Utupoa

Location: Matemwe Road, Matemwe, tz

Star Rating: 9 Stars

Property Type: Lodges

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: N/A - Anytime

Check-out: N/A

Amenities & Facilities

• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Non-smoking rooms
• Swimming pool
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Family rooms
• Luggage storage
• Massage services
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Board games/puzzles
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Shared kitchen
• Outdoor furniture
• Shallow end
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
• Cashless payment available
• Fire extinguishers
• First aid kit available
• Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
• Physical distancing in dining areas
• Access to health care professionals
• 24-hour security
• Supervised childcare/activities
• Free wired internet
• Scuba diving on site
• Snorkeling on site
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Beach umbrellas
• Pool sun loungers
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Private beach nearby
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Wine release events
• Exercise/lap pool
• Japanese garden
• Covered parking
• Garage
• Fishing nearby
• Swimming nearby
• Beach club nearby (surcharge)
• Bicycle-friendly property
• Beach toys
• Vegetarian menu options available
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Queen Room with Sea View

  This double room has a desk, an outdoor dining area, sea views and a private bathroom. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Bathrobe
  • Refrigerator
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Sofa
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Cleaning products
  • Additional bathroom
  • Dining table
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Wine glasses
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap
  • Socket near the bed

• Suite with Sea View

  This suite comes with 1 living room, 1 separate bedroom and 1 bathroom with a walk-in shower. The suite's kitchenette, which has a refrigerator and kitchenware, is available for cooking and storing food. Boasting a balcony with sea views, this suite also features a tea and coffee maker and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. The unit has 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 5 (5 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • TV
  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Satellite channels
  • Sofa
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Cleaning products
  • Dining table
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Wine glasses
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap
  • Socket near the bed

• Deluxe Double Room (2 Adults + 1 Child)

  The spacious double room provides a seating area, a dining area, a terrace with garden views as well as a private bathroom featuring a walk-in shower. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Desk
  • Seating Area
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Sofa
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Mosquito net
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Cleaning products
  • Terrace
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Trash cans
  • Wine glasses
  • Shampoo
  • Body soap
  • Socket near the bed

