Consisting of four secluded and self-contained East African styled villas with a dedicated butler on hand to cater for every indulgent need, including in-room dining, they are designed for pure escapism. The ground floor has a private bar area, air-conditioned bedroom and ensuite bathroom with double vanities and a capacious bath overlooking the sea.
The piece de resistance is the roof terrace with its private plunge pool and both sun and shade deck areas for absolute comfort at all times of the day. Local materials where used wherever possible and stonemasons and craftsmen from the area built the stone villas which were traditionally roofed with Makuti-palm thatch.
Mosquito-clad beds with soft furnishings hand produced by Zanzibari women remain cool in the heat of the day so that one can enjoy an extended siesta to recharge for sundown. In July 2010, Matemwe added another beautiful property to their portfolio: the Matemwe Beach House, also decorated in traditional East African style.
The lodge is simply paradise for those wishing to zone out of urban life and enjoy doing very little except eating the freshest seafood, sipping caipirinha’s and lolling in a hammock under the palms.
It’s tempting to nip back into Stone Town (an hour’s drive away) but watching traditional dhows drift by as fisherman from the nearby fishing village ply the waters for the seafood that guests will eat that day, enjoying a spa treatment or reading a good book – interrupted only by the need to dip in the warm azure waters a few steps away – fast becomes the relaxed routine of the day.
For those who enjoy kayaking or diving, the revamped Water Sports centre is managed by Matemwe’s own dive master with equipment from the five star PADI-certified One Ocean Centre but snorkeling can be enjoyed straight from the beach or during reef walks.