The Matlai Journal
Travel Tips
Short, practical advice for visiting Zanzibar: what to pack, how to move around, what to expect from the weather and the tides, and how to be a considerate guest. The tips come from running a hotel on the southeast coast and talking with travellers every day. Browse the stories below before you travel, and treat prices and schedules as a starting point to confirm with us.
8 stories in this category — browse all 27 posts, or start with the Zanzibar travel guide.
North Coast or East Coast? How to Choose Your Side of Zanzibar
Nungwi and Kendwa, or Paje, Matemwe and Michamvi? The honest differences between Zanzibar's north tip and its east coast — tides, sunset…
Planning a Wedding at Matlai: Paperwork, Season and Tides
How a wedding at Boutique Hotel Matlai actually works — ceremony options, tide timing on Zanzibar's east coast, the legal paperwork, and…
Sauti za Busara: Zanzibar's Annual Music Festival
What Sauti za Busara is, how it has changed over the years, and how to combine an evening at the festival in Stone Town with a quiet stay…
Why March & April Are Zanzibar's Best-Kept Secret
The honest case for Zanzibar's two quietest months: what the rain actually does, what it costs, who it suits, and who should book June to…
A Day at Matlai: From Indian Ocean Sunrise to Dinner on the Beach
What a day at Boutique Hotel Matlai actually looks like: sunrise over the ocean, breakfast wherever you are, a morning set by the tide…
Escape the Autumn Fade: Discover the Everlasting Green of Zanzibar
Zanzibar doesn't have an autumn — the island stays green all year. A tour of the trees you'll actually see in the garden at Boutique Hotel…
What You See Underwater: Marine Life Off Zanzibar's East Coast
What to expect snorkelling and diving off Zanzibar's southeast coast: the marine life near Matlai, an honest take on the Kizimkazi dolphin…
Celebrating Culture: Festivals and Celebrations in Zanzibar
Zanzibar's cultural calendar: Sauti za Busara in February or March, Mwaka Kogwa's Persian-rooted New Year ritual in July, the Zanzibar…