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Matlai

For travel advisers, agents and tour operators

Travel trade information

A fact sheet without room rates for advisers and tour operators: six rooms in two villas, how guests arrive, the hotel’s policies and the photographs to show your clients. Rates, allotments and fam-trip enquiries are on request.

Trade contact

Rates, allotments and fam-trip enquiries: on request.

Write to the trade contact with the name of your agency or operator, the markets you serve and what you are planning. One person answers, and we reply within 24 hours.

Tim Hennig
General Manager
Email
info@hotelmatlai.com
WhatsApp
+255 772 628 833
Second line (calls only)
+255 777 300 012

Trade fact sheet

No room rate appears on this page; the extras below are the only prices. The table lists what you need to match a client to the hotel; the full public fact sheet is a click away.

PropertyBoutique Hotel Matlai, a family-run beach hotel at Michamvi Pingwe on the south-east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania
AddressPlot 101, P.O. Box 3464, Michamvi Pingwe, Zanzibar, Tanzania
OpenedMay 2012
Rooms and villasSix rooms in two villas: four in Asili House, two suites in Villa Kidosho
CapacityUp to 12 guests when the hotel is full, 18 with an extra bed in every room. Whole-villa use: Asili House sleeps 8, Villa Kidosho sleeps 4
Exclusive useThe whole hotel can be booked as one exclusive buyout, for a family, a private party or a company group. There are no conference facilities, and we do not run organised retreats or bring in retreat leaders.
PoolsTwo, one per villa, each shared by that villa’s rooms, at higher elevation above the beach
MealsRates are half board (breakfast and a daily three-course dinner); bed and breakfast is available on request. Breakfast is served from 07:00 to 12:00, with a packed breakfast for early tours and early departures
RestaurantZatiny, one restaurant with two kitchens: Indian Ocean fusion and Duyên, Vietnamese home cooking. Both menus are served at every table. The kitchen is halal-friendly, pork is offered, and vegetarian and vegan dishes are available
SpaBustani Spa, open daily 09:00–18:00, in the garden behind the villas; it is Maryam’s own business and guests pay the spa directly
Airport (ZNZ)About 65 km, 1h15–1h30 by road; Stone Town is 1h15 by road
StaffMore than 40 staff; languages spoken: English, German, Swahili, Arabic
AccessibilityNot fully step-free. Villa Kidosho can be used in a wheelchair from the entrance inside; the route to the restaurant and the way from the balcony to the sun terrace and pool have steps
Last verified12 October 2026

Open the full fact sheet

Download the fact sheet as a PDF (1.2 MB)

Room by room

Six rooms in two houses: four in Asili House, designed in an African style, and two larger suites in Villa Kidosho, designed in the Omani style of Stone Town. Every room has air conditioning, a ceiling fan and a safe. Which house suits a client mostly comes down to design taste.

RoomVillaWhereSizeBedSleepsBathroom
Hewa Asili House upstairs, left about 56 m² King-size, 200 × 200 cm 2 Claw-foot tub, shower, double sink
Moto Asili House upstairs, right about 56 m² King-size, 200 × 200 cm 2 Claw-foot tub, shower, double sink
Maji Asili House ground floor, left about 56 m² King-size, 200 × 200 cm 2 Claw-foot tub, shower, double sink
Dunia Asili House ground floor, right about 56 m² King-size, or two beds (120 × 200 cm each) 2 Claw-foot tub, shower, double sink
Jua Villa Kidosho left suite about 80 m² King-size, 200 × 200 cm 2 Concrete tub by an ocean window, two-head shower, double sink
Mwezi Villa Kidosho right suite about 80 m² King-size, 200 × 200 cm 2 Concrete tub by an ocean window, two-head shower, double sink

Hewa

Asili House · Hewa means “air”

Moto

Asili House · Moto means “fire”

Maji

Asili House · Maji means “water”

Dunia

Asili House · Dunia means “earth”

Jua

Villa Kidosho · Jua means “sun”

  • The sitting area of the Jua suite with two wooden chairs and yellow cushions between arched alcoves

    Jua suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

  • A bed in the Jua suite with petals laid across it and a carved headboard in an arched alcove

    Bed dressed for arrival, Jua suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

  • The Jua bathroom: a deep bath set below tall windows with curtains drawn back

    Bathroom, Jua suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

  • A carved wooden lounger on the balcony of the Jua suite between white columns, with garden leaves behind

    Balcony, Jua suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

  • Wooden armchairs in the Jua suite, with tall glass doors opening to the garden and the pool beyond

    View from the bedroom to the garden and pool, Jua suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

Mwezi

Villa Kidosho · Mwezi means “moon”

  • The bed in the Mwezi suite with a turquoise throw, a rounded headboard and an arched window

    Mwezi suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

  • Two wooden chairs with turquoise cushions in the Mwezi suite, with arched alcoves and a terrazzo floor

