Mwiba and Matemwe

On arrival at Mwiba, meet your guide and transfer the short distance to Mwiba Tented Lodge, where you stay three nights on fully inclusive basis.

Mwiba Tented Lodge
Mwiba is an exclusive safari lodge situated on a private 129,000-acre reserve south of the Serengeti National Park. The terrain in this region is rugged and dense with vegetation, and defined by its boulder-strewn hills and rocky kopjes, in contrast to the open savannah plains of the central Serengeti. Its great appeal is its remoteness – only Mwiba Lodge and its sister property, Mila Tented Camp, occupy the reserve – and the spectacular views it offers of the Rift Valley and Lake Eyasi. Between the months of December and March, the annual seasonal wildebeest migration can typically be seen in nearby Ndutu region, which is easily accessed from Mwiba.

With a private vehicle and guide, guests at Mwiba may choose from half-day or full-day game drives within the private reserve. Mwiba’s location also allows for a number of activities not possible within the Serengeti National Park, including bush and escarpment walks, night game drives, fly camping (at additional cost) and helicopter rides (also at additional cost).

Mwiba Lodge sits atop a rocky gorge formed by the Arugusinyai River. It comprises ten luxurious tented suites. Each suite is equipped with a sophisticated cooling system, a lavish king-size bed, indoor and outdoor showers, freestanding bathtub, and a private verandah with a view onto the surrounding wilderness (each suite enjoys a view down into the valley or waters below the camp, where game can often be seen.)

Facilities at Mwiba Lodge include a swimming pool and heated jacuzzi, spa, gym and library.

You will have your own private guide and vehicle while at Mwiba, meaning you can set your own pace and schedule as you explore this vast wilderness region. Full-day drives with a picnic lunch can be arranged, or you may prefer to explore at a more relaxed pace on morning and afternoon game drives interspersed with guided walks within the reserve.

During your stay at Mwiba, you will also have the opportunity to travel beyond the boundaries of the reserve and into the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Highlands. At the start of the year, between January and March, the wildebeest herds can typically be found in the Ndutu region where they return during the calving season. This is an especially wonderful time to visit the southern Serengeti and by extension Mwiba Lodge!

In addition to game drives and guided walks, fly camping and helicopter air safaris can also be arranged during your stay at Mwiba (at additional cost).

On arrival in Stone Town, meet your driver for transfer to Matemwe Lodge, where you stay 4 nights on half-board basis.

Matemwe Lodge
Matemwe Lodge enjoys a peaceful perch on a coral cliff on the northern coast of Zanzibar, from where it overlooks a beautiful stretch of white sand beach directly opposite the Mnemba Atoll.

Matemwe consists of just twelve guest rooms, an open-air restaurant overlooking the sea and a laidback lounge and bar. The lodge also has two swimming pools (one of them a beautiful infinity pool) with deck chairs, and a poolside bar where refreshing cocktails are daily whipped up.

It's the location that makes Matemwe Lodge special. Its high vantage point allows for wonderful views—of the ocean, of traditional dhow and ngalawa boats sailing by—while the beach directly below it is one of Zanzibar's finest. Matemwe’s location also grants it a degree of peace and quiet not apparent on some other corners of the island, where much larger and busier resorts preside.

Matemwe Lodge is small and intimate, its twelve guest rooms set in stone and thatch chalets each with private terrace with double hammock to enjoy wonderful ocean views. The rooms are furnished with large double beds and bright, Zanzibari fabrics. The bathrooms are generously sized and feature standalone bathtubs and separate showers.

Activities include some of the best snorkelling and diving on the African coast. Visits to Stone Town

The pleasant atmosphere, rustic but stylish accommodation, lovely gardens, and ideal location make Matemwe Lodge one of our favourite of Zanzibar's small beach retreats.