The Accommodation
Boutique Hotel Matlai comprises of two villas, Asili House and Villa Kidosho.
Both villas are situated directly on the beach, surrounded by lush blooming and fragrant vegetation. Asili House features natural African and Swahili elements in its design, while Villa Kidosho is designed in an Oriental style. As a result, the villas blend the typical African and Arabic influences that have shaped the character of Zanzibar.
Asili House is a large villa directly on the beach.
In Swahili Asili means „nature, origin", and that's what the architecture of the house characterises.
Asili House has four ensuite rooms. Book either a single room or the entire house. Asili House is ideal for small groups or families to relax in a tropical paradise and be pampered by an attentive staff.
Villa Kidosho is a low-rise house directly on the beach.
In Swahili Kidosho means „beauty“, the villa reflects the timeless beauty of the former sultan palaces.
Villa Kidosho has two ensuite rooms.
Book either a single suite or the entire villa. The high level of privacy makes Villa Kidosho perfect for honeymooners, families or friends.
The Beach
The beach is very quiet and the sea shimmers in the most amazing colours you have ever seen.
At low tide a powdered sugar white sand bank appears in front of the hotel, a fascinating place.
The Garden
The Garden is huge and a feast for all the senses with plenty of palm trees, fruit trees, tropical flowers, butterflies, birds and ... Several dining areas, loungers and hammocks invite you to relax, Open-air cinema with a wide range of DVD's, Recreation area for volley ball, boule, ladder golf and other outdoor games.
Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
It's the heart that gives,
the fingers only give away.
(from Africa)
Hotel Matlai is personally managed by the owner, Inge Becker-Boost and her son Tim Hennig. Tim Hennig is a certified hotel expert and has a university degree in tourism and event management. The other members of our team are chosen and trained carefully not only for professional competence but also in accordance with our team philosophy.
In the Kiswahili language of Zanzibar Matlai means the first wind in the early morning that blows into the sails. For the Zanzibari, especially the fisherman, this is a very special moment.
Our philosophy is to give our guests many special moments every day for a perfect dream of holidays. At the same time it is very important for us to protect the beauty and uniqueness of this wonderful place and to meet the Zanzibari people in mutual respect and acceptance.
Both construction and furnishings as well as the care of our guests are guided by individualism and careful attention to any detail.
As a family business is our greatest concern to pamper our guests within a warm and friendly atmosphere and to make their stay in our hotel an unforgettable vacation of their dreams.
History
In January 2008, during a trip to Cameroon and the ZAR to visit low land gorillas and forest elephants, the idea was born to get involved into some tourist business in Africa. The first idea of Inge was to take over and run a former hunting lodge deep within the rain forest in the ZAR about 600 km away from civilisation. However, the rest of the family was not too enthusiastic about working in such a remote location. Tim’s dream, who had then nearly finished his university studies in tourism, was to run a small hotel at the seashore. Doing business in Cameroon proved to be too complicated, so Inge undertook an internet research for „a plot in Africa“. Answer came from an estate agent in Dar es Salaam, who suggested to "just come and see". At that time, our daughter worked for the GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation) in Dar Es Salaam, but otherwise we had no connections whatsoever with this part of Africa. Inge flew to Tanzania and looked at some objects. Later, she and her husband came again looking more closely into the matter. In 2010 a „shamba“ (plot) on the east coast was acquired, only populated by coconut trees. It took about a year for Inge for planning and getting all necessary permissions, and a further year for the construction itself, finished with Tim's active support. In May 2012 the hotel with the first building „Asili House“ was opened with still improvisation necessary. In 2015 the second house „Villa Kidosho“ opened. Over the years, much effort has been put into the surrounding and the cultivation of the garden, transforming it from a shamba into a lush tropical garden unique in the area.