• Double Room

  The unit offers 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

• Suite with Pool View

  The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

Guest Reviews

• Martin (10/5): - Paradisisch, aussergewöhnlich, einzigartig, unglaublich. Mit nichts zu vergleichen. Friedvoll, ruhig. Joyce und alle vom Team waren sooo gastfreundlich, persönlich engagiert, liebe- und humorvoll. Köstliches Essen. Utupoa würde mein ständiges Domizil sein, wenn das für mich möglich wäre. Joyce ist mit uns zu den Delfinen gefahren, um mit ihnen zu schwimmen. nichts.
• Adebayo (10/5): - We had an absolutely fantastic stay at Utopia Resort Zanzibar. The owner and all the staff made us feel like we were visiting old friends rather than staying at a hotel—the warmth and genuine hospitality really stood out. The design of the resort is beautiful, authentic, and very cosy, with a charming atmosphere that makes it feel special and unique. You can tell the resort has been there for many years, surrounded by huge trees that add to its character and natural beauty. It truly feels like a piece of paradise—peaceful, welcoming, and full of charm. We would definitely recommend it and would love to come back again. Everything was perfect
• edouard (9/5): -
• Gilles (10/5): - Très beau lieu. Personnel très chaleureux et accueillant.
• Eleni (10/5): ΠΑΡΑΔΕΙΣΟΣ - Από τα καλύτερα καταλύματα που έχουμε μείνει ποτέ … Υπέροχο δωμάτιο , τρομερή θέα τρώγοντας πρωινό και πιο φιλόξενη από ποτέ οικοδέσποινα η Joyce , και η Marya και όλα τα κορίτσια εκεί …! Τους ευχαριστούμε μέσα από την καρδιά μας αρχικά για την αγάπη και μετά για τη φιλοξενία , νιώσαμε σα το σπίτι μας ..!! Θα μας λείψετε πολύ , Εις το επανιδείν !!!!!
• carlotta (9/5): - La struttura è amabile. Pulita ben tenuta cibo ottimo personale delizioso Joyce è un’ottima padrona di casa. Se volete un’esperienza serena mai stressante, confortevole e familiare questo è il posto giusto ! Vorrei già ritornarci … ❤️ Abbiamo avuto un problema idraulico nella prima camera Joyce ci ha immediatamente cambiato di stanza. Siamo stati benissimo
• Carola (9/5): È stato molto rilassante. La spiaggia è molto grande e non affollata. Lo staff è molto gentile e disponibile. Ottima col - Gli spazi comuni, l’accoglienza e la cordialità del personale. La spiaggia è un paradiso La stanza andava bene ma non era molto pulita
• Hajnalka (10/5): Utupoa is a magical place - Utupoa was the best choice for the second 6 days of our stay in Zanzibar, it exceeded all our expectations. The location is perfect, quiet, right on the beach, on a great stretch of beach. The atmosphere of the building itself and the common areas is breathtaking, there is something interesting to see on every square centimeter, it gives a very special experience. Our room was clean and spacious. The food is excellent, and the shared dinners create opportunities to connect with others. I will never forget the kindness of Joyce and Maria, their positive attitude towards people left a deep impression on me. The staff is outstanding. They are kind, helpful in everything. We are grateful for the time we spent there, it was wonderful. I would like to return to this enchanted place one day. -
• Roberto (10/5): -
• Anna Maria (10/5): - Utopoa è un posto unico, curato in ogni dettaglio in una delle spiagge più belle di Zanzibar. La signora che lo gestisce ha un'aura magica e uno stile e una classe di altri tempi che rende tutto magico.
• Samantha (6/5): -
• Galli Larghi (9/5): Bellezza per gli occhi - Struttura dell’Hotel in stile Africano. La proprietaria Joyce che e’ molto accogliente, lo staff simpatico e professionale. Niente
• Sebastien (10/5): - Tout
• Алексей (10/5): - это знаете, как приехать к родной бабушке в деревню. Joyce - удивительная женщина, чемпионка, легкоатлет из Кении на заслуженном отдыхе, создала со своей семьей за 30 лет это арт-пространство, отелем (никак не поворачивается язык) это не назовешь. У нее отличная команда персонала, и забота, которая чувствуется в каждой детали. таких мест мало на планете. И я рад был найти свой дом на Занзибаре. И расположение замечательное!
• claudia (10/5): - Utupoa is a little gem. Joyce succeeded in making an accommodation feel like home. Joyce, Maria and the rest of the staff are incredibly warming and welcoming, willing to organise community dinners, nights out and including karaoke night when requested :) Joyce is also available to help organising transportation, snorkeling and other activities. The house is lovely decorated, with an ancient touch and full of comfy places to chill out. The beach is just at one step out, big and white sandy. An amazing stay, thank you! We are willing to come back 😊
