Each of Matemwe Retreat’s four self-contained private villas offers panoramic ocean views from a private veranda complete with comfortable couch and hammock and roof terrace which features a plunge pool, sun deck, and shade deck. The four handcrafted villas share a small, exclusive beach with palm trees, white sand, and exquisite turquoise ocean. The spacious ground floor bedroom comes with air-conditioning, a private bar area, and en-suite bathroom featuring double sinks, a shower, and an oversized bathtub. Locally sourced stone, Makuti thatch, and coconut wood are incorporated in the craftsmanship of each villa, and local women produce soft furnishings such as pillows, blankets, and rugs.

Set on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar, the hotel boasts stunning ocean views. Once the world’s largest producer of cloves, this spice island also provided nutmeg and cinnamon to Europe, the Middle East, and China for over 500 years. Originally founded by Africans, the island was discovered by the Persians in the 10th century. Since then it has had a strong Arabic influence with a brief period where the Portuguese conquered the seaports, only to revert back to Arabic control. The sultan of Oman relocated his capital here. Zanzibar is actually an archipelago with two main islands: Unguja and Pemba.