Local Guidebook

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Local Guidebook

Food scene

This hotel is within 5 minutes walk from our property. It's a beachfront boutique resort. The food at Hotel Matlai is incredible, extremely fresh and every day there is a menu with new spices, flavors or creations. You can walk-in and dine in. One of the few places in the area where you enjoy a fresh scoop of vegan ice cream for $1 a scoop, or a chocolate lava cake among other desserts. You have the choice where and when to have breakfast or dinner (even in the garden or at the beach). Hotel Matlai is just heaven on earth. The hotel is surrounded by a beautiful garden and located directly at the beach and the ocean. The rooms are just stunning. With a perfect ocean view, the interior, individual decorations and the most comfortable bed, it just feels very homely and beyond cosy. The surrounding of the hotel has everything that you need, turquoise blue clear ocean, perfect white sand at the beach and palm trees. All sunbeds are facing the ocean with access to the pool and the beach. It’s very private and quite due to the limited amount of people with gives you a perfect relaxation.
Boutique-Hotel Matlai
This hotel is within 5 minutes walk from our property. It's a beachfront boutique resort. The food at Hotel Matlai is incredible, extremely fresh and every day there is a menu with new spices, flavors or creations. You can walk-in and dine in. One of the few places in the area where you enjoy a fresh scoop of vegan ice cream for $1 a scoop, or a chocolate lava cake among other desserts. You have the choice where and when to have breakfast or dinner (even in the garden or at the beach). Hotel Matlai is just heaven on earth. The hotel is surrounded by a beautiful garden and located directly at the beach and the ocean. The rooms are just stunning. With a perfect ocean view, the interior, individual decorations and the most comfortable bed, it just feels very homely and beyond cosy. The surrounding of the hotel has everything that you need, turquoise blue clear ocean, perfect white sand at the beach and palm trees. All sunbeds are facing the ocean with access to the pool and the beach. It’s very private and quite due to the limited amount of people with gives you a perfect relaxation.
A must visit if you are a vegan. It's a small place that will amaze you with its great vibe and the very tasty vegetarian and vegan dishes!!! The concept- the vibe- the owner-the staff- the food-the drinks- value for money everything is 10/10! Everything on the menu is delicious and bursting with flavour, come hungry as the portions are huge! A real gem not to be missed in Paje!
Sativa Café
A must visit if you are a vegan. It's a small place that will amaze you with its great vibe and the very tasty vegetarian and vegan dishes!!! The concept- the vibe- the owner-the staff- the food-the drinks- value for money everything is 10/10! Everything on the menu is delicious and bursting with flavour, come hungry as the portions are huge! A real gem not to be missed in Paje!
You got a sweet tooth. Corina got you covered Pastries, cakes, muffins, brownies cookies, pizza, buns, hot chocolate, ginger chai tea.. everything is absolutely delicious. If you are a chocolate lover, you her chocolate rich brownies or chocolate muffins. Small cozy cafe to relax and chill inside or outside in the garden. A little piece of heaven in Paje.
Corina pastry shop
You got a sweet tooth. Corina got you covered Pastries, cakes, muffins, brownies cookies, pizza, buns, hot chocolate, ginger chai tea.. everything is absolutely delicious. If you are a chocolate lover, you her chocolate rich brownies or chocolate muffins. Small cozy cafe to relax and chill inside or outside in the garden. A little piece of heaven in Paje.
Known for its Avacado Mango salad huge portions, very good prices, and amazingly fresh seafood. Known for THE BEST OCTOPUS in town or Grilled calamari, or grilled fish served with spicy garlic sauce and cheapest fresh juices. Its a small shack on the beach with breathtaking views. Despite restaurant not being near the village or not looking really attractive from the outside beach, the food is amazing! Bit of a hidden location.
Abdi’s Place - Best Restaurant in Zanzibar
Known for its Avacado Mango salad huge portions, very good prices, and amazingly fresh seafood. Known for THE BEST OCTOPUS in town or Grilled calamari, or grilled fish served with spicy garlic sauce and cheapest fresh juices. Its a small shack on the beach with breathtaking views. Despite restaurant not being near the village or not looking really attractive from the outside beach, the food is amazing! Bit of a hidden location.
They make fresh pizza and specialize in Italian cuisine
Tropical Boutique Hotel & Resto
They make fresh pizza and specialize in Italian cuisine

Staycation

Passion Boutique Hotel Zanzibar
PiliPili House
Sharazād Boutique Hotel
Nyamkwi White Sand is a family friendly, and budget friendly guest house in Jambiani. Rasta vibes, relaxing chill atompshere, cool ocean breeze, in house restaurant and local bar open until late hours of the night. Seaview is unbeatable from this location plus you can watch a spectacular sunrise from this property.
Nyamkwi White Sand
Nyamkwi White Sand is a family friendly, and budget friendly guest house in Jambiani. Rasta vibes, relaxing chill atompshere, cool ocean breeze, in house restaurant and local bar open until late hours of the night. Seaview is unbeatable from this location plus you can watch a spectacular sunrise from this property.

