The Matlai Journal
Travel Guide
29 stories in this category — browse all 54 posts, or start with the Zanzibar travel guide.
Where to Eat in Zanzibar in Low Season (April & May)
What actually stays open for dinner in Zanzibar during April and May, why Michamvi Pingwe holds up better than most, and an honest note on…
North Coast vs East Coast Zanzibar
Nungwi and Kendwa, or the quiet southeast? How Zanzibar's two main coasts differ on tides, swimming, crowds and what each one suits.
Sauti za Busara: Zanzibar's Annual Music Festival
What Sauti za Busara is, how it has changed over the years, and how to combine an evening at the festival in Stone Town with a quiet stay…
Ramadan in Zanzibar: A Peaceful Stay at Boutique Hotel Matlai
What a Ramadan stay at Boutique Hotel Matlai actually looks like — quieter beaches, unchanged dinner service, alcohol still served as…
Why March & April Are Zanzibar's Best-Kept Secret
The honest case for Zanzibar's two quietest months: what the rain actually does, what it costs, who it suits, and who should book June to…
Escape the Autumn Fade: Discover the Everlasting Green of Zanzibar
Zanzibar doesn't have an autumn — the island stays green all year. A tour of the trees you'll actually see in the garden at Boutique Hotel…
Discover Zanzibar Like a Local: Culture, Daily Life and Authentic Experiences
Greetings, "pole pole," daily amenities, getting around by dala dala, and how politics, education and sport actually work on the island — a…
Your Monthly Guide: When to Go & What to Expect
A month-by-month guide to Zanzibar's climate, fruit seasons and tourist seasons — from January's dolphins and mangoes to December's…
Your Zanzibar Checklist: So Nothing Goes Wrong! Part 2
Part two of the practical checklist: staying connected with a SIM or eSIM, getting around by taxi, self-drive or dala-dala, and what to…
Your Zanzibar Compass: Everything for Perfect Travel Preparation - Part 1
Before you pack your bags: flight routes to Zanzibar by continent, visa and mandatory insurance requirements, malaria prophylaxis advice…
Best Snorkelling and Diving in Zanzibar: Discover Marine Life
What to expect snorkelling and diving off Zanzibar's southeast coast: the marine life near Matlai, an honest take on the Kizimkazi dolphin…
Ramadan and Eid in Zanzibar: Faith, Community, and Celebration
How Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr shape daily life in Zanzibar — the fast, iftar and Taraweeh prayers, Stone Town's night markets, and what…
Michamvi Pingwe: Zanzibar's Quiet Peninsula Beach
Where Michamvi Pingwe sits on Zanzibar's southeast coast, how the tide shapes its sandbank and lagoon, the honest answer on seaweed and…
Zanzibar's Tides and Moon Phases, and What They Mean for Your Stay
How the tide and the moon connect at Matlai — the sandbank that appears at low tide, moonrise after the full moon, and why The Rock and…
Christmas and New Year in Zanzibar
How Christmas and New Year are celebrated across Zanzibar, and what the holidays actually look like at Boutique Hotel Matlai.
FAQ's before visiting Zanzibar
Get ready for your trip to Zanzibar with our essential FAQs, covering everything you need to know before you go! What and where is…
New Mandatory Insurance for Tourists Visiting Zanzibar
Effective 1 October 2024, all tourists traveling to Zanzibar are required to obtain a mandatory insurance policy prior to their arrival....
Public Holidays in Zanzibar
Public Holidays are an important part of a country's history. The public holidays in Zanzibar and Tanzania do not differ. This also means…
Discovering Zanzibar: Unique Souvenirs to Bring Home
An honest shopping guide to Zanzibar's best souvenirs — carved wood, kangas and kitenges, spice blends, vikapu baskets, Tinga Tinga…
Zanzibar: The Spice Island
Where Zanzibar's spices actually came from, the history behind the trade, and a spice-by-spice look at clove, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg…
Exploring Zanzibar's Culinary Traditions: A Journey into Typical Food Habits
What a typical day of eating looks like in Zanzibar — breakfast staples like Ugali, Cassava, Chapati and Vitumbua, street food classics…
Christmas in Zanzibar: Celebrations at Boutique Hotel Matlai
Christmas and New Year in Zanzibar: Stone Town's two historic churches, how the small Christian community marks the holiday, and what a…
Zanzibar's Tropical Fruits, Season by Season
What actually grows in Zanzibar, fruit by fruit: Swahili names, real seasons, and where each one turns up at Matlai — the breakfast tray, a…
Swahili: Not Just a Language
Swahili on Zanzibar carries more history than a simple greeting suggests — from "Jambo Bwana" and Disney's "Hakuna Matata" to Julius…
Journey Into Tradition: Exploring the Riches of Swahili Weddings
The customs behind a Swahili wedding in Zanzibar: the proposal and dowry, the pre-wedding bridal scrub, henna, the nikah ceremony, the…
Celebrating Culture: Festivals and Celebrations in Zanzibar
Zanzibar's cultural calendar: Sauti za Busara in February, Mwaka Kogwa's Persian-rooted New Year ritual in July, the Zanzibar International…
Interesting facts about the History of Zanzibar
Zanzibar's real history: Sayyid Said bin Sultan's 19th-century diplomacy, the Portuguese occupation, the 38-minute Anglo-Zanzibar War, the…
Before you pack your suitcase
Useful information before coming to Zanzibar
The Best Time to Visit Zanzibar: A Month-by-Month Guide
Zanzibar month by month, with real rainfall and sea temperatures, and the trade-off each season asks you to make.