Villa Kiva Hotel

Villa Kiva is a relaxed boutique beach hotel in Matemwe on the north-east coast of Zanzibar, set on a long, palm-fringed stretch of white sand facing the Indian Ocean. The airport is around an hour and a half away by road, making it an easy place to rest after a safari on the mainland. The hotel has a modest number of rooms, ranging from ocean-front standard and superior rooms to garden view suites and a junior suite with its own terrace, and the rooms have traditional style furnishings. There are two outdoor swimming pools plus a separate children’s pool, sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach, and a spa offering massages and body scrubs. The Villa Kiva Restaurant serves international dishes throughout the day, and a bar and terrace make a pleasant spot for a sundowner. Matemwe is a quieter part of the island, so the hotel suits couples, honeymooners and families who want easy beach time without crowds, with snorkelling and island excursions easy to arrange.