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Sunshine Marine Lodge

3.5 star property
3.5-star beach hotel near Mnemba Island

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Photo gallery for Sunshine Marine Lodge

Exterior
Family Suite with Partial Ocean View | Balcony view
View from room
Exterior
Free daily buffet breakfast

Reviews

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant

Explore the area

View in a map
Off Mnemba Island Road, Muyuni, Matemwe, 4749
  • Place, Kigomani Beach
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Place, Muyuni Beach
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Kiwengwa Beach
    ‪30 min drive‬
  • Airport, Zanzibar (ZNZ-Zanzibar Intl.)
    ‪83 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Partial Ocean Front Suite

Down comforters, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Partial Ocean Front Suite

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Ocean view
  • 40 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Large Twin Bed OR 2 Twin Beds and 1 Large Twin Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Deluxe Garden Suite

Garden view

Deluxe Garden Suite

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(3 reviews)
  • Garden view
  • 30 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Family Garden Suite

Family Garden Suite

Family Garden Suite

  • Garden view
  • 50 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds
  • Free WiFi

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About the area

Matemwe

Seaside stay .Stay at this Matemwe hotel and you'll be within 12 miles (20 km) of Kiwengwa Beach and Kendwa Beach. Mnemba Island is also nearby.

What's nearby

  • Kigomani Beach - 11 min drive - 5.6 km
  • Muyuni Beach - 14 min drive - 7.4 km
  • Pwani Mchangani Beach - 24 min drive - 15.2 km
  • Kiwengwa Beach - 30 min drive - 18.9 km
  • Kendwa Beach - 36 min drive - 17.9 km

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 90 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mzee Husa Restaurant - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Zanziblue - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Sunshine Marine Lodge - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Twende Tukale Kolekole - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Seles - ‬14 min drive

About this property

Sunshine Marine Lodge

3.5-star beach hotel near Mnemba Island
For a free ride to the surf and sand, catch the hotel's complimentary beach shuttle. Cool off in one of the 3 outdoor swimming pools at Sunshine Marine Lodge, and enjoy summer activities like snorkeling and scuba diving.

Free breakfast is served daily, and guests can also enjoy a free nightly manager's reception. Along with a restaurant, there's a coffee shop/cafe on site. You can enjoy a drink at one of the bars, which include a poolside bar and a bar/lounge. WiFi is free in public spaces. This beach hotel also offers a children's pool, a garden, and a terrace. Self parking is free.

This 3.5-star Matemwe hotel is smoke free.

  • 28 guestrooms or units
  • 7 buildings
  • Built in 2013
  • Buffet breakfast (free)
  • Manager's reception (free)
  • Towels for the beach
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Umbrellas for the pool
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Staff is multilingual
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Wedding services available
  • Library
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • BBQ grill(s)
  • Gift shop
  • Bellhop
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Bar by the pool
  • Dining venue
Sunshine Marine Lodge offers 28 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and complimentary bottled water. Rooms open to balconies or patios. Beds feature down comforters. This Matemwe hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Guests can make use of the in-room coffee/tea makers and minibars. Bathrooms include showers with rainfall showerheads, and complimentary toiletries. Change of towels and change of bedsheets can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.
Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the onsite spa services. There are massage/treatment rooms available. Services include deep-tissue massages, Swedish massages, facials, and body scrubs. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy.

Similar properties

Exterior
Villa Kiva
Matemwe
  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Kids pool
  • Parking included
4.7 out of 5, Exceptional, 260 reviews
The price is CA $93
CA $132 total
includes taxes & fees
Jun 3 - Jun 4
Villa Kiva

Property amenities

Family friendly

  • 3 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Free beach shuttle
  • Free extended parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas
  • Couples/private dining
  • Free daily manager's reception

Things to do

  • 3 outdoor pools
  • Boat tours
  • Children's pool
  • Library
  • Scuba diving
  • Snorkeling

Accessibility

  • No elevator

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Down comforter

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Desk
  • LED lighting
  • Portable fan
  • Safe
  • Water-efficient showers