• Wengel (9/5): Relaxed stay in a home like environment. - It truly felt like a home away from home. We travelled with our children, aged 2 and 6. Joyce, the owner, and the staff were all wonderful; we felt at home from the moment we arrived. We enjoyed a very comfortable and relaxing holiday right on the beach. The beach was not too crowded, very safe, and still close enough to many activities. Additionally, Joyce was really helpful in organising a car or a boat for excursions. She went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable. The pool was also excellent. When we weren't feeling like going out, the kids enjoyed running around with the dogs, while we sat with a book from her collection. There are also board games available. We loved the home-style meal times, breakfast, and the dinner buffet.
• Federico (7/5): -
• Javier (3/5): Hay mejores opciones en Zanzíbar - El hall es muy bonito y la ubicación es fantástica pero la habitación no tiene cristal en la ventana y hay ruido de noche además te puedes asar de calor o de frío depende cuando vayas. No cambies nunca dinero con ellos, en el panga chunvi de al lado por ejemplo se quedan 2.000 chilines de 300 dólares. En Utupoa se quedan 10.000 chilines cada 100 dólares. Los desayunos escasos y los peores del viaje, hoy pusieron donuts, un bol de fruta picada y algo de tortilla... Las excursiones de los delfines no vayáis si no queréis ver a 50 barcos persiguiendo delfines (si los hay) y chillandote para que te tires rápido al agua en alta mar con 50 barcas de motor fuera borda persiguiendo, un peligro constante si te tiras al agua. Casi vimos dos accidentes. Las comisiones que se toma la gerente en las excursiones y taxis es importante, después te cobran tasas de 3$ la noche por persona y noche al marcharte y te quieren cobran el refill de agua 1$ aún sin nosotros haber bebido esa agua de garrafa gigante. En esa estancia fue donde me puse malo de la barriga dentro de todo el viaje por Sudafrica Zambia y Zanzíbar. Adjunto imagenes de la habitación muy pequeña sin cristales en la ventana. Por otro lado, la manager no te ayuda ni contesta a los WhatsApp con temas llegadas, taxis etc, ni si estás malo te pregunta si necesitas algo, no sé, creo que dos estrellas es demasiado y todo. El hall es muy bonito y la ubicación es fantástica pero la habitación no tiene cristal en la ventana y hay ruido de noche además te puedes asar de calor o de frío depende cuando vayas. No cambies nunca dinero con ellos, en el panga chunvi de al lado por ejemplo se quedan 2.000 chilines de 300 dólares. En Utupoa se quedan 10.000 chilines cada 100 dólares. Los desayunos escasos y los peores del viaje, hoy pusieron donuts, un bol de fruta picada y algo de tortilla... Las excursiones de los delfines no vayáis si no queréis ver a 50 barcos persiguiendo delfines (si los hay) y chillandote para que te tires rápido al agua en alta mar con 50 barcas de motor fuera borda persiguiendo, un peligro constante si te tiras al agua. Casi vimos dos accidentes. Las comisiones que se toma la gerente en las excursiones y taxis es importante, después te cobran tasas de 3$ la noche por persona y noche al marcharte y te quieren cobran el refill de agua 1$ aún sin nosotros haber bebido esa agua de garrafa gigante. En esa estancia fue donde me puse malo de la barriga dentro de todo el viaje por Sudafrica Zambia y Zanzíbar. Adjunto imagenes de la habitación muy pequeña sin cristales en la ventana. Por otro lado, la manager no te ayuda ni contesta a los WhatsApp con temas llegadas, taxis etc, ni si estás malo te pregunta si necesitas algo, no sé, creo que dos estrellas es demasiado y todo.
• DomBuzz (5/5): - Very good location with calm beach , the Utupoa isn't for everyone but someone may find this place as nice. Best food at Sisi on the beach. Water in swiming pool was dirty, broken toilet desk , rusty fridge, old sunken and not comfortable matress at all, also have had feeling that we were observed where we go each time. Zanzibar is known with electricity problems we taken this fact on the account but at Utupoa was the worst experience with electricity. All meals at one table with all guests, not so good if you want little bit private.
• Lorenzo Belletti (9/5): Angolo di paradiso a Nord-Est di Zanzibar - Bellissima struttura nel complesso, con giardino, piscina, immersa nel verde e a pochi passi dalla spiaggia. Camera pulita e funzionale. Hotel di fronte alla spiaggia, la struttura offre una porzione di spiaggia privata con lettini all'ombra delle palme. Molto bella la spiaggia. Colazione, pranzo e cena sono serviti nel patio o in terrazza in compagnia di tutti gli ospiti nello stesso tavolo. Bella l'atmosfera e ottimo per fare nuove conoscenze, peccato il cibo non eccelso.
