Wellness · Michamvi Pingwe
Bustani Spa: Treatment Menu and Prices
Quick answer
What does a treatment at Bustani Spa cost?
Bustani Spa is the garden spa at Boutique Hotel Matlai, run by Maryam as her own business since 2014. Massages run 30–60 minutes and cost 80,000–235,000 TZS; the herbal bath ritual is 399,000 TZS. It is open every day, 09:00–18:00, and you pay the spa directly.
| Hours | Every day, 09:00–18:00 |
| Treatments | 30 on the menu, 30–60 minutes |
| Massages | 80,000–235,000 TZS |
| Couples | Two beds side by side |
| Payment | Cash, card or Pesapal link, paid to the spa |
| Discount | Book 3 massages, 10% off |
| Last verified | October 2026 |
Full-body massages: how long and how much?
Six full-body massages, each 50–60 minutes. You choose the pressure and, for most, the oil. Book any 3 massages and 10% comes off the total.
| Treatment | Minutes | Price (TZS) | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matlai Massage | 60 | 235,000 | The signature massage: your choice of pressure, coconut oil from the hotel garden, your choice of essential oils. |
| Mchai Chai Massage | 50 | 119,000 | Mchai chai is Swahili for lemongrass; a massage with lemongrass oil. |
| Zanzibar Massage | 50 | 145,000 | Medium-pressure kneading with pure massage oil, for the circulation. |
| Deep Tissue Massage | 50 | 185,000 | Deep, firm pressure for tired muscles, after a long flight or a safari. |
| Aroma Therapie Massage | 60 | 235,000 | You choose two essential oils from the selection. |
| African Wood Massage | 50 | 159,000 | Warm wooden tools, from the African healing tradition. |
Massages for the head, feet, back and face
For one part of the body: these massages run 30–60 minutes and start at 80,000 TZS. They count towards the 3-massage discount as well.
| Treatment | Minutes | Price (TZS) | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matlai De-Stress Massage | 40 | 120,000 | Back, neck and shoulders. |
| Indian Head Massage | 30 | 80,000 | Head and shoulders. |
| Foot Massage | 30 | 80,000 | Feet and lower legs. |
| Reflex Zone Massage | 50 | 145,000 | Pressure on the reflex points of the feet and hands. |
| Men's Relaxing Massage | 60 | 160,000 | Starts with a facial, then a face, head and shoulder massage. |
Which treatments are the house specials?
Three treatments you will not find on many menus: heated stones, warmed shells from the ocean in front of the hotel, and the Bibi Harusi scrub from the Swahili wedding tradition.
- Hot Stone Massage · 60 min · 235,000 TZS. Heated natural stones laid on and moved over the body.
- Konokono Massage · 60 min · 185,000 TZS. Konokono means snail: heated shells from the ocean glide over the body.
- Bibi Harusi Body Scrub · 60 min · 265,000 TZS. From the Swahili bridal tradition that prepares the bride’s skin; booked by honeymooners, for anniversaries and proposals.
Watch the Bibi Harusi scrub on video; couples planning a ceremony here can read about weddings at Matlai.
What is the herbal bath ritual?
Bustani has two wooden bathtubs under its thatched roof. Every bath ritual costs 399,000 TZS and has the same shape: it starts with a relaxing foot massage, then the bath, and ends with a 30-minute full-body massage. You choose the bath:
- Swahili herbal bath: boiled healing herbs, then you are covered in Mbono leaves.
- Floral spice bath: dried flowers, sea salt, clove and cinnamon.
- Cleopatra bath: milk and honey, with a soft back scrub of coconut crust and milk.
Facials, scrubs and treatments for men
A natural facial, a body scrub with three choices of rub, an aloe treatment for a day that had too much sun, and a stretching massage for men before or after exercise.
| Treatment | Minutes | Price (TZS) | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body Scrub | 50 | 159,000 | Before sunbathing. Choose Zanzibar spice, Tanzanian coffee or sea salt and oil. |
| Holistic Fitness for Men | 60 | 199,000 | Home-made clove and rosemary oil and dynamic stretches, before or after exercise. |
| Sun Burn Treatment | 60 | 145,000 | Natural aloe vera, finished with a head and face massage. |
| Natural Facial Treatment | 50 | 145,000 | Cleansing facial, face mask and a relaxing head massage. |
What do a manicure and a pedicure cost?