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: 60 percent of room rate
Late check-in subject to availability

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The property charges 5 percent for credit card payments
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
Guests should be aware that 3 cats and 1 dog reside at this property
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:

  • Christmas Eve (December 24) Gala Dinner per adult: USD 80
  • Christmas Eve (December 24) Gala Dinner per child: USD 40 (from 2 to 11 years old)
  • New Year's Eve (December 31) Gala Dinner per adult: USD 80
  • New Year's Eve (December 31) Gala Dinner per child: USD 40 (from 2 to 11 years old)
  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 4.00 per person, per night
  • An effective city/local tax rate of 12.00 percent will be charged

We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 60 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 4)
  • Airport shuttle fee per child: USD 60 (one-way), (up to 12 years old)
  • Early check-in fee: 60 percent of room rate (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
  • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 5 percent

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cribs/infant beds and rollaway/extra beds
This property accepts credit cards and cash
Cashless transactions are available
Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room. The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation. Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve cribs/infant beds and rollaway/extra beds. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, and cash. Noise-free guestrooms cannot be guaranteed.
    For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher, a security system, and a first aid kit in each accommodation. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

We should mention

  • Reservations are needed for massage services and spa treatments. For reservations, contact the hotel before arrival using the contact information on the booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Sunshine Marine
Sunshine Marine Lodge
Sunshine Marine Lodge Matemwe
Sunshine Marine Matemwe
Sunshine Marine Lodge Matemwe, Zanzibar
Sunshine Marine Lodge Hotel
Sunshine Marine Lodge Matemwe
Sunshine Marine Lodge Hotel Matemwe

Frequently asked questions

How close is Sunshine Marine Lodge to the airport?

Sunshine Marine Lodge is 35.3 mi (90-min drive) away from the Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

How much does it cost to stay at Sunshine Marine Lodge?

As of Jun 2, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Sunshine Marine Lodge on Jun 6, 2026 start from CA $109, excluding taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Does Sunshine Marine Lodge have an airport shuttle?

Sunshine Marine Lodge offers an airport shuttle 24 hours a day, on request, for a charge of USD 60 per vehicle, one-way.

How close is Sunshine Marine Lodge to the beach?

This hotel is 10.1 mi (40-min drive) from Kiwengwa Beach and 10.8 mi (59-min drive) from Kendwa Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Sunshine Marine Lodge offer free breakfast?

Sunshine Marine Lodge offers free buffet breakfast every day from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM.

Is there a casino at Sunshine Marine Lodge?

No, there is no casino at this hotel.

What time is check-in at Sunshine Marine Lodge?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: 10:00 PM. A percentage-based fee applies for early check-in.

Is there free parking at Sunshine Marine Lodge?

This hotel offers free self parking and extended parking.

Does Sunshine Marine Lodge have a pool?

Sunshine Marine Lodge features 3 outdoor pools and a children's pool.

Does Sunshine Marine Lodge have a restaurant?

Yes, there is a restaurant on site.

Does Sunshine Marine Lodge have a spa?

This hotel doesn't have a spa, but it does offer body treatments, deep-tissue massages, and mani/pedis.

How close is Sunshine Marine Lodge to downtown Matemwe?

Sunshine Marine Lodge is 3.9 mi away from Matemwe.

Sunshine Marine Lodge Reviews

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

Rating 10 - Excellent. 62 out of 89 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 20 out of 89 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 89 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 89 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 89 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.4/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Carolina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic stay in this beautiful boutique hotel in Matemwe! Plus: Amazing ocean view room, great food, amazing staff (everyone is so kind and so nice!), fantastic diving team (be aware that Zanzibar doesn't have big sealife, but the small ones and the sites are beautiful), very relaxing stay, great service overall Cons: the only cons (but I knew that already and this was part of the reasons why I chose this hotel!) is that the hotel is very isolated so if you are looking for a lot to do, this is not the place for you!
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Samantha

