Opposite the island of Mnemba, Matemwe is a sublime strip of beach stretching for around 10 km and actually comprising four villages (from south to north: Kilimanjuu, Matemwe, Kigomani and Muyuni). The forest of tall coconut palms lining the wide beach, shading the white sand, plunges visitors into a picture-postcard panorama from the moment they arrive, with the turquoise Indian Ocean and the Mnemba atoll as a backdrop. The immaculate fine sand crunches underfoot.Matemwe's population is fairly conservative. This is not Pajé or Nungwi, where the locals frequent some of the beach bars. At high tide, villagers have to go round the hotels by road, which makes their journey longer. In some remote corners of Matemwe, children sometimes come up to you to ask for money, no doubt because of the lack of interaction and economic spin-offs for them, despite the flourishing tourism here. A few stalls selling cloth clothes and accessories, houses made of dried banco, a school, cows and chickens wandering between the houses, small local schools and a lively soccer pitch characterize these villages. Small local restaurants are springing up, but remain marginal. The locals therefore remain rather closed to these exclusive hotels, where in any case guests come for a quiet, luxurious and dreamy vacation in total confidentiality. A few younger, livelier (but still chic) addresses have sprung up in recent years, such as the Seles Hotel, which organizes concerts and parties, facilitating interaction with the locals.A honeymoon and diving destination. The north-east of the island is a more expensive destination than the more honeymoon-oriented north-west and south-east. But here, the main attraction is diving, off and around Mnemba Atoll. The public here is older and quieter than in Nungwi and Pajé, the hotels are more luxurious and local life more traditional and closed to the world of tourists. There are few independent restaurants or bars, apart from those in the heart of the hotels and lodges. Wealthy clientele, especially if they dive, tend to dine at the nearest table.Orientation. Matemwe is the large central village where the tarmac road (with a checkpoint and petrol station at the entrance) leads to a T-junction in front of the beach. To the left, head north on the parallel road. The beach runs through the village to Kigomani, where you'll find the fish market. Even more isolated to the north, Muyuni has become a beach frequented by both boats and residents of the brand-new Emerald Resort, due to open in 2023. On the coast, a number of resorts face the island of Mnemba, including the Sunshine Marine Lodge, renowned for its diving club.To the right of the T-junction, we follow Matemwe to Kilimanjaro, where there are still a handful of hotels 2 or 3 km away. We recommend a lunch or dinner break at Mzee Husa (in the Zanziblue Hotel), a restaurant run by a chef who wanted to make his little convivial table a gastronomic delight. You can do it all by strolling along the beach on foot, by bike (often loaned by hotels) or by scooter (rented by the hour or half-day). From Kijambani to Kilimanjaro, it takes 8 km from north to south. The next town to head south is Pwani-Mchangani.Walk from Kigomani to Pwani-Mchangani. We recommend a walk along the beach, starting from Kigomani (from The Rocks Matemwe restaurant, which offers a 360° view of Mnemba and the beach to the south). Here, a swarm of boats are moored in front of a wide stretch of sand. You follow the coast through the village center, then southwards to Kilimanjaro, where the surroundings become wilder and more splendid. Arrive at Pwani Mchangani, where the white sandy lagoon gives way to corals and sea urchins.

What to visit Matemwe?

Weather at the moment

Loading...
Organize your trip with our partners Matemwe
Transportation
Accommodation & stays
Services / On site

Matemwe travel inspiration

Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners

Pictures and images Matemwe

Plage de Matemwe. Luisapuccini - iStockphoto
Send a reply