    Sitting area, Mwezi suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

  • A bed with a turquoise runner under a mosquito net in an arched alcove, with a wooden chair at the edge of the frame

    Bed in the arched alcove, Mwezi suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

  • White pillows and a turquoise runner on the bed, with a small green plant, a reading light and a pendant lamp on the wall

    Bed detail, Mwezi suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Artur Cabral / Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

  • A wooden daybed with a blue cushion on a covered terrace, with the pool, palm trees and the ocean beyond

    Terrace view, Mwezi suite, Villa Kidosho

    Credit: Photo: Boutique Hotel Matlai

    Download JPG (2000 px)

Villas and grounds

Shared spaces, the pools, the beach and the garden.

Policies at a glance

Check-in / check-out14:00 / 10:30
AgeRooms are booked by guests aged 14 and over. Younger children come with a whole-villa booking, and a cot can be arranged for villa bookings with small children
PaymentVisa and Mastercard, or cash in US dollars and Tanzanian shillings. American Express is not accepted
SmokingRooms are non-smoking; smoking is allowed in outdoor areas
AnimalsGuests cannot bring animals. Dogs, cats and tortoises live on the property
CancellationIf you cancel with less than two months’ notice, 50% of the total is charged; with less than one month’s notice, 100%.
Trade termsCommission, payment terms, cancellation terms for groups and allotment conditions are agreed one by one, on request

Getting here

Zanzibar airport (ZNZ) is about 65 km from the hotel, 1h15–1h30 by road, and Stone Town is 1h15 away. Transfers are arranged with local travel agencies and taxi companies, and we help set them up for your clients.

Extras and experiences

Add-ons for guests, priced in Tanzanian shillings (TZS) and open to quote. They are separate from the room rate, which is on request.

ExtraHalf or full boardBed and breakfastLead time
Pampering Package for 2
per couple		 TZS 884,000TZS 962,000 Tell your butler one day ahead.
Birthday Celebration
for the person celebrating		 TZS 468,000TZS 507,000 One day ahead, before 15:00.
Romantic Candlelight Dinner
per couple		 TZS 156,000TZS 195,000 With your butler by 14:00.
Private Seafood Barbecue
per couple		 TZS 546,000TZS 689,000 One day ahead.
Open-Air Cinema
per couple		 TZS 125,000 · Same price on any board Choose the film by 15:00.
Floating Breakfast
per couple		 TZS 110,000 · Same price on any board One day ahead.
Private Dining
per couple		 Fixed spots free; a spot of your choice: TZS 80,000 · Same price on any board Ask your butler.

Download the extras sheet as a PDF (0.6 MB)

Property map

An aerial map of the grounds with numbered points of interest: the villas, the pools, the dining areas and the games.

Aerial map of Boutique Hotel Matlai with numbered points of interest

Download the full-size map as a PNG (6.8 MB) · Download the map as a PDF (4.1 MB)

Photographs

90 photographs, free to use with credit, as JPG files 1920–2000 px on the long edge. Each file carries its credit line, caption and licence terms inside it. Print-resolution originals are available on request.

Rates, allotments and fam trips

Rates, allotments and fam-trip enquiries: on request. No rate is published on this site for travel professionals. Tell us your agency, your markets and your timing, and the trade contact answers personally.

Email the trade contact

Questions from the trade

How do I get rates?

On request. Write to the trade contact with your agency or operator name and your markets; no rate for travel professionals is published on this site.

Do you offer allotments or fam trips?

Allotment and fam-trip enquiries are handled one by one. Write to us with your plans and we reply within 24 hours.

How many guests can the hotel take?

Up to 12 guests when the hotel is full, and 18 with an extra bed in every room. Asili House sleeps 8 and Villa Kidosho 4 on a whole-villa booking.

Are children welcome?

Rooms are booked by guests aged 14 and over. Younger children of any age stay with a whole-villa booking, and a cot can be arranged.

How far is the airport?

About 65 km, 1h15–1h30 by road from Zanzibar airport (ZNZ). Stone Town is 1h15 away by road.

Can a client in a wheelchair stay?

The hotel is not fully step-free, so please say so plainly to your client. Villa Kidosho can be used in a wheelchair from the entrance inside, but the route to the restaurant and the way from the balcony to the sun terrace and pool have steps. Ask us before you book.

Can I use your photographs in a brochure or on a website?

Yes, to promote Boutique Hotel Matlai and Zanzibar travel, with credit, under the terms on the press page. For other uses, including advertising for another business, write to us first.

Which cards do you accept?

Visa and Mastercard. Guests can also pay in cash in US dollars and Tanzanian shillings. American Express is not accepted.

Tim Hennig, General Manager, Boutique Hotel Matlai, Michamvi Pingwe, Zanzibar.

Facts on this page last verified: 11 October 2026

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