Sunshine Marine Lodge

3.5 star property
Beach hotel with spa, near Mnemba Island

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Sunshine Marine Lodge

3 outdoor pools, pool umbrellas, sun loungers
Property grounds
Exterior
Sports facility
Family Suite, Garden View | Down comforters, minibar, in-room safe, desk

Reviews

9.2 out of 10

Wonderful

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Airport transfer
  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Non-smoking
  • Air conditioning
Main amenities
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Private beach
  • Restaurant and bar/lounge
  • Full-service spa
  • 3 outdoor pools
  • Free beach shuttle
  • Free use of bicycles
  • Children's pool
  • Pool bar
  • Coffee shop/cafe
  • Massage/treatment rooms
  • Airport shuttle
Feel at home
  • Children's pool
  • Private bathroom
  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Laundry facilities
The price is $169
includes taxes & fees
$140 per night
Nov 26 - Nov 27

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 7 of 7 rooms

Family Suite, Garden View

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Portable fan
Down duvet
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
  • 538 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Family Suite with Partial Ocean View

Highlights

Yard
Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Portable fan
Down duvet
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
  • 753 sq ft
  • Partial ocean view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 2 Twin Beds

Ocean Front Suite

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Portable fan
Down duvet
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
  • 431 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Large Twin Bed OR 2 Twin Beds and 1 Large Twin Bed

Suite with Ocean View

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Portable fan
Down duvet
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
  • 322 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Deluxe Ocean Front Suite

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Portable fan
Down duvet
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
  • 538 sq ft
  • Ocean view
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Deluxe Suite, Garden View

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Portable fan
Down duvet
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
  • 322 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Twin Bed

Garden Suite

Highlights

Balcony or patio
Air conditioning
Portable fan
Down duvet
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
Free bottled water
Electric kettle
  • 269 sq ft
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

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About the neighborhood

Map
Off Mnemba Island Road, Muyuni, Matemwe, 4749

What's nearby

  • Kigomani Beach - 11 min drive - 5.0 km
  • Muyuni Beach - 13 min drive - 6.7 km
  • Kiwengwa Beach - 30 min drive - 17.1 km
  • Nungwi Beach - 31 min drive - 15.1 km
  • Kendwa Beach - 45 min drive - 32.5 km

Getting around

  • Zanzibar Intl. Airport (ZNZ) - 95 min drive
  • Airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free beach shuttle

Restaurants

  • ‪Villa Kiva Garden Restaurant - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪The Bridge - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Garden Bob Swahili - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Zanzibar Queen Restaurant - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Sunshine Marine Lodge - ‬8 min walk

About this property

Sunshine Marine Lodge

Sunshine Marine Lodge offers a private beach and gives you access to onsite scuba diving and snorkeling. 3 outdoor pools provide a splash of fun, while guests in the mood for pampering can visit the spa to indulge in massages, body scrubs, and aromatherapy. The coffee shop/cafe is a great spot for a bite to eat and cold drinks are served at the bar/lounge. A poolside bar, a children's pool, and free bike rentals are other highlights.

Languages

Danish, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Swahili

At a glance

Hotel size

  • 24 rooms

Arriving/Leaving

  • Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime
  • Early check-in subject to availability
  • Check-out time is 10 AM

Restrictions related to your trip

  • Check COVID-19 restrictions.

Special check-in instructions

  • This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 48 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
  • The front desk is open daily from 7:30 AM - 9:30 PM
  • Front desk staffed during limited hours
  • For more details, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Required at check-in

  • Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
  • Government-issued photo ID may be required

Pets

  • Pets not allowed

Internet

  • Free WiFi in public areas
  • Free WiFi in rooms

Parking

  • Free onsite self parking
  • Free onsite extended parking

Transfers

  • Airport shuttle on request (available 24 hours)*

Offsite

  • Free beach shuttle

Other information

  • Smoke-free property

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Restaurant
  • Bar/lounge
  • Poolside bar
  • Coffee shop
  • Barbecue grills

