Zanzibar: Matemwe vs. Pongwe?
Replies: 4 - Last Post: Mar 18, 2013 9:13 AM Last Post By: Kurzschluss
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Zanzibar: Matemwe vs. Pongwe?
Hello!My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon in Tanzania and are trying to decide between two hotels in Zanzibar: the Zanzibar Retreat in Matemwe vs. Pongwe Beach Hotel in Pongwe. We will be staying for 6 nights and coming from a safari. Does anyone have experience with both of these hotels? Or both of these places? Pongwe looks more private/secluded, with a better beach, but more rustic rooms and may feel too isolated? At Zanzibar Retreat, we've been told that only the regular rooms are available, so the downside there is that we aren't directly "on" the beach...rooms look nicer than Pongwe, but seems like we would have less privacy.
Any comments or suggestions on these two hotels or these two locations in general?
Thanks!
1
Hi, thereRead your forum first i would like to inform you that, if you will be visiting Matemwe between April and June, it will be closed on that period, so don't consider, apart from that, will be recommending Matemwe beach hotelits very nice
we usually recomment people there cause its the best place for honeymoons and luxury events, so you wont regret going to Matemwe palm trees, long white beaches and so much more, about pongwe its a bit expensive for nothing lot of promises but no good service. Consider calling this number for more info +255757128270, these guys will get you to pay less on most of beach hotels in Zanzibar.
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I haven't been to Matemwe but have stayed at Pongwe - it is indeed secluded and the beach at Pongwe Beach Hotel is really beautiful (I actually stayed next door so can't comment on other aspects of the hotel). You are likely to eat most of your meals in the hotel and organise any activities through them as well as there are only a few small places in Pongwe (3 others near the Pongwe Beach Hotel and 2 on the other side of the village).An advantage of Pongwe is that you can swim at pretty much any time (though you have to walk/wade quite far at low tide). At some of the other East Caost beaches it's pretty much impossible to get in the water at low tide.
Here are some recent pictures taken in Pongwe
http://richardtanya.smugmug.com/TravelPhotos/Zanzibar/Pongwe/27637386_rpXqVP#!i=2327719858&k=mRPKgvG
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We recently stayed 5 nights at Pongwe Beach Hotel. It's perfect, fantastic food, secluded location and excellent service. The beach is very small during high tide but clean and there are now hawkers etc. At low tide the infinity-pool is great. It's the best you can get on Zanzibar. We rented a bike and went to Uroa… full of seaweed, hawkers and italian package tourists. The other day we walked during low tide to Kiwengwa… the same there. If you get bored, what I don't think, you can hire a car for 74 USD. We usually don't spend all time hanging around the beach but this place is perfect to read a book etc.Matemwe has lot of package-type resorts… mostly Italian. We only made a short visit and didn't like it… went back to 'our tiny little paradise' in Pongwe. Pongwe is worth the money.
But in April is rain-season… we had already 2 days with constant rain from 6 AM to 3 PM mid March.
