Escape the Autumn Fade: Discover the Everlasting Green of Zanzibar

If your soul craves the endless green and the gentle murmur of a tropical canopy, look no further than Zanzibar. While the some parts of the world begin its seasonal descent into brown and muted tones, our spice island stays firmly planted in summer.

This is your invitation to trade the chill for the tropics! Zanzibar is a truly evergreen paradise, and its iconic trees are stories waiting to be told.

Join us as we take a closer look at the fascinating trees that define our island's landscape, economy, and fragrant history.

The Life-Giving Coconut Palm

Perhaps no tree is more iconic to Zanzibar than the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). Found everywhere from the beaches to the spice plantations, this tree is a cornerstone of daily life. The locals have a saying: "A man who plants a coconut tree plants food and drink, a home and clothes, a livelihood and a medicine."

Every part of this tree is used. The fresh coconut water, or madafu, is a refreshing drink on a hot day. The flesh is used in everything from curries to sweets. The leaves are woven into baskets, mats, and even the roofs (called makuti roof) of traditional homes. The husks are used for fuel and rope. The coconut palm truly embodies the resourcefulness of the Zanzibari people.

At Matlai, guests can plant their very own personal coconut palm. All they have to do is either get married at our hotel or spend their vacation with us at least three times. We have a special area in the garden with a collection of guest palms. When guests return for another visit, they receive a concrete stone with their name and the planting date engraved on it. Because of this, the area looks a bit like a grave yard, and we often jokingly refer to it as such when we talk about it, as everyone knows exactly which part of the garden we mean.

Zanzibar's Spice Trees: A Scented History

Zanzibar's nickname, the "Spice Island," is thanks to its history of cultivation, and many of these spices come from trees.

• Clove Trees (Syzygium aromaticum): Once the cornerstone of Zanzibar's economy, these trees stand tall with glossy green leaves. The small, reddish-pink flower buds are harvested before they open and are then sun-dried to become the pungent, dark brown cloves we know today. Walking through a clove plantation is an unforgettable experience, as the air is thick with their aroma.

• Cinnamon Trees (Cinnamomum verum): The bark of this tree is carefully peeled to reveal the fragrant spice. Unlike the common cassia, true cinnamon has a delicate, sweet flavor.

• Nutmeg Trees (Myristica fragrans): This tree gives us two spices from a single fruit: the nutmeg from the hard seed and the fiery red mace from the lacy aril that covers it.

Our efforts to plant these trees have not been very successful. The slightly salty, sandy soil and the salty air near the sea are not well-suited for some trees.

The Flamboyant Flame Tree: A Fiery Spectacle

While the spice trees fill the air with their scent, the flame tree (Delonix regia) captivates the eyes. Its name comes from its dramatic display of large, fiery red-orange flowers that bloom in clusters, creating a canopy that looks as if it's on fire.

The flame tree is particularly known for its feathery, fern-like leaves, which provide a beautiful contrast to its vibrant blossoms. The tree's crown spreads wide, offering a perfect, dappled shade from the intense tropical sun. After the flowers fade, they are replaced by long, woody pods that can hang on the branches for months. The flame tree is a popular sight along Zanzibar's streets and in gardens, a living testament to the island's vibrant, colorful spirit.

Some people in Zanzibar call the flame tree the "Christmas tree" because it blooms around Christmas time. Fun fact: When we started planning the garden during the construction phase, we told our Irish construction manager, who was familiar with Christian traditions, that we wanted to plant some "Christmas trees." He didn't say anything at first, but he later told a local that the Germans had some strange ideas and that a Christmas tree would hardly fit in Zanzibar. The misunderstanding was later cleared up to everyone's amusement.

The Fan Palm: Zanzibar’s Touch of Tropical Drama

Forget the swaying, feather-like fronds of the coconut palm for a moment. Zanzibar's Fan Palms are the architects of the island's tropical gardens.

Chosen specifically for their geometric beauty, these palms feature massive, stiff, fan-shaped leaves that look ready-made for a postcard. They give manicured grounds and pool areas a distinct, sophisticated structure.

While many varieties produce small berries, their role here is purely decorative, adding to the lush look. The Fan Palm is a visual centerpiece, providing the striking tropical elegance that defines a Zanzibari getaway. You'll find numerous examples of this Fan Palm right here on the premises, integrated into our hotel garden design.

The Versatile Finger Palm

While not as grand in stature as some of the island's other trees, the finger palm (Rhapis excelsa) is a common and beloved sight. This slow-growing, multi-stemmed palm is native to Asia but has found a perfect home in Zanzibar's tropical climate. Its name "finger palm" comes from its distinctive fan-shaped leaves, which are deeply divided into slender, finger-like segments.

Often grown as an ornamental plant, the finger palm is a favorite for adding a touch of elegance to both indoor and outdoor spaces. You'll see them gracing hotel lobbies, private courtyards, and shaded patios across the island. While their dense, dark green foliage is the main attraction, these palms also produce small, beautiful fruits. Unlike the edible fruits of other palms, the small fruits of the finger palm are not for consumption, but they add a striking ornamental touch with their vibrant red-to-pink color. They are a subtle but essential part of Zanzibar's botanical tapestry.

Keep an eye out for our Finger Palms! We use different types in the huge pots on the balconies and scattered throughout the hotel garden to capture that perfect tropical ambiance.

The Healing Neem Tree: Zanzibar's Natural Pharmacy

One of the most remarkable trees you'll find in Zanzibar is the neem tree (Azadirachta indica). Known for its powerful medicinal properties, this tree has its origins in the Indian subcontinent and was brought to East Africa centuries ago. Its distinctive, small leaves are often recognized by the tiny, sharp spikes along their edges.

