Matemwe Lodge

The villas look pretty and photograph well, but ours was a long way from the beach, about a 20-minute walk. Many listed activities weren’t available, took place off-site or cost extra. The recently repainted private pool left white paint on our skin, which was gross. There were bugs everywhere, the air conditioning didn’t work well, and the shower water was very hard. We splurged for our honeymoon and were VERY disappointed. The private-chef claim was a big selling point for us as vegans, but the chef served several villas and there was a fixed menu. They’d asked about our dietary preferences beforehand, yet most days there were zero things I could eat. They did offer to make something else, but had no suggestions and couldn’t make many things, like guacamole. The food wasn’t very tasty either. When we tried to raise these concerns during the stay and afterward, we were ignored. It wasn’t a five-star experience for us. Keep your expectations in check if you choose to stay here. If you’re after actual luxury, I’d recommend Mnemba Island resort instead.

It’s a very quiet resort with only a few rooms, and you’ll feel thoroughly spoiled. The staff are the best, and the food is superb. Bring a good book, as there isn’t much to do beyond lounging on the beach and enjoying the view. They do arrange activities too, including snorkelling, kayaking and day trips.

The property has gorgeous plantings throughout, and I can’t recommend this hotel enough for Zanzibar. We stayed in August 2022 and had top-notch service from hotel manager Mohamed and the whole team. Chef Edmund made us an unforgettable beach BBQ, and everyone made us feel welcome. The beach BBQ and snorkelling trip are both well worth recommending.

The pool areas are spacious and quite amazing, and the location looks like it came straight from a holiday brochure. Being on the East Coast means the tides have a substantial impact, though whether that’s good or bad is another question. This is a higher-end place, so food and drink prices are ridiculous. Having stayed at other Asilia safari sites, I felt the staff could use a bit more coaching in the “Asilia mentally”.