• Graham (10/5): - A lovely quirky place right on the beach. Very friendly host and staff. Lovely breakfast and close to some great little local restaurants on the beach.
• Luca (10/5): - Ci è piaciuta l'atmosfera della casa: curata nei minimi dettagli, immersa nel verde, panche e sedute dove rilassarsi sia all'interno che all'esterno. La camera (Kijiji) è grande e confortevole. Infine la struttura ha l'accesso diretto alla spiaggia, con lettini a disposizione: ci si può prendere il sole, rilassarsi e fare grandi passeggiate. La proprietaria, Joyce, è molto accogliente e se desideri fermarti da loro a cena vi allieterà della sua piacevole compagnia. Niente.
• Mickael (9/5): - Accueil déco repas L'emplacement parfois un peu loin des centres d'intérêt mais on trouve facilement un chauffeur
• Costanza (10/5): - Everything was great at Utupoa, from the location to the room. But a big mention goes to the staff and Joyce that are all just very lovely and caring. It felt like staying at home
• Céline (10/5): N’hésitez pas si vous voulez une ambiance familiale et faire de belles rencontres ! - Utupoa est un havre de paix, de douceur et de bienveillance. La maison de Joyce est magnifique, les chambres sont grandes et confortables. La plage est splendide, très calme, avec un récif corallien superbe accessible à la nage à mi-marée pour les amateurs de snorkeling. Il est possible de dîner avec les autres pensionnaires, ou de manger dans les petits restaurants à proximité. Nous avons passé 5 jours merveilleux et très reposants dans ce lieux que nous recommandons absolument. C’est dur de partir! Merci à Joyce et à tout le personnel, absolument adorable.
• Edoardo (9/5): Soggiorno molto piacevole in un’atmosfera di tranquillità e molto famigliare. Joyce e il suo staff fanno di tutto per fa - Accoglienza di Joyce e dello staff, cordialità e ospitalità. Posto splendido lontano dal turismo. Un poco isolata dal resto delle attività dell’isola, ma comunque piacevole per isolarsi da tutto.
• Paul (10/5): Absolute freedom and relaxation - It was a beautiful home away from home. Greeted with a smile and wonderful reception by Mariah. Joyce is an amazing hostess, you feel like a house guest while here. She has been in Zanzibar for a long time and is able to point one in the right direction for excursions and authentic experiences. We’ll recommend Utupoa to anyone. Nothing was not to our satisfaction.
• Christophe (8/5): A very relaxing place for a couple of nights - Incredible location by the beach Accommodating and friendly staff, they helped us with few issues we had as our luggage was not delivered. Beautiful house with loads of places to relax. It felt like being in a holiday secondary house. We loved the company of the 2 dogs. The food is great at the guesthouse but also heck local restaurants few minutes walking on the beach for lunch as prices are cheaper. If you do not have a car you are stuck in the guesthouse as apart from the beach there is not much to do. It is a great place to relax for a couple of days. Try the massage 200 meters from the house on the beach (turn right). Think of this place as a guesthouse where you will share diner and breakfast with the owner. As other guests indicated there were few issues with pumps and water but those were fixed quite quickly by Joy and her team.
• Liviu (10/5): Exceptional - Incredible place. Small paridise right on a beautifull white soft sandy beach. Joyce the owner is a great host and her staff starting with lovely Maria will make you never forget your stay at Utupoa. Highly recommended
• Arthur (10/5): Truly exceptional stay in Zanzibar - One of the best hotel stays ever! Strongly recommend Joyce and team for your holiday to Zanzibar, everyone made us feel right at home. The hotel was incredibly cozy and homely, with a traditional, beachy feel and beautiful garden and pool. There is lots of space to rest and relax with direct access to the beach. Dinner is served family style each evening - it was wonderful to get to know the other guests and the team was able to cater to our dietary restrictions. The hotel staff helped us organise several different activities and excursions on the island once we arrived, as well as airport transfers and drivers whenever needed. Communication was very smooth. Nothing!
• Jasmine (9/5): A great place to chill - Beautiful details and ambience as well as the setting and the pool Noisy staff (talking on the phone at night below our windows)
• Tiina (9/5): Superb -
• Sacha (10/5): Perfection - A beautiful home away from home. Joyce and staff were exceptional hosts and couldn't do enough to ensure our stay was enjoyable. Matemwe Beach is tidal (kids loved the pool at these times) and much quieter than other more touristy beaches, and was just what we were after. NA
