Just off the coast of Tanzania, The Manta Resort on Pemba Island has added a beautiful, other-worldly underwater bedroom to their original 16-room offering. The new 'digs' opened for business this month, designed by Swedish company Genberg Underwater Hotels. Lying approximately 250 meters offshore, the latest underwater structure is a three-story affair, with a rooftop deck, a bathroom and a lounge area at sea level and finally the bedroom downstairs, with the fish .By night, the underwater spotlights beneath each window around the room attract squid and shyer marine life, whilst coral has already begun to grow around the structure, creating its own underwater ecosystem.
Pemba Island is a remote island off the east coast of Africa, and probably as far away from civilisation you might ever find yourself. The Manta Resort is not a 5 star luxury resort and certainly different to what you might find on other tropical islands. If you’re expecting bling bling bling you will be disappointed. If you however are looking for serenity, close encounters with nature and a close knit family of people we look forward to sharing our island with you.
Switch off your noisy, pressurised, polluted electronic world and enter a completely different one – not as a tourist, but as a sentient human being with simple needs – sunshine, fresh sweet-smelling air, natural food, a pristine comfortable bed and friendly company to care for you and yours. All to be found folded into the edge of a primitive forest and set on rising land overlooking the purest, most turquoise waters that ever caught your breath – these waters hide secrets of the most exquisite kind – coral reefs unspoilt – and they are fringed by snow white, delicately soft sand on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
This is Manta, a treasured hideaway where you can feel the simplicity of a naturally evolved traditional Swahili island culture – and timeless peace and quiet. Feel part of the Pembian family, the locally, trained staff will make your stay perfect with unspoilt kindness and happiness helping you in any way they can.Feel free in the low-key modern comfort of the Manta Resort.These are the people who proudly endeavour to make Manta a special place.. From the moment you arrive, you are totally pamperd and every conceivable activity is at your disposal. Service during your stay is impeccable and this fully Inclusive vacation (with the exception of diving and outside tours). will ensure your stay is nothing short of exceptional. You will have your own member of staff assigned to assist you personally they can even to take you on visits to his/her village to meet relatives – of course thats your choice do not feel hat you have to go there it is just their way.
Chake Chake harbour
Chake Chake harbour is mainly used for swimming & fishing. When the Western Colonial powers came to East Africa the British forced the Sultanates of Muscat and Zanzibar to separate and then administered the Spice Islands in the name of the Sultan..
The monsoons set the pace
Historically the huge traditional trading vessels, or “dhows”, followed the monsoons down from the Arabian Peninsula to East Africa. Following the winds they transported cloves to India, textiles to the Arab countries and silver and wood back to the Spice Islands of Unguja and Pemba. The dhows have remained a constant emblem throughout the history of Pemba. To this day the dhows sail from Wete to Shimoni in Kenya and then plough through to northern Mozambique when the winds become favourable.
Image magic
Pemba is a magical island. Unlike Unguja (Zanzibar), Pemba is hilly. Gentle, undulating hills and deep verdant valleys are all covered with a dense cover of clove, coconut, mango and other fruit and crop plantations. A more fertile land is difficult to imagine.
Where is everyone?
How can such a beautiful place be so devoid of visitors? On an island with a population of 300,000 there are rarely more than a couple of dozen foreigners. It is as though the people of Pemba have a secret that they refuse to share. Traveling in Pemba is discovering untouched territory. Villagers are eager to talk to anyone who passes and small children will give you their biggest and whites smiles as the yell “bye-bye!” as you pass them by. You will be called over in markets by the stallholders to sit you down to try their fruits, waiting paitiently for your reaction.
Under the Sea
The Seafront Villas - boast a spacious and private open-plan design, with a centered king size bed and large en-suite bathroom. The villas feature a perfect blend of traditional Pemban decor with contemporary comfort. In addition, our newly installed state of the art EveningBreeze cooling system provides comfort without noise or drafts. After selecting your preferred sleeping climate, cool clean air will gently circulate over the surface of your bed—carrying with it the promise of a good night’s sleep.
An Underwater Room - Anchored in an ocean floor anomaly, the floating underwater room tops almost anything. Encapsulated within a turquoise blue bubble, watching shoals of reef fish swim by - sometimes in three or four layers of different species, this is a truly heart-stopping, yet awakening, experience. The floating structure, Swedish engineered, provides three levels, those above the water clad in local hardwood. Each one worthy of its own story. 3 days minimum stay when booking the Underwater room.
The landing deck, at sea level, has a lounge area and bathroom facility. A ladder leads up to the roof which has a lounging area – for sun worshipping by day and stargazing at night; wondering about time, the immensity of everything, the extraordinary clarity of the stars, planets and above all, the edge of our own galaxy – all seen without any light pollution. Sleep happily under the stars to the soft murmuring of the sea in appreciation of the philosophically microscopic probability of experiencing this. Realizing that you are.
The philosophy of water is to strive as low as possible and reflect the skies above. Descending the ladder to the bedroom below is a rewarding climb to another state of being. The magical feeling of lying on a soft kingsize bed surrounded by panes of glass affording almost 360 degrees viewing is hard to describe. Located on the reef, in the middle of a conservation area, shoals of reef fish and exquisite, often rarely seen individuals will be seen visiting your windows. Some have taken up residence around the room, which provides them some protection from predation. Some just paying a visit.
By night, the underwater spotlights on all sides of the room attract the shyer and more unusual, for instance squid. Coral has established itself on the anchoring lines and around the underwater structure. Octopus and even Spanish dancers have been seen attaching themselves to the glass panes. The reef inhabitants can simply not resist attraction, which makes for exciting watching and a truly unique experience!
Your journey will start with a short boat ride to the underwater room. The room lies approximately 250m from the shore, in the crystal clear waters of our marine conservation area. On arrival at the room, along with your service fundi and boat captain, you will get shown the ins and outs of your private floating island.
We will then leave you alone to enjoy your new surroundings. A kayak, snorkel and fins will be provided. The underwater room lies in what we call the blue hole, which has some fantastic coral heads and an abundance of marine life.
After having sundowners on your preferred deck, dinner will be served at a pre-arranged time decided by you and your fundi. After dinner you will be left to yourselves. Breakfast will be served at a pre-arranged time. When arranging your meal times your dietary requirements and meal options can be discussed too. Check out time from the room is at 11:00.