Traveling with children

  • Children's pool

What to do

  • Free beach shuttle
  • Mountain biking
  • Boat tours
  • Scuba diving
  • Snorkeling
  • Private beach nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Parasailing nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Scooter/moped rentals nearby

Services

  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Wedding services
  • Multilingual staff
  • Porter/bellhop
  • Free beach shuttle
  • Free bicycle rentals
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas

Facilities

  • 7 buildings/towers
  • Built in 2013
  • Safe-deposit box at front desk
  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Library
  • Mosquito nets
  • 3 outdoor pools
  • Bicycle parking
  • Full-service spa
  • Massage/treatment rooms
  • At least 80% of food locally-sourced
  • At least 80% organic food
  • Vegan dining options
  • Vegetarian dining options
  • Humane treatment of captive wild animals
  • Comprehensive food waste policy
  • Comprehensive recycling policy
  • Traditional architecture

Room amenities

Home comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Minibar
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle

Sleep well

  • Down comforter
  • Bed sheets provided

What to enjoy

  • Balcony or patio

Freshen up

  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Shower only
  • Free toiletries
  • Towels

Stay connected

  • Desk
  • Free WiFi

Food and drink

  • Free bottled water

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • In-room safe

Special features

Spa

The onsite spa has massage/treatment rooms. Services include body scrubs, body treatments, and manicures and pedicures. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy.

Fees & policies

Mandatory fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges by the property at check-in or check-out. Fees may include applicable taxes:
  • A tax is imposed by the city: USD 4.00 per person, per night

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of USD 60 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 6)
  • Early check-in can be arranged for an extra charge (subject to availability)
  • Credit card charges are subject to an extra charge

Renovations and closures

The property is closed between May 1 and June 1.

Children & extra beds

  • Airport shuttle service for children up to age 12 costs USD 60 (one-way)

Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)

  • Children under 14 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool without adult supervision
  • Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation

Policies

This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a fire extinguisher, a security system and a first aid kit on site.
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
This property accepts credit cards. Cash is not accepted.
Cashless transactions are available.

Also known as

Sunshine Marine
Sunshine Marine Lodge
Sunshine Marine Lodge Matemwe
Sunshine Marine Matemwe
Sunshine Marine Lodge Matemwe, Zanzibar
Sunshine Marine Lodge Hotel
Sunshine Marine Lodge Matemwe
Sunshine Marine Lodge Hotel Matemwe

Frequently asked questions

Is Sunshine Marine Lodge currently open?
The property is closed between May 1 and June 1.
Is there a pool at Sunshine Marine Lodge?
Yes, there are 3 outdoor pools and a children's pool.
Are pets allowed at Sunshine Marine Lodge?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed.
Is parking offered on site at Sunshine Marine Lodge?
Yes, there's free self and extended parking.
Is airport shuttle service offered by Sunshine Marine Lodge?
Yes, an airport shuttle is available. The charge is USD 60 per vehicle one-way.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Sunshine Marine Lodge?
Check-in start time: noon; Check-in end time: anytime. There's a charge for early check-in (subject to availability). Check-out time is 10 AM.
What is there to do at Sunshine Marine Lodge and nearby?
Have fun with onsite activities like mountain biking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Additional recreation nearby includes ecotours. Indulge in a treatment at the spa and enjoy a swim in one of the 3 outdoor swimming pools. Sunshine Marine Lodge also has spa services and a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near Sunshine Marine Lodge?
Yes, there's an onsite restaurant.
Does Sunshine Marine Lodge have any outdoor private spaces?
Yes, every room features a balcony or patio.