• Helen (10/5): Exceptional - Breakfast was good and delicious / The whole hotel was really beautiful and welcoming, just few steps from the beach. we enjoyed our afternoons relaxing at the property. Our little one enjoyed the pool. Dinner was ala 'carte and again more than enough well cooked and presented ! We liked chatting with the owner during breakfast and dinner, she made her home feel like our home and had many stories from the area to tell! Thank you for everything! all good
• Beathe (6/5): Ok place to stay on the beach - It was a nice house. Good location, right on the beach Inconsistent electricity, no information about it. It was not clean and nothing was ready for us when we came. We even had to ask for towels. Soooo many bugs and the place did not spray or clean enough to keep the worst away. We paid way too much considering what we got. Also every meal is done together at a long table with all the other guests
• Vee (7/5): Good -
• Diana (10/5): Exceptional -
• Alexander (9/5): Superb - Wonderful property located right on a beautiful beach. Dinners with Joyce and other guests were a pleasure.
• Nicole (9/5): Great! - Joyce and her staff were superb hosts! Super friendly and accommodating, the food was excellent and the whole place is just a little paradise. My kids absolutely fell in love with Utupoa!
• Anna (10/5): Exceptional - The location is beautiful, the facility/architecture is very special, right on the beach and quiet. Family owned, Joyce is a very special host and always there for us. All staff very very kind. A highly recommended stay. none
• Fadi (10/5): Exceptional -
• Willa (10/5): A truly special stay at Matemwe Beach - Our family had a wonderful stay at Utupoa. After three nights, we really felt like it was our home away from home. The building is a wonder and itself worth the visit. Joyce and her team were so attentive, personable, and helpful and family-style meals were excellent. Utupoa sits directly on the beach and easily reachable by foot from the village of Matemwe. What a wonderful way for our family to get to know a corner of Zanzibar and to unwind from our adventures. Thank you, Joyce!
• Faraja (9/5): Superb -
• Katie (10/5): Exceptional - Beautiful house in a quiet location with great beaches and some local restaurants nearby. The location is perfect if you wish to snorkel/dive at nearby Mnemba atoll. The staff were all very welcoming and helpful (and the two friendly dogs were a huge bonus!). The owner, Joyce, is a wonderful and welcoming host and we greatly enjoyed our dinners spent with her and the other guests. Fantastic food made with fresh local ingredients. The house itself is beautiful and all very clean and well kept. We felt very at home here and hope to come back to stay again! We visited in the hottest month and it was sometimes a little uncomfortable to sleep without aircon in the room. This wasn't too much of an issue as there was some ocean breeze, but worth noting if you struggle with heat.
• Euphracia (10/5): Exceptional😘😘😘 - Right next to the beach.. was lovely waking up to the sound of roaring sea. Lots of yummy food. Personalised customer care. I have had a great time😘😘😘😘😘 It was all good.
• Jill (10/5): Absolutely wonderful stay! - A wonderful cozy and friendly place to stay. The shared meals were such a nice addition after traveling and eating solo. The staff are so attentive and friendly. It’s clean and has everything you need, including amazing meals by the chef. It’s also literally right on the beach, the water comes up to the doorstep making swimming very convenient. I highly recommend! Loved everything.
• Harsha (9/5): Superb - The homely environment and the personal service to all our needs was most special Breakfast was basic and the same everyday.
• Susannah (9/5): Superb -
• Susan (10/5): Exceptional -
• Jun (9/5): wonderful experience - Wonderful location Friendly hoster No