Hands and feet, with normal or gel polish. Times depend on what you choose, so the menu gives none; ask when you book.
| Treatment | Minutes | Price (TZS) |
|---|---|---|
| Manicure, normal polish | — | 99,000 |
| Manicure, gel (semi-permanent) | — | 145,000 |
| Nail polish change | — | 119,000 |
| Pedicure, normal polish | — | 119,000 |
| Pedicure, gel (semi-permanent) | — | 159,000 |
The herbal foot retreat
Short foot treatments, 30–35 minutes, with leaves, salt and spices. A good first visit if you have never had a spa treatment.
| Treatment | Minutes | Price (TZS) | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mbono Leaves Treatment | 35 | 90,000 | A foot soak with freshly picked green Mbono (jatropha) leaves. |
| Sea Salt Treatment with Lime & Vinegar | 30 | 69,000 | A foot soak with sea salt, lime and vinegar. |
| Herbal Compresses with Hot Spiced Water | 30 | 69,000 | Feet in hot spiced water, herbal compresses on the knees and feet. |
What is in the Romantic for Two package?
Romantic for Two costs 649,000 TZS per person and takes about 300 minutes, quiet times and snacks included. It holds:
- A romantic floral bath for two
- A candlelight dinner set-up with sparkling wine
- One 60-minute aromatherapy massage per person
- One 50-minute facial per person
The dinner itself is not part of the price: you choose it with your butler from the restaurant’s menus.
The honeymoon packages include spa time as well, from a Matlai Massage each in the shortest package to a romantic spa day in the longest.
How do you book and pay?
Tell your butler on the room’s WhatsApp group, message us, or walk over and ask the therapists: the spa is open every day from 09:00 to 18:00. The late-afternoon slots go first, so book those a day ahead; mornings are usually free at short notice.
Bustani Spa is Maryam’s own business; the building belongs to the hotel. You pay the spa directly, not on your hotel bill: in cash, by card, or in advance with the spa’s own Pesapal payment link. That link is how most birthday and honeymoon gifts are paid from home.
Can treatments come to your room, and what about pregnancy?
Yes. The therapists carry a portable massage bed to any room, balcony or pool terrace, so every massage on the menu can happen where you are. Most guests still prefer the spa itself, behind the villas in the tropical garden, with the big neem tree at its entrance.
If you are pregnant, tell us before you book. Our therapists are not specifically trained in pregnancy massage, so we keep expectant guests to the gentle part of the menu, such as the foot treatments and the facial, and leave out anything your doctor would not want.
Questions about the spa
Do I need to book ahead?
Not usually. Walk-ins are welcome every day between 09:00 and 18:00. For a late-afternoon slot, or a couples treatment, book a day ahead through your butler.
Can couples be treated together?
Yes. Maryam and Zhu work side by side on two beds, so any two massages on the menu can run at the same time. The Romantic for Two package is made for exactly that.
Can visitors who are not staying at Matlai book?
Yes, the spa is open to visitors as well as hotel guests. Send us a WhatsApp message first, so we can give you a time.
How do I pay, and can I give a treatment as a gift?
You pay the spa directly: cash, card, or the spa’s Pesapal link in advance. A treatment paid by link before you arrive is a common birthday or honeymoon present; the butler keeps it a surprise.
How long are the treatments?
Between 30 and 60 minutes. There is no 90-minute treatment; the bath rituals and the Romantic for Two package take longer because they combine several treatments.
Are the prices in US dollars as well?
The spa’s menu is priced in Tanzanian shillings (TZS), and you pay in shillings, or by card. We do not publish a dollar price, because the exchange rate moves.
Pick a treatment, then send us one message.
Tell us the treatment and the day; we confirm the time with Maryam.