The romantic Matemwe Retreat is located on an amazing stretch of private land, just north of Matemwe's main lodge and right opposite the Mnemba Atoll.
The Retreat consists of 4 fabulous, separate and private villas, full of atmosphere, inspiration and personal touches. Each ground floor of each villa (150 m2 including verandahs) features a private cocktail bar, an air-conditioned bedroom, WiFi, a bathroom with double basins, shower and large romantic bathtub overlooking the Indian Ocean. The best part of each villa is the plunge pool on the private roof terrace (60 m2), complete with sun and shade decks!
The service in the Retreat is excellent: breakfast served on the private veranda of your room, so as not to disturb you. Each day the manager or chef will stop by to discuss lunch and dinner preferences: the catch of the day served in the privacy of your garden or roof terrace or a dinner at Matemwe's main lodge, where you can enjoy the company of other guests. Drinks are served in the room or on the beach and you can have massages and beauty treatments in the comfort of your roof terrace, overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Matemwe Retreat is built by local craftsmen, and where possible from local materials. Walls are of local stone and roofs are made of makuti (woven palm leaves). Most of the furniture is made from locally produced coconut wood. Soft furnishings are produced by Zanzibari women and the matting by the blind association in Stone Town. The sun supplies hot water to the lodge through a solar system. Materials from outside Zanzibar have only been used if they could not be obtained locally or the quality was not good enough. Over 60% of the staff in the lodge are from the villages close to Matemwe.
Activities
Matemwe Retreat is a perfect place for relaxation as well as water activities. When staying here, ocean trips with snorkeling equipment can be easily arranged for you. You can sail or motor out to the local reef and discover the little island of Mnemba Atoll - right opposite Matemwe. Diving trips can also be organized for you with a professional diving center and you can discover the breathtaking underwater world of the Indian Ocean. You can also snorkel straight from the beach or during reef walks. Kayaks are available to explore the crystal clear sea.
Local snorkeling/diving sites are suitable for all levels of experience, from beginners to 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 in these waters. You might find dolphins in the water that come close to your boat to show off 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.
From Matemwe, day-trips can be arranged to the historic centre of Stone Town, Jozani Forest or Prison Island. Management can also organize a Spice Tour for you, a highly interesting way to learn about the great variety of spices that the island is famous for - and who knows: maybe you will be inspired to cook some Zanzibari dishes yourself when you get home!
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