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
We had a gorgeous sea view room for our 2 night stay. Bed is comfortable, balcony seats very comfortable: good shower etc. place is spotless with attentive housekeeping. Great stay if you’re looking to dive around Mnemba as the diving centre with lovely staff is in the resort. Menu is a bit limited for vegetarians and they ran out of quite a few ingredients (avocado, limes) so it wasn’t the best food we had and the area around the hotel is pretty quiet.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kamil

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We enjoyed all in this property. Thank You and see You again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

james

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erica

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lovely stay- great quiet spot with amazing views and friendly and attentive staff. Great scuba diving!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dina

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Peaceful oasis

We had an amazing stay at Sunshine Marine Lodge. The staff were all incredibly helpful and friendly. The reception team helped with arranging tours and activities - we especially loved the tour of Stone Town! The hotel also offers transfer services from the airport, which was really convenient. The resort itself is beautiful and peaceful. The food was also great, especially the fresh fruit at breakfast and the daily specials for lunch and dinner. Cannot recommend this stay enough!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dorte

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect relaxing holiday

Relaxing holiday. All staff smiling, very friendly and service minded. Excellent team. The food was excellent, perhaps a bit expensive, but very tasty and beautifully served. Special thanks to the waiter Daniel who was really making a difference. We tried yoga and the yoga instructor Anna was really good, Stayed in the ocean view bungalow. The only thing which I recommend is a new madras as it was a bit used.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

George

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The propertynwas beautiful, the room was spacioua and incredible balcony. The distance from town and expense to get there and back ( over an hour $160 rtn)was the only drawback.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff at Sunshine went above and beyond the call of duty to make our stay there wonderful. We especially would like to acknowledge Hamida, Rosemary and Daniel. Everyone there was great and always had a smile waiting for you. Service was top notch and their restaurant deserves a michelin star.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

sarah

Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The best part of the hotel is the staff—warm, friendly, wonderful and willing to go ABOVE AND BEYOND to make our stay wonderful. The location is far away from hustle and bustle of beaches like Nungwi. No one is trying to sell you anything here. The view from the pools is lovely and the dramatic rise and fall of the tide made for fun little adventures. The dive shop was handy and lovely. The snorkeling and diving at Mnemba were just 20 minute away and great. To note: there isn’t a swimmable beach in front of the hotel. For this, you wait until low tide and walk north to Muyuni or bike there…well worth it for the sandbar, starfish, and swimming. We are so thankful to Sunshine Marine Lodge team for sharing their beautiful space and smiles with us!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ada

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place is very nice Food is Amazing great for a cupples retret! You will anjoy your stay if its a relaxing mode!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn, Boston

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing views, pools, food and service. Very relaxing private paradise!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Chris, Charlottesville

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Loved the rain-shower-head in the shower. Loved the view from the balcony. Loved everything.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We stayed at this property to go scuba diving. Our room was beautiful, the pool was clean, the food was good and well priced and the staff were very friendly and professional. We had a great time and recommend this property to anyone!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This is such a fancy resort and even though the beach is not right by the hotel they have shuttles that will take you to the private beach whenever you want. the private beach is just amazing as it’s so deserted!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tom, Colorado Springs, Colo, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very enjoyable stay at Sunshine Marine Lodge!

My wife and I chose to stay here because of the on-site Scuba Diving shop (Dive Point Zanzibar), and really enjoyed our 5-night stay. The property is located about 90 minutes from the airport, and a one-way private transfer/taxi arranged through the hotel costs $60 USD. We opted for the "half board" option which includes breakfast and dinner each day. Breakfast includes a continental style breakfast, but you can also have eggs/omelettes cooked-to-order, along with African pancakes (like a thick crepe). For dinner you can choose from the "Catch of the Day", or from a limited 4-course menu that changes daily. All in all, we were very happy with the quality, and quantity of the meals. The rooms were spacious and comfortable (we opted for the seaside bungalow, and had a beautiful/close view right from our room and porch - well worth the extra $. The property grounds are nice, quiet, there are three separate pools on-site, and a nice bar and restaurant. They also offer free yoga classes on Monday, Wednesdays, & Fridays, and you can snorkel right in front of the property during high tide (there are big tide swings here, so at low tide, there is not enough water to snorkel). We were very pleased with the overall service at the resort, however the restaurant staff/waiters do not seem to be very motivated, or have not been trained well on how to provide excellent service. DivePoint (scuba shop) is excellent, really nice to have on-site, and we loved our 7 dives with them!!!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Mat, Seattle