Reviews

9.2

Wonderful

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

9.2/10

Amenities

9.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Very Good

The propertynwas beautiful, the room was spacioua and incredible balcony. The distance from town and expense to get there and back ( over an hour $160 rtn)was the only drawback.
George, 4-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

The staff at Sunshine went above and beyond the call of duty to make our stay there wonderful. We especially would like to acknowledge Hamida, Rosemary and Daniel. Everyone there was great and always had a smile waiting for you. Service was top notch and their restaurant deserves a michelin star.
Robert, 4-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

The best part of the hotel is the staff—warm, friendly, wonderful and willing to go ABOVE AND BEYOND to make our stay wonderful. The location is far away from hustle and bustle of beaches like Nungwi. No one is trying to sell you anything here. The view from the pools is lovely and the dramatic rise and fall of the tide made for fun little adventures. The dive shop was handy and lovely. The snorkeling and diving at Mnemba were just 20 minute away and great. To note: there isn’t a swimmable beach in front of the hotel. For this, you wait until low tide and walk north to Muyuni or bike there…well worth it for the sandbar, starfish, and swimming. We are so thankful to Sunshine Marine Lodge team for sharing their beautiful space and smiles with us!
sarah, 4-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

The place is very nice Food is Amazing great for a cupples retret! You will anjoy your stay if its a relaxing mode!
Ada, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Amazing views, pools, food and service. Very relaxing private paradise!
Carolyn, 2-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Loved the rain-shower-head in the shower. Loved the view from the balcony. Loved everything.
Chris, 3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

We stayed at this property to go scuba diving. Our room was beautiful, the pool was clean, the food was good and well priced and the staff were very friendly and professional. We had a great time and recommend this property to anyone!
3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

This is such a fancy resort and even though the beach is not right by the hotel they have shuttles that will take you to the private beach whenever you want. the private beach is just amazing as it’s so deserted!
2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Very enjoyable stay at Sunshine Marine Lodge!
My wife and I chose to stay here because of the on-site Scuba Diving shop (Dive Point Zanzibar), and really enjoyed our 5-night stay. The property is located about 90 minutes from the airport, and a one-way private transfer/taxi arranged through the hotel costs $60 USD. We opted for the "half board" option which includes breakfast and dinner each day. Breakfast includes a continental style breakfast, but you can also have eggs/omelettes cooked-to-order, along with African pancakes (like a thick crepe). For dinner you can choose from the "Catch of the Day", or from a limited 4-course menu that changes daily. All in all, we were very happy with the quality, and quantity of the meals. The rooms were spacious and comfortable (we opted for the seaside bungalow, and had a beautiful/close view right from our room and porch - well worth the extra $. The property grounds are nice, quiet, there are three separate pools on-site, and a nice bar and restaurant. They also offer free yoga classes on Monday, Wednesdays, & Fridays, and you can snorkel right in front of the property during high tide (there are big tide swings here, so at low tide, there is not enough water to snorkel). We were very pleased with the overall service at the resort, however the restaurant staff/waiters do not seem to be very motivated, or have not been trained well on how to provide excellent service. DivePoint (scuba shop) is excellent, really nice to have on-site, and we loved our 7 dives with them!!!
Tom, 5-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

As always the staff at the hotel are excellent. The location is ideal if you need to take a break from life and rejuvenate. overall excellent value for money.
Mat, 3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

This place was absolutely lovely! I enjoyed that it was quiet and out of the way - it is not close to any town and doesn't have the "party" vibe, but if you're looking for a nice place to relax, soak in the beach & snorkel/scuba dive, it's perfect! The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the dive center is located right at the hotel! Definitely recommend this place!
2-night trip
Verified CheapTickets guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Great place, wonderful people.
Great location for relaxing - well kept property with awesome view of ocean and Mnemba Island straight ahead, cool breeze, and very friendly and helpful staff. We had a family death and had to rebook and they were incredibly accommodating. Wifi was reasonable for Zanzibar (we didn't try to stream netflix or anything). Dive shop team are great and reasonably priced. Food was good and prices were reasonable (same as or less than other similar places in Zanzibar)
Steve, 2-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

The lodge is located in an amazing area. Staff were nice, food was good. However, it is a bit isolated, so you have no options for going around at low costs.
Nabil, 3-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Ideal Vacation Location
Ideal stay for those of us that need to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Stayed for 3 nights the hotel staff were wonderful, hotel restaurant had a decent food & drinks menu, no internet connection and weak phone signal in the rooms so ideal to disconnect from work and life but you can find wifi by the bar, lots of water activities or just lay by the pool and do nothing kind of place, Loved it, also most importantly make sure you get a rental call its cheaper than taking a taxi to and from the hotel or moving around the island.
Mat, 3-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very Good

