The Manta Resort, Pemba Island

The Manta Resort

Hayes & Jarvis Rating

Average: 5 (1 vote)

TripAdvisor Review

497 Reviews

A precious Indian Ocean gem

Escape to the Manta Resort and relax at one of the Indian Ocean's best kept secrets.

Situated on an idyllic beach on beautiful Pemba Island, the Manta Resort offers privacy and romance, as well as adventure and water sports, on one of East Africa's finest island sanctuaries.

Within rustic thatched buildings, strung in a meandering line through lush green gardens, choose from elegantly decorated beach-front rooms and spacious villas which blend perfectly with their tropical surroundings.

Or, for the ultimate in unique luxury and seclusion, opt for the resort's spectacular three-storey suite which floats in the ocean, tethered 250 metres from the shore. From the submerged bedroom you can gaze out into crystal clear water at the abundant shoals of reef fish and coral heads; you'll also enjoy a fully-stocked bar fridge and sunbathing (or stargazing) on the upper deck – a truly memorable, one-in-a-lifetime retreat.

Head to Kipepeo Spa for a selection of massages and treatments which will transport you to your most blissed out state, with the tranquil sounds of palm fronds rustling and waves gently breaking as a backdrop. Embrace your new pace of life with a tangy Lemongrass Ginger Sling cocktail or frosty beer as the soft breeze cools your skin, before taking a romantic walk along the beach and enjoying a candlelit dinner.

Hotel Features

Hotel Category

Luxury

General Information

Check-in Time:
02:00
Check-out Time:
21:00
17 rooms
Transfer duration approximately 2 hours from Zanzibar Airport (flight & road transfer)

Main Facilities

Diving
Outdoor pool
Wifi

Accommodation Type

Authentic
Barefoot style
Iconic

Board Basis Options

All Inclusive

General Information

Check-in Time:
02:00
Check-out Time:
21:00
17 rooms
Transfer duration approximately 2 hours from Zanzibar Airport (flight & road transfer)

Main Facilities

Diving
Outdoor pool
Wifi

Accommodation Type

Authentic
Barefoot style
Iconic

Board Basis Options

All Inclusive

Location Highlights

The Manta Resort

Approximately 2 hours from Zanzibar Airport (flight & road transfer)

497 Reviews

89% of travellers recommended this hotel

Traveller ratings

Excellent 408
Very Good 58
Average 19
Poor 9
Terrible 3

What to Expect

Location
Sleep Quality
Rooms
Service
Value
Cleanliness

Reviews

Jun 05, 2019

Exceptional place to visit

Vrilissia, Greece

Fantastic place, friendly people, clean rooms, nice view from the balcony, tasty food. Absolute experience the overnight stay in the underwater room which is berthed close to the beach and the hotel’s property. The ultimate place to relax and enjoy the African nature.

May 22, 2019

Lovely

Maybe not the ultimate luxury resort for everyone, but for me and my family (wife and 12 year old son) it was the perfect place. It's mostly run by locals and the service is outstanding. My son got his Padi certificate with the excellent in-house diving instructor. I just hope I will be able to go back some day.

Mar 16, 2019

Fantastic Resort - Amazing Service

London, United Kingdom

We recently enjoyed a 6 night stay at the Manta Resort and had an absolutely amazing time. Our trip followed a 7 day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, so we were attending with a much deserved rest in mind. Throughout our stay there were never more than 6 other couples/groups there so you never felt crowded and this contributes to the personal service you receive. More on that later…. All communication before arriving had been very professional and detailed from the office team and we were met at the Airport in Pemba as explained and then travelled in a 4x4 to the Resort on the north of the Island, journey time was 1hr 30mins as we were told. Upon arrival we were greeted by Sele, who explained to us the basics and meal details whilst we enjoyed a welcome drink and by the time that we were taken to our room all of our bags had already been delivered there. We stayed in a Superior Garden Room, which we felt was lovely and whilst these do not have sea views was more than adequate for our stay. Each evening whilst we were at dinner, the room/bed was prepared for us to arrive back to. What is great about Manta Resort is that there is no pressure on you to do anything, no upselling, yet if you would like to do something or ask about an excursion then the staff are happy to help. As they tell you when you arrive, if there is something you would like then just ask, as if they don’t know then they can’t help! The resort is fully inclusive, so all of your meals and any drinks you want at any time of the day are included, you only need to ask. The food that we had was incredible and over our 6 days nothing on the menu was repeated. There were always two main options (plus vegetarian) at each meal, which usually consisted of a fish and meat option. Portion sizes were excellent and the presentation of the food was also beautiful. Also included each day is a treatment at the on site Spa, and after your treatment you simply agree with the team what time you would like to come the next day. We did a number of activities, including scuba diving, kayaking to the nearby Sandbank and going for a sunset cruise on a Ngalawa Sailing boat, and again all staff involved in these were super friendly, helpful and always happy. The Manta Resort is renowned for its Underwater Room, and we spent the 3rd night of our stay here. It is a real splurge, but also a one off experience that if we had not done we would have left always wondering what it would have been like. We were taken by speedboat to the room, which is set out at sea within viewing distance of the resort and given a quick guided tour and everything pointed out. Sea level is the living/lounge area, stairs up to the sundeck and stairs down to the underwater bedroom. It really is a cool experience, and if you are not a diver/snorkeller then seeing the fish up close from your bed will blow your mind. A magnificent seafood platter was brought to us at our chosen time for dinner, similarly with breakfast the following morning. It really is a paradise within a paradise to stay here – 1 night is enough, both financially and to get the experience, but if you don’t try it, we think you would regret missing out. Finally, we cannot complete our review without referring back to the personal service that we received, and this comes from your personal ‘Fundi’ who you also meet on arrival. This is your waiter and assistant during your entire stay. We were so fortunate to have Lucas as our Fundi, who was the most charming man and really made our stay at Manta Resort. Not only was his service impeccable, but he was always on hand with drinks for us, answer any questions and to talk to us whenever we wanted. A very unassuming man but we felt he took a genuine interest in making sure we enjoyed our stay and we really built a great relationship with him. A great ambassador of Manta Resort.

