BOUTIQUE HOTEL · MICHAMVI PINGWE · EAST COAST OF ZANZIBAR

Two private villas.
The wind that carries you home.

Matlai — the first wind that turns the sails and brings the fishermen safely home.

Asili House and Villa Kidosho — six rooms across two villas on one stretch of Pingwe Beach. Twelve guests at most when rooms are doubles; extra beds available for families and bigger groups. Run like one Matlai family since 2012.

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4.9TripAdvisor (359+ reviews)
9.9Booking.com — Exceptional
10/10Expedia — Exceptional
Save 15% · Code Special2026MATLAI
from US$ 535 US$ 455 / night
Low-season rack rate, Asili House double, half board for two · valid for bookings until 31 May 2027, not combinable · email or WhatsApp us with the code
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THE VILLAS

Asili House. Villa Kidosho.
One stretch of Pingwe Beach.

Bookable per room, per suite, or as a whole villa for exclusive use. Twelve guests at most in double-room configuration — extra beds for families and bigger groups on request. Designed and opened in May 2012, run on-site by Tim and the Matlai Team ever since.

ASILI HOUSE · THE ORIGIN

Asili House

4 roomsSleeps 8Large oceanfront pool

Four rooms named after the elements — Moto (fire), Maji (water), Dunia (earth), Hewa (air). African four-elements design, an elevated oceanfront pool shared by all four rooms, lounge garden. The original Matlai villa, open since May 2012.

$535/ room · night · half board
Explore Asili →
VILLA KIDOSHO · THE BEAUTIFUL

Villa Kidosho

2 suitesSleeps 4Infinity pool

Two suites — Jua (sun) and Mwezi (moon) — in the spirit of old Stone Town, inspired by the Omani traders who shaped Zanzibar's architecture. Infinity pool shared by the two suites (yours alone when you take the whole villa), intimate for couples or families.

$655/ suite · night · half board
Explore Kidosho →
DINING

One restaurant. Two kitchens.
Dine anywhere on 10,000 sqm.

Zatiny is the heart of Matlai — one restaurant housing two kitchens under the same roof. But the magic of a small boutique is that you are not tied to a single table. Your butler will set up dining wherever you wish on the property — balcony at sunrise, garden after dark, beach with your feet in the sand.

ZATINY KITCHEN · BY MATLAI

Zatiny — fine dining on the beach.

Oceanfront atmosphere, fresh seafood, Mediterranean and Swahili-leaning plates, a quiet wine list. Cocktails and mocktails from the bar. The restaurant opens from 10:00; the bar serves breakfast at any time, no problem.

Romantic dinners · Special occasions · Honeymoon experiences
DUYÊN KITCHEN · BY KIM

Duyên — home cooking from the heart.

The second kitchen inside Zatiny — Vietnamese-Zanzibari fusion home cooking by Kim. Bao buns, shaking beef, fragrant herbs from the garden. The kind of food made with care, eaten slowly, the way home cooking is meant to be.

Same restaurant, different kitchen · Family-style plates · Beachfront setting
DINING ANYWHERE ON THE PROPERTY

10,000 sqm. One butler. Many tables.

Most guests eat breakfast on their balcony — wake up, step outside, sit down to the sunrise over the Indian Ocean. Others want lunch beside the pool, or a romantic dinner in a quiet corner of the tropical garden. Tell your butler the evening before, and the table is waiting.

Balcony · In-villa · Garden romantic spots · Pool-side · Beach setups
THE SIGNATURE MATLAI MOMENT

Floating breakfast.
Just the two of you.

A tray of fresh tropical fruit, warm pastries, eggs and coffee — floating in the villa pool while the morning sun climbs out of the Indian Ocean. The Matlai signature, ordered with your butler the evening before.

BUSTANI SPA

Bustani Spa.
Tropical garden. Skilled hands.

