Zan Maldive Tours and Safaris

Area: Matemwe

  • 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.

  • Mnemba Island Half-Day Tour

    Mnemba is a small private island off the north-east corner of Unguja, ringed by a marine conservation area with the healthiest coral and the clearest water on the island. The island itself is a private resort and closed to visitors, but the reef around it is open, and it is the best snorkelling ground in Zanzibar.

    Boats leave from the beach at Matemwe or Kiwengwa in the morning, when the water is calmest. On the way out the crew look for the resident pods of bottlenose and spinner dolphins. Sightings are common but never guaranteed, and the crew keep a respectful distance and follow local guidelines on how to enter the water.

    At the atoll you snorkel over the coral gardens. The reef here drops away gently, so the shallows suit beginners while the edge rewards confident swimmers. Angelfish, parrotfish, moray eels and turtles are all seen regularly. Gear and life jackets are provided.

    At low tide the boat will also stop at a sandbank near the atoll before returning. Fruit and soft drinks are served on board, and you are back at your hotel in time for lunch.