Awesome hotel, super friendly staff
We stayed 2 nights and had a fantastic room with sea-view. Place is absolutely top-class, staff are really friendly and helpful, beach is very close and there's a pool too. Restaurant is also very nice, on a big terrace Be aware that the place is rather isolated so you won't be able to go "for a stroll" as no other restaurants or shops around - good for a couple of days but probably not much longer. Also, it's pretty much on a cliff and to get to the beach you have to cycle, take a boat (when it's his tide) or ask for a lift...
laura, 2-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

8/10 Very Good

gorgeous but remote
A fantastic remote location- a real getaway! A dive centre on site with great instructors and hotel staff are friendly. Some small issues to note: - wifi is not great and phone reception v v limited. -they charge 5% on all card transactions and there is no cash point so come prepared with dollars to settle your bill or account for the extra costs. Not as much locally caught food on the menu as you might expect on the coast - always catch of the day and lobster but many other dishes are European (pastas etc) and difficult to go elsewhere for meals. Having seen the half board menu on their notice board and eaten it one day I would recommend doing half board as the a la Carte menu can get pricey each day. Not quite as much variety on the menu but all nice food. -The road to the lodge is badly affected by the wet season so be prepared for a bumpy 10 minutes of the journey but this adds to the feeling of remoteness. Bear it in mind though if you're planning excursions out as it's very remote and adds some time to the journey. Positives- Breakfasts are lovely with lots of fresh fruit, pastries and cooked breakfasts - diving is great - Not having the white sandy beach right at the front of the hotel is actually an added bonus as you really get to see the tides and rock pools forming with lots of wildlife to look for each day. -The view out to Nnemba is gorgeous - arguably better than the view they would have staying out on the island looking back at Zanzibar.
5-night romance trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

A great place with great service - on the water
Don't be fooled by the name, "lodge" is not quite what it is. This small place has well appointed rooms in bungalows scattered around a nicely landscape natural garden, a nice pool, and the property gives on the beach. Very friendly service, great views, nice base for exploring the surrounding beaches. Very friendly service. On-site diving Center, with very friendly staff.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Paradise Retreat
Beautiful,new and isolated location with excellent staff.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Lovely but difficult access
But for the need to spend 30 minutes on unmade road, 20 minutes of which is on a single vehicle very rough track which would be well suited to field testing ATVS, each time you want to go off and explore the island I would rate it higher. Unfortunately the local taxis are not 4x4s. As it is I feel that this journey isolates the hotel and presents a barrier to full enjoyment of a stay in Zanzibar. For those who simply want to spend the week diving at the PADI school on site, and for those whose ideal holiday comprises butt squatting eating and drinking then Sunshine Marine is a gem. The staff are really friendly and helpful and the setting/gardens are magnificent. Food is good and reasonably priced. The hotel is in an area where most people survive on subsistence farming and fishing so you see people in the sea fishing with nets from your balcony and a large fleet of small local trimaran fishing canoes are located on the beach nearby and the twice daily fishing flotilla passing by adds extra charm and a feeling of being in 'real Africa' - as does seeing people extracting and carrying their water from three wells located along the aforementioned track. Reef off Mnembe Island is excellent and very well stocked with fish despite the fact that a lot of fishing seems to take place on the reef. So, we enjoyed the stay at the hotel but did not see as much of Zanzibar as we had wished to do as the very uncomfortable access meant we limited our trips off site. Hotel 4.5/5 Access 1/5
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Wonderful stay at a relaxing and comfortable lodge
The Sunshine Marine Lodge is a great relaxation escape! The grounds and setting are beautiful and all the rooms enjoy great views. The restaurant is reasonably priced with attentive, polite staff and good food at all times of the day. We sampled a wide range of drinks from the bar which were great. There are plenty of places to relax like hammocks and loungers round the pool. Room furnishings are very comfortable compared to other places we stayed in Tanzania (although this was a higher price range than those others). The snorkelling trip to Mnemba atoll was well worth it even in the rougher weather and we swum with dolphins! We did walk to the beach at low tide and explored the rock pools but spent most of our time chilling out. Allow 3 nights or more as it is a reasonable trip from Stone Town. I recommend that most of your Zanzibar excursions are done from a Stone Town base and then you should come here mainly to relax.
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Paradise.
This resort was the perfect choice to end our 3 week trip! We loved the rooms, the views, the staff, and the food! The rooms were very clean, and quite large with a huge balcony/patio with amazing views of the ocean. The staff was very nice, espcially the waitstaff, bartenders, and the dive shop crew. The food- All fresh ingredients (fish caught that day), fresh fruit and fresh squeezed juices, and amazing pastries and desserts! Location- very secluded, and private. Not a place for crazy nightlife. However, you do get to meet the other people staying there due to the intimate setting of the resort, and the friendly atmosphere in the common areas. We went SCUBA diving and snorkelling, which entailed a very short boat ride to Mnemba Island, which can be seen from the resort. The dive equipment was all new, with great dive instructors. Just be aware that this resort is extremely remote. You can rent a bike (for free) to go to beaches nearby, but it is a hike to any sort of civilization. Also, make sure you contact the resort before you arrive to organize a ride from the airport/Stone town before you come. The location is miles (not an exaggeration) down a challenging dirt road (African Massage), with no road signs to follow. Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this resort! I HIGHLY recommed this place if you are looking for a quiet, relaxing place to enjoy the spectacular beauty of Zanzibar!
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very Good

