If you’re a keen diver or need a remote place to escape to, Manta Reef is it. This attractive, rustic lodge is situated on a cliff-face overlooking a heavenly, five-kilometer stretch of beach along the Kigomasha Peninsula on the northern tip of Pemba. The views of the turquoise lagoon always take our breath away.
Manta Reef has a relaxed feel with a thatched lodge consisting of a reception area, lounge bar and dining room, and separate timber guest cabins built on stilts on the hill - all overlooking the water. Further down on the beachfront you’ll find the dive centre and beach bar. This is the spot to laze on a hammock or sunbed between dives.
Talking about diving, this is one of the best spots for it (as well as deep-sea fishing). There is access to diving on both sides of the island where you can marvel at some of the best reefs in East Africa from land or live-aboard. The deep waters of the Pemba channel provide fantastic wall dives with sightings of turtles, whales and sharks, as well as interesting sections of coral in the lagoons. Besides the dives around the lodge, you can explore the reefs around the outer islands. You can also book a trip to Mesali Island, a small outcrop of coral rag rock which is a marine reserve. Besides great diving (with a large diversity of fish and coral species and possible sightings of green and hawksbill turtles), you can follow one of the nature trails to look for the endangered flying foxes, coconut crabs and a rare subspecies of the vervet monkey. Rumor has it this island was the hideaway of the legendary pirate Captain Kidd.
Not a diver? You can still enjoy the underwater world with a snorkel and fins by swimming off the main beach. There’s excellent snorkeling at Mesali Island and Njao Gap. You can also go sailing with a local fisherman in a ngalawa (wooden outrigger canoe), try your hand at deep-sea fishing or simply pack a picnic and head for a deserted sandbank on which to sunbathe in the ocean. If you want to stay on terrafirma, a guided walk to explore the forests, mangrove swamps and villages of Pemba is highly recommended (especially if you want to spot rare birds and wildlife).
Manta Reef was one of the first lodges to appear on the island and still remains delightfully off the beaten track and deserted, without a hint of another development for miles around. It’s by no means an upmarket lodge, some may even consider it a bit rough around the edges, but if you’re not too particular you’re bound to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. Manta is a great place for adventure travelers.
The drive from the airport to the lodge takes you through traditional villages and the Ngesi Forest, one of the few remaining indigenous forests on Pemba. After you’ve passed the forest, don’t be alarmed by the rather scruffy stretch of dirt road which includes a neglected rubber plant, rugged patches of scrub and crops and barbed wire. All will be forgotten once you arrive at the lodge and feast your eyes on that incredible beach.
There are 11 spacious (they’re enormous) timber cabins which are set on stilts. These Sea Front Cottages are situated at the front of the property and are all similar in design. The front section of the rooms is open, providing awesome views of the ocean and allowing the breeze to flow in on those hot tropical island days. It’s an immense relief, especially on humid nights.
The décor is rather plain and simple, but the rooms are very comfortable. They have the convenience of en-suite bathrooms with hot water (not common in such a remote location) and mosquito nets. Room service is even available on special request. One of the Sea Front Cottages is a honeymoon suite with a larger interior, lounge area and a Jacuzzi – a real treat for newly-weds.
There are also 2 Garden Rooms at the back of the property which are suitable for families as they consist of 2 blocks of 2 rooms with interconnecting doors. They are also ideal for divers who prefer to spend more money on diving than accommodation. These rooms have their own private hot water showers, just as the Sea Front Cottages, but aren’t quite as attractive, as they don’t have a view.
| Dining |
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Meals are varied and generous with fresh fruits and vegetables sourced locally, as well as fish and other seafood.
Typically, a full English breakfast is served with fruit, crepes, toast, jams and juice. If breakfast in bed on a paradise island sounds good (it did to us), you can ask for it to be delivered to your room. Lunch consists of salads, vegetables, a main dish and fruit for dessert. A buffet meal is provided in the evenings, usually with soup, salads, vegetables, seafood (often fish, crab, calamari and prawns), chicken and pasta or rice. A cake is baked daily for dessert.
There are no other restaurants in this area, so your rate includes all meals at the lodge (with extra charges for lobster or giant prawns). Please let us know of any special diets well in advance.
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| Fast Facts |
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Location: Manta Reef Lodge is situated along a beach called Panga ya Watoro on the Kigomasha Peninsula (also called Ras Kigomasha) in northern Pemba. It’s a two-hour drive from Pemba airport, situated near Chake Chake.
General facilities:
• A restaurant and bar
• Television lounge
• Entertainment area with table tennis and a pool table
• Full PADI-affiliated dive centre and snorkeling equipment
Room facilities:
• En-suite bathroom
• Open-plan construction to allow breeze in (no air-conditioners)
• Twin or double beds
• Mosquito nets
Activities:
• There’s great diving, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing.
• Explore the Ngesi Forest (look out for the occasional sighting of the endemic Pemba flying fox, marsh mongoose, Pemba vervet monkey, blue duiker, Java civet cat and red Colobus monkey).
• Go sailing in a traditional outrigger canoe with a local fisherman.
• Spend the day marooned on a deserted sandbank.
Services:
• Room service
• Laundry service
Open: All year round
Note:
• The logistics and costs of running a lodge in such a remote area are huge, so you’ll need to have some understanding if things occasionally aren’t quite up to standard. This often contributes though to an amazing African experience.
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