wide range of activities that can be undertaken in and around the lodge or elsewhere on the Zanzibar island.

Diving & snorkeling
Variety is the key word on the reefs around Matemwe. Soft and hard corals, sponges and anemones abound, and you will be amazed by the sheer range of fish species to be found in these waters. You might find turtles, rays and dolphins in the water and the lucky ones might even spot a whale passing by the reef (best chance for whales in the period August - October).

• Diving: diving is mainly done around the Mnemba Atoll, right opposite Matemwe, where the best diving spots of the island are found. Diving sites are suitable for all levels of experience.
• Snorkeling: snorkeling can be done straight from Matemwe's beach or on half/full day trips with traditional wooden dhows to the sites around the Mnemba Atoll, with lunches in between snorkeling

Matemwe's managers have first aid and emergency training and the lodge has basic medica supplies (plasters, headache tablets etc). For more serious situations, a South African doctor is on 24/7duty near Matemwe. The only compression chamber of the island is very close to the lodge

Other activities

• Swimming: the temperature of the sea is very pleasant, but tidal differences on Zanzibar are such that swimming is difficult at low tides. Besides the pools of the main lodge, all Retreat rooms have a private plunge pool on their roof terrace to make sure guests can cool off any time of the day
• Deep sea fishing: the Indian Ocean around the island offers some excellent opportunities for deep sea fishing.
• Local fishing trips in traditional boats
• Massages
• Various beauty treatments like henna and hair braiding
• Kayaking: kayaks are available to explore the sea and coastline near Matemwe
• Sailing: Matemwe operates 2 local dhows for snorkeling and sailing trips. Sailing on the Indian Ocean is dependent on winds & tides
• Guided walks to the local village and fish market. Visits to the neighboring village give a good chance to explore the local Zanzibar culture and village life and offer guests the opportunity to learn about the community projects that Matemwe is involved in. Matemwe has created several strong, mutually beneficial relationships with its neighbors and has undertaken various community projects, including infrastructural projects (road, water, electricity) and the building of a local library
  § Guided reef walks: exploring the reefs and its marine life at low tide
• Cycling: Matemwe has sponsored the neighboring fishermen village to rent bikes to Matemwe's guests
• Internet and telephone/fax facilities (in the common area). Television still didn't make it into Paradise.
• Activities on the island: famous Zanzibar spice tours, historical city tours, shopping tours, Jozani Forest excursions (to view the Red Colobus Monkeys) and dolphin experiences at Kizimkazi are just some of the many tours that can be organized from the Lodge
  

4. Weddings and honeymoons

Candle lit private beach dinners under the stars, Champagne breakfast, honeymoon suites, aromatic massage oils…Matemwe offers special packages for honeymooners and is proud to offer dream weddings at its pristine beaches. Honeymoon packages can include other Asilia destinations to create an unforgettable honeymoon in Tanzania, combining a romantic stay at Matemwe with an exclusive and intimate safari.