Michamvi Guide
Boutique Hotel in Michamvi, Zanzibar
Quick answer
What is Boutique Hotel Matlai?
Boutique Hotel Matlai is a hotel of six rooms in two villas on the beach at Michamvi Pingwe, on Zanzibar's south-east coast: Asili House, the African-style villa, and Villa Kidosho, the Omani-style villa. Every stay is half board, rooms start at USD 535 a night (2026), and guests rate it 4.9/5 on TripAdvisor from 378 reviews.
| Rooms | 6 in 2 villas |
| Villas | Asili House (African style) · Villa Kidosho (Omani style) |
| Board | Half board in every stay |
| From | USD 535 a night (2026, low season) |
| Ratings | 4.9/5 TripAdvisor (378) · 4.8/5 Google (225) |
| Open since | May 2012 |
| Last verified | 2 October 2026 |
The ratings
What do guests rate us for?
The scores first, read from the platforms: 4.9/5 on TripAdvisor from 378 reviews, and 4.8/5 on Google from 225 ratings. We do not quote guests on our own pages, because a quote chosen by the hotel proves little; the reviews themselves are linked from awards, ratings and press, so you can read what guests write in their own words.
What the scores rest on is what you can check before you book: the size of the house, the beach and the tide in front of it, the food at Zatiny, the butler from 07:00 to 22:00, and a general manager who lives on site.
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Rooms | 6 |
| Villas | 2: Asili House (4 rooms, sleeps 8) and Villa Kidosho (2 rooms, sleeps 4) |
| Pools | 2, one per villa |
| Board | Half board in every stay |
| Rooms from | USD 535 a night, 2026, low season |
| Check-in · check-out | 14:00 · 10:30 |
| Butler | 07:00 to 22:00 |
| Spa | Bustani Spa, 09:00–18:00 every day |
| TripAdvisor | 4.9/5 from 378 reviews |
| 4.8/5 from 225 ratings | |
| Open since | May 2012 |
Every value is read from our data files, not typed into this page; the same figures are on the fact sheet.
The villas
What are the two villas like?
Asili House is the African-style villa: 4 rooms named after the elements (Hewa, Moto, Maji, Dunia), already very spacious, around a pool that sits a little above the beach, with the ocean in view. It sleeps 8.
Villa Kidosho is the Omani-style villa, in the manner of Stone Town, about 240 m²: 2 bigger rooms, Jua and Mwezi, around its own pool, and a little more expensive. It sleeps 4. Both villas face the same beach and the same sunrise, and both can be booked whole; see the villas.
Included
What is included in a stay?
Every stay at Matlai includes the following. Lunch and drinks other than water are charged; the government infrastructure tax of USD 4 per person per night and the airport transfer (USD 60 per car, paid to the transfer company) come on top.
- Half board as standard: breakfast and dinner. Bed and breakfast on request; full board for a supplement.
- A welcome drink on arrival: a fresh coconut, or a Malibu if you prefer.
- Two kayaks for the whole hotel, free to use.
- Two bicycles for the whole hotel, free to use.
- Drinking water, free of charge; other drinks are charged.
- A kettle in every room, with instant coffee and tea.
- A WhatsApp group for your room and a small phone to reach your butler.
- Your butler, from 07:00 to 22:00.
Around the villas: Zatiny for dinner, with Duyên's Vietnamese menu at the same tables, and Bustani Spa in the garden, open every day from 09:00 to 18:00. On the beach, the Mchanga sandbank lies in front; the full swim is the 2–4 hours around high tide, and at low tide the channel keeps its water. The tides guide explains the day.
The size
What does a 6-room hotel mean for your stay?
Matlai has six rooms today, in two villas, and that number shapes the stay. The butler knows your name and your room's WhatsApp group from the first evening. Breakfast and dinner are served at your table, not at a buffet. Every room has a balcony facing the ocean.
It also means the house fills up. With six rooms, the dates you want can be gone early, so send your dates first and we will tell you plainly which rooms are free. Matlai opened in May 2012; it is owned by Inge and Ingulf Becker-Boost, and the general manager lives on site.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
Boutique is used loosely in Zanzibar. Here is what it means at Matlai, in specifics you can check.
What makes Matlai a boutique hotel rather than a resort?
Its size: six rooms in two villas, each villa with its own pool, a butler from 07:00 to 22:00, and a general manager who lives on site. There is no buffet line and no lobby crowd.
What is included in the rate?
Half board as standard: breakfast and dinner. Bed and breakfast on request; full board for a supplement. A welcome drink on arrival: a fresh coconut, or a Malibu if you prefer. Two kayaks for the whole hotel, free to use. Two bicycles for the whole hotel, free to use. Drinking water, free of charge; other drinks are charged. A kettle in every room, with instant coffee and tea. A WhatsApp group for your room and a small phone to reach your butler. Your butler, from 07:00 to 22:00. Lunch and drinks other than water are charged; the government infrastructure tax (USD 4 per person per night) and the airport transfer (USD 60 per car, paid to the transfer company) come on top.
How much does it cost?
In 2026, rooms at Asili House start at USD 535 a night and rooms at Villa Kidosho at USD 655, half board, in low season. The minimum stay is 2 nights, and 5 over the festive season. Every season is on rooms and rates.
Which villa should we choose?
It depends on the design you like. Villa Kidosho is the Omani-style villa, in the manner of Stone Town, with 2 bigger rooms (Jua and Mwezi) and a little more expensive. Asili House is the African-style villa, with 4 rooms (Hewa, Moto, Maji, Dunia) that are already very spacious.
Is the restaurant open to non-guests?
Yes. Zatiny welcomes outside guests for dinner with a reservation, and Duyên's Vietnamese menu is served at the same tables.
How do guests rate it?
4.9/5 on TripAdvisor from 378 reviews and 4.8/5 on Google from 225 ratings. We do not quote guests on our own pages; the scores and where to read the reviews are on awards, ratings and press.
How does booking and cancellation work?
A 25% non-refundable deposit secures the booking, and the balance is due 30 days before arrival. If you cancel with less than one month’s notice, 100% of the total is charged; with less than two months’ notice, 50%. The full terms are on the booking policies page.
Your stay at Matlai
Choose your dates and the booking page opens with them, showing live availability.
Bookings with children go by enquiry: the booking page books adults only, so send us your dates on WhatsApp and we reply with the options. Children under 14 stay with a whole villa. WhatsApp →
Indicative public rates — the engine shows live availability for your dates.
Welcome drink, kayaks, bicycles and snorkelling gear, free of charge.
Booking with the hotel itself? Ask us what we can offer for your dates.
Why guests book Matlai
- Your own butler, 07:00 to 22:00. One message and it is arranged.
- Half board with a chef’s menu that changes daily: three courses, plus two à la carte kitchens at every table, Zatiny (Indian Ocean fusion) and Duyên (Vietnamese).
- Dine where you like: in the restaurant, in the garden or on your own balcony. A private table by the beach or a candlelight dinner can be arranged at an extra charge.
- Six rooms in two villas, a pool for each villa, shared by its rooms, and every room facing the sunrise over the ocean.
- Bustani, the garden spa; the sandbank in front of the hotel at low tide; a quiet beach lined with small, family-owned hotels.
TripAdvisor 4.9/5 · 378+ reviews · Google 4.8/5