Matemwe

Matemwe stretches along the north-east coast of Unguja and is the launch point for Mnemba atoll, the marine conservation area holding the healthiest coral and the clearest water in Zanzibar. Every serious snorkelling and diving trip on the island leaves from this stretch of coast or from Kiwengwa next door.

The beach itself is long, white and quiet, backed by fishing villages and a scattering of hotels. There is no nightlife and very little commerce on the sand. What Matemwe has instead is the reef offshore, the dhows coming and going, and the seaweed farms working the shallows at low tide.

Like most of the east coast, the tide here is significant. At high water the lagoon is swimmable. At low water it pulls back to expose a wide flat, which is when the seaweed farmers work and when the beach is at its most photogenic.

Matemwe suits divers, snorkellers, honeymooners and anyone who wants a quiet stretch of coast with world-class water a short boat ride away.

Matemwe is the closest mainland beach to Mnemba atoll, the best snorkelling and diving ground in Zanzibar. It is also one of the quietest developed stretches of coast on the island.

June to October is dry and the sea is at its clearest for snorkelling.
December to February is hot, bright and busy.
March to May brings the long rains and reduced visibility on the reef.
Morning is the time to be on the water. The sea is calmest and the light is best.

Matemwe has boutique lodges, a few high-end properties on the beach and simple guesthouses in the villages. Nothing here is large or loud. We book across every category and will match the property to your budget.

About an hour by road from Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. We meet every flight with a name board and a fixed price agreed in advance.