Matemwe holidays

Palm tree-flecked beaches, coral reefs and emerald-green waters – Matemwe holidays are definitely of the tropical variety.

A sleepy fishing village

Nestled along the north-east coast of Zanzibar’s main island – Unguja – this quiet village remains relatively untouched on the tourist trail. Seaweed farming and fishing are the primary money-makers here, although a handful of by-the beach hotels have sprung up in recent years, helped by the powder-soft white sands that line this stretch of the island.

Leggy white sands

As well as its fishing industry, Matemwe’s well-known for having Zanzibar’s longest beach. Its wide and lengthy stretch of palm tree-lined, dove-white sand is pulled right up to the Indian Ocean’s grass- green waters, and there’s plenty of wriggle room for stretching out and catching some rays.

Lots of watersports

If sunbathing on the sands sounds a bit too chilled, there are plenty of watersports to get stuck into. Snorkelling and scuba diving are two of the top picks, and there are plenty of dive schools dotted along the beach. And for something more adrenaline-fuelled, there’s a handful of kite surfing schools on the sands, too.

Mnemba Island

Just three kilometres off the coast is the tiny island of Mnemba. While access to the island itself is restricted, the reef around it is a popular drop-off spot for snorkellers and scuba divers eager to get up close to the sealife. There’s around 600 species of coral fish here, plus dolphins, green sea turtles and humpback whales.