Bustani means garden in Kiswahili. The spa lives inside the Matlai garden — a quiet pavilion under the palms, where treatments combine Oriental, Asian, and European techniques with spices, oils and herbs from Zanzibar.

Led by Maryam Salim Hassan — trained at the Ahlan Palace Institute in Stone Town, with Matlai since 2014.

  • Classic & Zanzibari massage
  • Couples massage
  • Facial treatments
  • Manicure & pedicure
  • Partner bath
  • Cleopatra bath
  • Herbal bath
  • In-room or terrace treatments
THE PLACE

Michamvi Pingwe.
The east coast of Zanzibar.

A quiet stretch of Pingwe Beach where the Indian Ocean meets soft white sand. At low tide, a long sandbank reveals itself — a walk that ends in nothing but turquoise.

~60 minFrom Stone Town
~70 minFrom the airport (ZNZ)
DirectBeach access from the villas
Low tideSandbank walk
WHAT GUESTS WRITE

"It is impossible to describe Matlai without sounding like an advertisement — it is simply the most personal, considered luxury we have experienced on the island."

— GUEST REVIEW · TRIPADVISOR
4.9
TripAdvisor
359+ traveller reviews
9.9
Booking.com
Exceptional · 72+ reviews
10/10
Expedia
Exceptional · 47+ reviews
JOURNAL

Stories from the east coast.

Letters, recipes, photos, slow notes from Matlai — the kind of writing you do when there are only twelve guests on the property and a sandbank to walk on at low tide.

HONEYMOON

The ultimate guide to a Zanzibar honeymoon

Romance on the east coast — what we do for the couples who chose Matlai for their first week as a married couple. The small touches, the floating breakfast, the dinner on the beach.
QUIET SEASON

Is Zanzibar quiet in April & May?

The hidden gems of low season — where to eat, what to see, why the quieter months are sometimes the best time to come and have the island half to yourself.
WHY THE EAST COAST

North coast vs east coast Zanzibar

The honest comparison — beaches, sunsets, atmosphere, what each side does best. Why Matlai chose Michamvi Pingwe on the east coast for its sandbank and slow rhythm.
QUIET QUESTIONS

The things guests usually ask first.

If anything is missing here, the easiest answer is WhatsApp — we reply within a few hours, often within minutes during business hours in Zanzibar (UTC+3).

Can I book a single room, or do I need to book the whole villa?
Both. You can book a single room or suite, or take a whole villa for exclusive use. Villa Kidosho holds up to 4 guests; Asili House up to 8 in double-room configuration. We add extra beds for families and bigger groups on request.
How do I get to Matlai from the airport?
Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) is about 70 minutes by road. On request, we arrange the transfer through a trusted driver company — just send us your flight details. Payment is made on arrival at the hotel by credit card machine or cash.
Is Matlai suitable for families with children?
Yes, with one condition: in single rooms children must be 14 or older, while a whole-villa booking welcomes all ages, babies included. Villa Kidosho (two suites, extra beds in both) is our recommended villa for families; Asili House suits a family or group taking all four rooms — elevated oceanfront pool, garden, butler service, extra beds on request. We have welcomed many families since 2012 and the team is genuinely good with children.
What's included in Half Board?
Breakfast served on your private balcony (or the restaurant if you prefer — just tell your butler the evening before), plus dinner at Zatiny or Duyên. Lunch and drinks are à la carte. Full Board upgrade available.
When is the best time to visit?
June–October is the cooler, drier high season — clearest waters and the most reliable weather. December–February is hot and busy (festive). March–May has lower rates and quieter beaches, with brief warm rains. We are happy to advise on dates by WhatsApp.
How do I confirm a booking?
Send a non-binding enquiry through the booking page or WhatsApp us with your preferred dates and number of guests. We reply with live availability, your best rate, and a hold for 48 hours while you decide.
THE WIND IS TURNING

Two villas. Six rooms. Twelve guests at most.

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Tell us your dates and we'll reply personally — usually within a few hours.

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