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
As always the staff at the hotel are excellent. The location is ideal if you need to take a break from life and rejuvenate. overall excellent value for money.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Steve

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great place, wonderful people.

Great location for relaxing - well kept property with awesome view of ocean and Mnemba Island straight ahead, cool breeze, and very friendly and helpful staff. We had a family death and had to rebook and they were incredibly accommodating. Wifi was reasonable for Zanzibar (we didn't try to stream netflix or anything). Dive shop team are great and reasonably priced. Food was good and prices were reasonable (same as or less than other similar places in Zanzibar)
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2018

8/10 Good

Nabil

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The lodge is located in an amazing area. Staff were nice, food was good. However, it is a bit isolated, so you have no options for going around at low costs.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2018

10/10 Excellent

Mat, Seattle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Ideal Vacation Location

Ideal stay for those of us that need to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Stayed for 3 nights the hotel staff were wonderful, hotel restaurant had a decent food & drinks menu, no internet connection and weak phone signal in the rooms so ideal to disconnect from work and life but you can find wifi by the bar, lots of water activities or just lay by the pool and do nothing kind of place, Loved it, also most importantly make sure you get a rental call its cheaper than taking a taxi to and from the hotel or moving around the island.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2018

8/10 Good

laura, italy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Awesome hotel, super friendly staff

We stayed 2 nights and had a fantastic room with sea-view. Place is absolutely top-class, staff are really friendly and helpful, beach is very close and there's a pool too. Restaurant is also very nice, on a big terrace Be aware that the place is rather isolated so you won't be able to go "for a stroll" as no other restaurants or shops around - good for a couple of days but probably not much longer. Also, it's pretty much on a cliff and to get to the beach you have to cycle, take a boat (when it's his tide) or ask for a lift...
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2018

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

gorgeous but remote

A fantastic remote location- a real getaway! A dive centre on site with great instructors and hotel staff are friendly. Some small issues to note: - wifi is not great and phone reception v v limited. -they charge 5% on all card transactions and there is no cash point so come prepared with dollars to settle your bill or account for the extra costs. Not as much locally caught food on the menu as you might expect on the coast - always catch of the day and lobster but many other dishes are European (pastas etc) and difficult to go elsewhere for meals. Having seen the half board menu on their notice board and eaten it one day I would recommend doing half board as the a la Carte menu can get pricey each day. Not quite as much variety on the menu but all nice food. -The road to the lodge is badly affected by the wet season so be prepared for a bumpy 10 minutes of the journey but this adds to the feeling of remoteness. Bear it in mind though if you're planning excursions out as it's very remote and adds some time to the journey. Positives- Breakfasts are lovely with lots of fresh fruit, pastries and cooked breakfasts - diving is great - Not having the white sandy beach right at the front of the hotel is actually an added bonus as you really get to see the tides and rock pools forming with lots of wildlife to look for each day. -The view out to Nnemba is gorgeous - arguably better than the view they would have staying out on the island looking back at Zanzibar.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2017

8/10 Good

Expedia Relocation, Oslo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

A great place with great service - on the water

Don't be fooled by the name, "lodge" is not quite what it is. This small place has well appointed rooms in bungalows scattered around a nicely landscape natural garden, a nice pool, and the property gives on the beach. Very friendly service, great views, nice base for exploring the surrounding beaches. Very friendly service. On-site diving Center, with very friendly staff.

10/10 Excellent

Renise, Ashland Nebraska

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Paradise Retreat

Beautiful,new and isolated location with excellent staff.