Sightseeing

Entry fee is 12$ or 25000 tzs Payment is possible in dollars, euros and tsh (but only in cash). Parking is included. Definitely must see on the island for the monkeys and the beautiful jungle with fern, wild apple trees and mahagoni. Definitely wear jeans in the rainy season and have mosquito repellent during this visit. When you arrive at the parking lot, you report to the reception. You will then be given a guide who will explain the rules of the park. We had the 1 hour tour (without mangroves). At the beginning it goes through the rainforest and then over the road into the part of the forest where the special monkeys live. The animals came very close to us as you can see in the pictures. A nice experience.
Jozani Forest National Park Mangrove Walk
Entry fee is 12$ or 25000 tzs Payment is possible in dollars, euros and tsh (but only in cash). Parking is included. Definitely must see on the island for the monkeys and the beautiful jungle with fern, wild apple trees and mahagoni. Definitely wear jeans in the rainy season and have mosquito repellent during this visit. When you arrive at the parking lot, you report to the reception. You will then be given a guide who will explain the rules of the park. We had the 1 hour tour (without mangroves). At the beginning it goes through the rainforest and then over the road into the part of the forest where the special monkeys live. The animals came very close to us as you can see in the pictures. A nice experience.
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Kuza Cave
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Neighbourhoods

This is a hotel by the beach in front of the property within 3 minutes walk. You can enjoy sunbathing, outdoor pool, outdoor patio, swings, ocean view and restaurant bar and lounge. Affordable pricing and chill vibes
Mnana Beach Bungalows
This is a hotel by the beach in front of the property within 3 minutes walk. You can enjoy sunbathing, outdoor pool, outdoor patio, swings, ocean view and restaurant bar and lounge. Affordable pricing and chill vibes

Pariri dwar il-belt

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Public buses are the cheapest mode of transportation

Closest bus stop is across the street from the property in front of the convenience stores on Michamvi Road. Take bus 340 Michamvi to go to nearby towns such as Bwejuu fare is 500 TZ/pp, Paje 500 TZ/pp, Jambiani 1000 TZ/pp or Stone Town for 2500 TZ/pp (that’s less than 1 USD per person) You can also rent a motorcycle. Motorbike stand is a minute walk to the tree stand as if walking from Afriican Village to Karafuu Resort. Fares are subject to change but this will give you a rough idea. It can cost around 8000-10,000 TZs to go to Paje, 7000 TZ to go to Bwejuu, 10,000 TZs to go to Jambiani.
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Bring comfortable slippers for beach and walking around

Property and surrounding neighborhood areas are walkable by bare foot. Avoid wearing white shoes as it is sandy or could get muddy during rainy season Bring beach clothes, beach towel, swimming suit, sunscreen, picnic mat, sunshade hat, sunglasses, headphones or your favourite book
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Travel by local bus or motorcycle and dine locally to save

Most of amenities such as pool in nearby resorts are available free of charge if you buy a drink or dine in. Example: Baladin Resort has outdoor pool, trampoline, board games that are accessible free of charge if you happen to buy alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks or dine in. If you into local food, there are plenty of locals cooking Tanzanian dishes in huts by the road, meals for less than $5 USD per person. Ask for freshly squeezed local juice for 500 TZ a bottle.
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Taxi or Rental car

We do provide in house taxi with negotiated rates. Please feel free to ask us. If you are travelling in a large group or as a family, having your own rental car or even a rental bike is the most convenient option. We have several contacts on hand to negotiate the best price for you. Just ask or feel free to shop around for rates.
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Walking

If you prefer walking, a nice stroll for about 20-25 minutes walk towards Karafuu Resort can take you to Sunset Bay in Michamvi Kae Beach or you can explore the surrounding beaches and resorts, about 3 minutes walk in front of us. Rock Restaurant is under 10 minutes walk. Resorts in front of us are Tropical Boutique Hotel, Matalai Boutique Hotel, Baladin Beach Hotel, Mnana Beach Bungalows, The View to name a few.