The neem tree is a true "one-stop shop" for traditional remedies. The leaves, bark, and seeds are all used to create a variety of natural medicines. Locals use its bitter leaves to treat a wide range of ailments, from fevers and skin problems to digestive issues. The twigs are even used as a natural toothbrush! Its natural insecticidal and antiseptic properties make it an invaluable part of the local healthcare tradition, a testament to the deep connection between the island's people and its plant life. The Swahili name for the neem tree is Muarubaini, which means "the tree of forty cures".

The Unique Baobab

While not as common as the coconut, the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) is a sight to behold. Often called the "upside-down tree" because its branches look like roots reaching for the sky, the baobab is a symbol of strength and longevity. Its massive trunk can store thousands of liters of water, allowing it to thrive in dry conditions. Locals use the fruit, called "mabuyu," to make a tangy candy, and the bark and leaves are used for medicinal purposes.

Baobab trees are famous for their immense age and striking appearance. The oldest known specimens on Zanzibar are reported by various sources to be around 500 years old.

You can seek out these ancient giants at a few notable locations:

• Kwale Island: One of the oldest Baobab trees is found on the beautiful island of Kwale, making it a fantastic spot to visit during a day trip.

• Mtende Beach: Another massive Baobab is cited near the main road to Mtende Beach, with some sources claiming this particular tree is even older—potentially over 1,000 years old.

The next time you visit Zanzibar, take a moment to appreciate the trees. They are the silent giants of the island, each with a story to tell—a story of sustenance, history, and natural beauty.

The magnificent baobab standing next to our kitchen arrived here as a giant. It was already three to four meters tall when planted, requiring the combined effort of many strong men to transport the heavy trunk and carefully lift it into the planting hole. It was a monumental task! Today, the tree’s powerful canopy serves as a peaceful sanctuary. Look closely during the day, and you may spot our smallest residents: the tiny bush babies often choose the shady branches for their afternoon nap.

The Mkungu Tree: Zanzibar's Coastal Sentinel

As you explore the beautiful coastal landscapes of Zanzibar, you'll be captivated by a large, distinctive tree with wide, tiered branches that create a perfect, natural umbrella. This is the Mkungu tree, known to botanists as Terminalia catappa, but more commonly called the Indian Almond or Tropical Almond. It's a true sentinel of the shoreline, playing a vital role in the island's ecosystem and culture.

A Tree of Many Gifts

The Mkungu tree is a master of adaptation and a source of many treasures.

• A Natural Canopy: Its most striking feature is its layered, horizontal branches that grow in neat tiers. These create a broad, sprawling canopy that provides dense, welcoming shade from the intense equatorial sun, making it a favorite spot for locals and wildlife alike to rest.

• A Seasonal Show: Unlike many other trees on the island, the Mkungu offers a spectacular seasonal display. Its large, leathery leaves turn brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange before falling, giving a fleeting glimpse of an "autumn" right here in the tropics.

• Edible Nuts: The tree's fruit, which ripens from green to reddish-yellow, contains a hard, oval-shaped nut inside. This "tropical almond" is edible and has a pleasant, nutty flavor, making it a popular snack for children and a food source for local wildlife.

• Ecological and Medicinal Value: The Mkungu's extensive root system is crucial for preventing soil erosion along Zanzibar's sandy coasts. It also provides a habitat and food source for birds, insects, and bats, which are essential for dispersing its seeds. The leaves and bark of the tree are also used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, from skin conditions to digestive issues.

When choosing trees for the Matlai Garden, we focused on beautiful, shady canopies. We planted many Mkungu trees, we got the shade, but we also got a surprise: the trees' popular red fruit is a favorite snack for local fruit bats!

The colorful consequence? Since the bats excrete mid-flight, our bright walls and paths are now speckled with large, dark red spots. A lesson learned in tropical landscaping! But bats don't like cinnamon, so we have hung small bags of cinnamon sticks in various places throughout the garden.

The Casuarina: The Coast's Silent Guardian

When you walk along the beaches and coastlines of Zanzibar, you'll inevitably notice another remarkable tree: the Casuarina (Casuarina equisetifolia). This tree has a very unique, almost misleading appearance. Although its needles are reminiscent of a pine, it's not a conifer but a hardwood tree with slender, drooping branches that resemble the feathers of a cassowary, a flightless bird—hence its name.

In Zanzibar, the Casuarina is often referred to as the "coastal protection tree." It's strategically planted along the coasts and in windbreaks to prevent erosion and protect the delicate soils from strong winds. Its resilience to salty air and its ability to thrive in sandy, nutrient-poor soils make it an invaluable asset for the restoration of degraded landscapes.

Beyond its ecological importance, the Casuarina also provides a very hard and heavy wood, which is excellent for firewood and timber. The characteristic whispering sound that its needles make in the wind has also earned it the poetic name "Whistling Pine." It is a quiet but essential guardian of Zanzibar's coastline. On the other hand, if you want a beautiful white sand beach, you should avoid planting Casuarina trees. They constantly drop their needle-like branches and small, prickly, cone-like fruits, which don't exactly invite you to walk barefoot.

All the large trees, all the fan plams and finger palms, and some of the coconut palms in our garden were planted by us when we first created the garden 13 years ago. Most of them have since flourished beautifully, ensuring that temperatures remain pleasant even during the hottest seasons.

Interesting fact: Even in the tropics, trees shed their leaves in a process called abscission. While we often associate this with the cold of autumn in temperate climates, in the tropics it's primarily a response to periods of drought rather than temperature changes.