The tranquil north-east — Matemwe and Kiwengwa, with long, quiet, beautiful beaches, traditional fishing villages, and the superb Mnemba Atoll coral reef just offshore, the island's best diving and snorkelling. Peaceful, scenic and low-key, near the top reef; the base for travellers who want a serene beach, great diving and a quieter, more upscale setting away from the party scene. Zanzibar at its most tranquil and reef-blessed. Calm and beautiful.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
$140–400
typical per night in Tanzania
You pay for the postcode
One of the pricier addresses in Zanzibar.
Where it sits
The circle is Matemwe & the north-east and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Nungwi & Kendwa (beach)50 min taxi16.8 km
- A sunset dhow cruise50 min taxi16.8 km
- Nungwi & the northern tip50 min taxi16.8 km
- A spice farm tour85 min taxi28.2 km
- The slavery history & Anglican Cathedral112 min taxi37.3 km
- Explore Stone Town112 min taxi37.3 km
- Forodhani Night Market112 min taxi37.4 km
- The Rock Restaurant142 min taxi47.5 km
- The white-sand beaches146 min taxi48.7 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 2.The white-sand beaches — Zanzibar's beaches are the stuff of postcards — endless stretches of powder-soft white sand lapped by warm, impossibly turquoise water, fringed by palm trees and dotted with traditional wooden dhow sailboats. Whether the lively swimmable sands of Nungwi in the north, the boho tidal flats of Paje in the east, or a quiet cove all your own, simply relaxing on the beach, swimming in the warm Indian Ocean and watching the dhows drift by is the heart of the Zanzibar dream. Idyllic, blissful and utterly beautiful. The essential beach paradise; pure bliss.
- 4.Snorkelling at Mnemba Atoll — The jewel of Zanzibar's waters — Mnemba Atoll, a protected coral reef off the north-east coast with some of the best snorkelling and diving in East Africa, its crystal-clear turquoise water teeming with colourful fish, coral gardens, turtles and (often) dolphins. Take a boat trip out to snorkel or dive the vibrant reef, drifting over the coral among the tropical fish; the water clarity and marine life are spectacular. A magical, essential underwater highlight and one of the best things to do on the island. Unmissable for snorkellers and divers. Breathtaking beneath the surface.
- 11.Snorkelling & diving — Zanzibar's warm, clear waters and coral reefs make it a superb spot for snorkelling and diving — beyond the star Mnemba Atoll, there are reefs, sandbanks and marine parks all around the coast, teeming with tropical fish, turtles, rays and vibrant coral, plus sandbank picnic trips and the chance to swim with dolphins in the south. Take a boat snorkelling trip to a reef or sandbank, or dive the atoll; the underwater world and the turquoise-water boat trips are a highlight. A wonderful, essential ocean experience. Beautiful beneath and above the water; a joy for water-lovers.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Matemwe & the north-east; flights via Google Flights.