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The Manta Resort

Pemba Island

Elevated and crafted along an idyllic island beach, The Manta Resort offers privacy, romance, adventure, and water sports in Pemba, East Africa's finest island sanctuary.

Why Pemba? Manta is there for many reasons - it’s still a truly tropical island, it’s remote, the culture is intact, the environment is not past the tipping point and there’s real hope, chance and opportunity to keep Pemba a genuinely natural place while sharing it with a few lucky travelers. The Manta family is committed to partnering with the community to ensure the island has what it needs to continue to thrive as a natural, cultural island paradise.

A visit to Manta is for those travelers who want to truly unplug, are seeking remote and blissful barefoot luxury, and crave meaningful connections with local people.

Accommodation

The Underwater Room

Designed for overnight stays at sea.

Bedroom below sea-level
Lounge area above the waterline
Upper-level sundeck
En-suite bathroom with shower
Electricity available throughout
Availability is limited by design

The Underwater Room was never intended as spectacle. It was created to focus care on a single place—and in doing so, protect everything around it. Set within the Pemba Channel, part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, this is a region of exceptional ecological importance and recognised as a coral climate refuge.

Protection before expansion. Conservation through presence, not extraction.

Oceanview Villas

Inside the villas, you’ll find two spacious bedrooms — each with an ensuite bathroom, crafted with locally inspired design and natural materials. The bedrooms are separated by a beautifully styled indoor bar and dining area, ideal for shared meals, drinks, or quiet conversations. Large sliding doors open onto a sun-soaked wooden deck with a private plunge pool, offering plenty of space to relax, read, or enjoy the ocean breeze.

Every Oceanview Villa also includes a private beach path leading to a beach banda — a shaded lounge with an outdoor shower and mini bar fridge. It’s the perfect spot to unwind, enjoy a cocktail, or rinse off after snorkeling the nearby reef.

Seafront Family Villas

A two-bedroom villa above the shoreline, made for time together and space apart — long ocean views, an easy breeze, and a small pool between.

From its position just above the beach, the Oceanview Family Villa looks out to the ocean and takes in the breeze. A private, shaded path through indigenous trees leads to the sand. Both bedrooms open to a shared terrace, with a plunge pool between them for a cool dip after salt and sun. Materials are local and tactile — kept uncluttered so the view leads. Our team is on hand when needed — otherwise out of the way. A considered choice for families or friends who value easy flow between shared moments and quiet retreat.

Seafront Villas

The Seafront Villas boast a spacious and private open-plan design, with an extended balcony and plunge pool. 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.

Superior Garden Rooms

Positioned throughout the resort’s inland garden pathways, The Superior Garden Rooms provide privacy and peace in a tropical setting. Each room features a spacious open-plan design with a king-size four-poster bed, hand-crafted local furnishings, and a high thatched roof that keeps the air cool and light. Large wooden shutters allow natural airflow and welcome the sounds of the surrounding forest indoors.

Guests can relax in their shaded outdoor seating area — a perfect spot to unwind with a book or enjoy a slow morning immersed in birdsong and palm trees.

Garden Rooms

Each of the Garden Rooms is thoughtfully spaced throughout the resort’s tropical gardens to ensure maximum privacy. The interiors are simple, airy, and built using local materials that reflect the culture and natural surroundings of the island. High, palm-thatched ceilings and whitewashed walls keep the space cool and breathable, while large windows and natural ventilation allow the sights, sounds, and scents of the forest to drift in.

With a king-sized bed, en-suite bathroom, and a shaded veranda, these rooms are ideal for solo travelers, couples, or anyone who values stillness, simplicity, and the restorative power of nature. A private path leads from your garden to the resort’s main areas and the ocean beyond, allowing you to feel connected without ever being disturbed.

Diving

The diving around Pemba Island, Zanzibar is nothing else but breathtaking. The untouched coral reefs surrounding the entire island make Pemba one of the top dive sites in the world. Pemba, Tanzania is the perfect place to start your dive adventure with one of the healthiest coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, a water temperature averaging at 26°C and the best visibility of East Africa of 30-40 meters almost every day!

Snorkeling

Our house reef, directly in front of the resort, lies within The Kwanini Conservation Area. Hundreds of species of marine life and crystal clear tropical waters make this a must for all nature lovers. Our boat captain and snorkel guides will accompany you and spot all our usual reef inhabitants, and all before breakfast. Best time of the day. All revenues are donated to the local Marine Conservation Area Committee and rangers. Further donations are very welcome and appreciated. Our conservation boxes can be found at the diving centre and main lounge area.

Snorkeling trip: experience the vast numbers of marine life and reefs through the clear blue waters of Pemba Island in our chosen snorkeling spots. You will be taken out with a guide and shown the colourful, vibrant life, lying just under the surface.

Coral Reef Safari

Embark on a transformative journey beneath the waves with the Coral Reef Safari, a collaborative initiative between The Manta Resort and Coral Reef Safari. This immersive experience offers more than just a glimpse into the underwater world; it’s an educational adventure that fosters a deep connection with marine life and emphasizes the importance of ocean conservation.

* Guided by Experts

Led by seasoned marine naturalists, the Coral Reef Safari provides participants with insightful guidance through vibrant coral ecosystems. These experts share their extensive knowledge, ensuring that each safari is both informative and engaging. Whether you’re snorkeling or diving, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationships within reef habitats.

* Educational and Immersive

The safari is designed to be an educational platform where guests learn about coral reef ecology, marine species identification, and the challenges facing our oceans. Interactive sessions and hands-on experiences allow participants to observe the delicate balance of marine ecosystems and understand the impact of human activities on these environments.