View all

The Manta Resort

Facilities

Dive 360 Pemba Dive Center

Diving around Pemba Island is nothing short of spectacular, with untouched coral reefs surrounding the entire island. As one of the top dive sites in the world it is the perfect place to start your diving adventure. Expert dive instructors are available for any beginners wishing to take an interest in diving; Dive 360 is a payable-locally activity which can be arranged by the Manta Resort.

Kipepeo Spa

Qualified therapists welcome you to the Kipepeo Spa to enjoy daily treatments of your choice. One free treatment per day is included in your All Inclusive package so leave your worries behind and enjoy the wonderful spa.

Swimming Pool

Take a refreshing dip in the luxurious pool or soak up the sun, either in the open or under thatch, on the chaises. Enjoy a cooling drink from the bar.

The Manta Resort

Room Types

Standard Garden Room

These open plan makuti thatched rooms are situated in the gardens of the resort and feature a king-sized bed covered by mosquito net, an en suite open plan bathroom and a comfortable verandah to relax on.

Note: Garden Rooms are not air conditioned but come with a ceiling fan.

Show room facilities

Balcony or Terrace
Separate Shower
Towels included

Superior Garden Room

Superior Garden Rooms are fully air conditioned and feature a four poster king-sized bed and private makuti thatch covered terrace. These rooms are interconnecting and therefore ideal for families.

Show room facilities

Air Conditioning
Balcony or Terrace
Separate Shower
Towels included

More images

Seafront Villa

The newly built, fully air conditioned seafront villas are both spacious and private, with king-sized bed and en suite bathroom. A secluded sun terrace is the perfect place to admire the spectacular ocean sunset.

Show room facilities

Air Conditioning
Balcony or Terrace
Sea View
Separate Shower
Towels included

Underwater Room

For a truly memorable and unique experience, opt to spend a night in Manta Resort's private floating island (for a supplement). Ideal for honeymooners or those that want a luxurious holiday experience, here you can recline in the under water bedroom situated four metres below the surface. Enjoy sunbathing and stargazing on the top deck, dine on the water deck and sleep surrounded by marine life in your double bedroom. The bathroom facilities include an open-air fresh water shower, a fully-functioning advanced marine toilet system that is eco-friendly, and a small hand-wash basin. In addition this spectacular accommodation option comes with environmentally friendly, biodegradable shower products and a fully-stocked bar fridge.

Show room facilities

Air Conditioning
Fridge
Separate Shower
Telephone
Towels included

The Manta Resort

Food & Drink

The Restaurant at Manta Resort

A variety of mouth-watering meals, including fresh locally-caught seafood, beef, chicken and vegetable dishes, some of which have a distinct Pemba touch. A well-stocked bar and snacks are also available throughout the day.

Beach Lounge

Listen to the breaking of the waves with your feet buried into warm sands, while the soft breeze cools your skin. This really does feel like one of the most chilled places on the planet. The bartenders specialise in sundowners and cocktails and will spoil you with refreshing drinks all day and night.

Board Basis Options

All Inclusive

All inclusive at the Manta Resort really is all inclusive – even your laundry is covered! Meals are served to guests at their table on the verandah. Each guest is entitled to a daily spa treatment at the Kipepeo Spa. Scuba diving and any excursions you may wish to take part in are payable locally.

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Hotel

The Manta Resort

The Manta Resort

Hayes & Jarvis Rating

TripAdvisor Review

A precious Indian Ocean gem

Hotel Features

Hotel Category

General Information

Main Facilities

Accommodation Type

Board Basis Options

General Information

Main Facilities

Main Facilities

Accommodation Type

Accommodation Type

Board Basis Options

Board Basis Options

Location Highlights

The Manta Resort

Traveller ratings

What to Expect

Reviews

Exceptional place to visit

Lovely

Best beach environmental conservation hotel

Fantastic Resort - Amazing Service

Idyllic beach holiday

The Manta Resort

Facilities

Dive 360 Pemba Dive Center

Kipepeo Spa

Swimming Pool

The Manta Resort

Room Types

Standard Garden Room

Superior Garden Room

Seafront Villa

Underwater Room

The Manta Resort

Food & Drink

The Restaurant at Manta Resort

Beach Lounge

Board Basis Options

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Tanzania and Zanzibar Multi Centre

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