Plan Your Zanzibar Trip
Zanzibar Plugs, eSIM and Money
Quick answer
Bring a travel adapter, a card and some US dollars.
In Zanzibar, bring a travel adapter, a Visa or Mastercard and some US dollars in cash. At Boutique Hotel Matlai the guest villas have German-style two-pin sockets and every room has an adapter, so you need not carry one; elsewhere the UK three-pin plug is common. WiFi is free throughout the property, with 5 Mbps per device, so an eSIM is optional. Room rates are in US dollars, the restaurant is priced in Tanzanian shillings, and American Express is not accepted.
| Plug in the villas | German-style two-pin (Type C/F); adapter in every room |
| Plug elsewhere | UK three-pin (Type G), common in Zanzibar |
| WiFi | Free throughout the property; an eSIM is optional |
| Currency | Tanzanian shilling; US dollars also taken |
| Cards | Visa and Mastercard; not American Express |
| ATM | One in Michamvi Pingwe village; several in Paje |
| Last verified | 31 October 2026 |
Plugs
Which plug do I need in Zanzibar?
The UK-style three-pin plug (Type G) is the one you will see in most public places in Zanzibar. Our guest villas are different: they have German-style two-pin sockets (Type C/F), so a charger with a two-pin plug fits without help. A travel adapter is provided in every room, together with a cube with USB charging, and the restaurant and the other hotel areas have the three-pin sockets.
We do not give a voltage on this page, because we have not published one. Check the label on each charger, since most phone, camera and laptop chargers state the range they accept. Bring a spare adapter if you travel with many devices, and a power bank for days out and for the boat.
Connectivity
Do I need an eSIM in Zanzibar?
You do not need one at the hotel. WiFi is free throughout the property, on a fibre line with battery-powered routers that stay on during local power cuts. Each voucher gives 5 Mbps per device, which is enough for HD video and video calls, and you can have as many vouchers as you have devices.
An eSIM or a local SIM is for the hours you are out: maps, messages, a taxi. An eSIM works only on a phone that supports it and is not locked to one operator, so check before you leave, and install it while you still have WiFi. Providers sell regional and Tanzania plans; compare the data allowance, whether the plan names Zanzibar, and the coverage map on the provider's own site. A local SIM is another route: buy it from an official shop of the operator and expect to show your passport, because the SIM is registered in your name. We do not recommend one provider, and we have no coverage measurements for our beach to quote.
Money
What currency and cards work in Zanzibar?
The currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). Most of our guests are foreign, so both currencies work at Matlai. Room rates are quoted and charged in US dollars. The restaurant and the extras are priced in shillings, and you may settle them in dollars if you prefer. We accept cash in US dollars and shillings, and cards of two kinds: Visa and Mastercard. American Express is not accepted, because the hotel's terminal cannot process it.
The village boat operators who run the beach excursions take cash only, in dollars or shillings, and you pay the captain directly on the day; your butler arranges the trip and does not handle the money. Notes matter: many local vendors, and the hotel itself, can refuse US dollar notes printed before 2009, so check the print year of what you bring.
Cash machines
Are there ATMs near the hotel?
There is one ATM in Michamvi Pingwe village, new in 2026 and a short drive from the hotel. Paje, about 20–25 minutes away by road, has several banks and ATMs. A machine can be empty or out of order, so it is still sensible to arrive with some US dollars in cash.
For the rest of your planning, see entry requirements, is Zanzibar expensive for the costs that sit outside a room rate, and getting around Zanzibar. This page is part of the Plan your Zanzibar trip guide.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
The practical questions guests ask before they pack, answered from what we do at the hotel.
What plug do I need in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar commonly uses the UK-style three-pin plug (Type G) in public places. At Boutique Hotel Matlai the guest villas have German-style two-pin sockets (Type C/F), and a travel adapter is provided in every room. The restaurant and other hotel areas have the three-pin sockets. We do not state a voltage here; check the label on your charger.
Do I need to bring an adapter to Matlai?
No, there is one in every room, together with a cube with USB charging. Bring your own if you carry many devices or need to charge more than the room set allows.
Do I need an eSIM or a local SIM for Zanzibar?
Neither is required: the hotel has free WiFi throughout the property. An eSIM or local SIM is useful for maps, messages and taxis when you are out. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked before you buy.
How do I get a local SIM in Tanzania?
Buy it from an official shop of a mobile operator rather than from the street, and expect to show your passport, because a SIM is registered in your name. Ask the shop what it needs. We do not recommend one operator over another.
Is there WiFi at Matlai?
Yes, free WiFi throughout the property. It runs on a fibre line, and battery-powered routers keep it on during local power cuts. Each voucher gives 5 Mbps per device, enough for HD video and video calls, and you can have as many vouchers as you need.
What currency do I use in Zanzibar?
The currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). At Matlai room rates are quoted and charged in US dollars, the restaurant and extras are priced in shillings, and you may settle them in dollars if you prefer. Cash in US dollars and shillings is accepted.
Can I pay by card at Matlai?
Yes, with Visa and Mastercard. American Express is not accepted, because our terminal cannot process it.
Are there ATMs near Michamvi Pingwe?
There is one ATM in Michamvi Pingwe village, new in 2026, a short drive from the hotel. Paje, about 20–25 minutes away, has several banks and ATMs. It is still sensible to arrive with some US dollars in cash.
Which US dollar notes are accepted?
Notes printed in 2009 or later. Many local vendors, and the hotel itself, can refuse older notes, so check the print year on the notes you bring.
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 →
These dates are by enquiry only — please email info[at]hotelmatlai.com or WhatsApp +255772628833 and we will confirm availability and rates.
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
- A team of butlers on call, 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.
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