This is a beautiful spot if you want quiet and isolated white sands beach, which we did. It is at the end of an unbelievably long and rough road. So there is nowhere else to eat or buy food for a beach picnic except the hotel's restaurant. The food was pretty good and fresh and local. The managers were very nice but their billing was confusing, indicating the amount you were credited was the amount they billed hotels. Com which was less than we paid. They just need to make that clearer. The snorkeling folks were great. They have SCUBA too.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Beautiful!
The road to the hotel really is difficult... Our taxi driver first took us to the Sunshine Lodge and then needed 'extra' to take us to the correct place. This was a poor start to the holiday - be VERY explicit when explaining your destination. However, once we arrived the horrors of the journey were quickly forgotten. The environment of the hotel is amazing - beautiful setting and very calm (apart from the noises of nature). The infinity pool next to the Indian Ocean is every bit as beautiful as it looks in the pictures, the rooms are large and well designed to be airy and comfortable. The restaurant sells a limited - but excellent - selection of different meals. This is proof enough that food is fresh as it changes daily. I went with the fish option every day and wasn't disappointed once. I spent 2 days diving with the dive school which shares the same location. Both beautiful days with a very caring dive team that really gave me the impression that nothing was too much and acted as excitedly as the tourists when we spotted a pod of dolphins. Overall, this was an increadible holiday and one I would recommend highly. The minor niggle on the 'room comfort' feedback doesn't reflect the fact that the manager had to come and remove a large crab from the bathroom (although he did!) but the fact the ceiling fan only had 2 speeds - off or turbo - so it was hard to make a balance between noise and temperature at night. Although I would still go back in a flash!
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Wow! A perfect spot!
This hotel is truly a resort in the truest sense. The room, views, and food are perfect. The service was great. We loved biking on the free bikes to the local white sand beach, which you can also reach easily at low tide by walking. The only challenge is the bumpy road to get to this isolated, quiet spot. Also, the only food choice really is the restaurant, which serves delicious food but at USA prices. There is no air conditioning, but there is a ceiling fan and a little fan over the bed--an additional fan would have been helpful. We loved it. It was a perfect place to read, swim and sunbathe.
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Perfect Paradise location for R&R and diving
I was looking for a quiet get away spot after climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to rest and relax and try my hand at diving. The Sunshine Marine Lodge was PERFECT for this. Amazing location, friendly staff. Definitely recommend!
Verified Hotels.com guest review

General property information

Travelers Say
"Amazing views, pools, food and service."
Check-In Time
12:30 PM
Check-Out Time
10:00 AM
Star Rating
3.5