• Benjamin (5/5): It's a nice property with friendly people but perhaps not for everyone. - The property is stunning, full of beautiful art work and places to relax. We really liked the hammock. The staff working there were helpful - one guest who was unfortunate to stand on a sea urchin (of which there are many on the beach) had kind staff members remove the spines. They were friendly and helpful even though they seemed to be under a lot of pressure, many thanks to them! The road leading to the hotel was very bumpy. In the room some of the plugs were not working and there were stains on the towels (see photos). On two mornings we did not have any water. Whilst we enjoyed the warm welcome at dinner, it felt as though guests did not have an option to sit separately at dinner. It felt a bit like being at school as there was a specific dinner time and if you did not arrive promptly there would not always be a lot left. Probably the biggest issue was the hawkers on the beach who would not leave guests alone, but we realise there is little the owners could do about them in reality. It is certainly unique but for the price I think we could have expected a bit more, especially the small touches like wifi in the room and more variety/quality at breakfast e.g. we asked for an omeletter but it was just fried egg with nothing in it.
• Sherina (9/5): A relaxing and private Gem in Zanzibar - Feels like home - Location: Great! it was peaceful beach and not too much tourist around Hospitality: Joyce, who is the owner was so humble, loved to meet everyone and we truly felt like a home! It was a great location for the authentic feel It is very relaxed and have a home feel. If you are looking for a hotel like experience then look elsewhere. But if you want to unwind and detach from the stress of the world then come here
• Kim (10/5): Perfect getaway in a familiar atmosphere - We stayed at Utupoa for 8 days over New Years Eve and we enjoyed every minute of our stay. The host Joyce and her familiy and also the staff were very warm and welcoming, we immediately became familiy! Thank you very much for a great experience. The rooms are very spacious and kept very clean. The location right at the beach is perfect! If the water is far out at low tide you could cool down in the pool which was perfectly clean all the times. Breakfast and dinner are served on a long table for everyone so you can easily connect with new people. Meals are very fresh and of great quality. Joyce and her family care for everything you need! Be it a spicetour, a taxi to the airport or to explore Stonetown or a snorkelingtour with dolphins or help with your luggage that didn't make it to Zanzibar, they help you with everything. We would love to come back next year or any time soon! At our stay the temperature and the humidity were very very high and the installed vent on top of the bed was not quite enough to keep the air flowing at night. So maybe a second vent in every room would make the night even more comfortable. Sometimes a little more light in the rooms would be nice, but as you don't stay in there much because the location at the beach is just great, it would also just be a bonus.
• Conroy (10/5): Exceptional - It was wonderful staying with Joyce. She is an excellent host, made me feel genuinely feel very welcome. All of the staff were great. The place itself is amazing, possibly the best place I have ever stayed.
• Cathy (10/5): Exceptional - Our stay at Utupoa was probably one of the best weeks of our lives! After having just climbed Mount Kilimanjaro a relaxing week in Zanzibar is what we sought and Utupoa was literal paradise. With the beach literally on the back door and the incredible vibes of this extensive tree house- like building it was the most idyllic location. I can’t not mention Joyce, the owner. Joyce was the kindest, funnest and most caring woman, who made sure everything we wanted was catered for and was just a lovely person to chat to over dinner. The food was the best food I’ve ever had and all the staff were incredibly kind and friendly, with a special mention to peter and matty, our two drivers for the week. Overall the best accommodation with the best people.
• Shirley (10/5): A rare and unique place run by lovely people who really care. Highly recommend - Freddie who was managing in place of her mum was charming, generous and helpful. The food was absolutely delicious, the staff were all so friendly and the decor was stylish and wonderfully eccentric Loved everything. Sometimes the beach sellers were a bit persistent
• Joost (9/5): A wonderful, intimate place to relax with family and friends, amidst a beautiful location -
• Kangyu (10/5): Exceptional -
• Nicola (10/5): If you’re looking for a more personal experience in a more secluded spot look no further. - We really enjoyed meeting Freddie and other guests and eating all around one table so that it was easier to meet other people and hear about their travels. Also loved that the beach and pool area was generally quiet. The service was 5 star. Nothing was too much trouble and there was always someone there to go above and beyond in answering questions or helping us book a boat tour or cook for us. The food was delicious. You’d need to go prepared for mosquitoes in January but this is probably the case anywhere on the island.
• Jamie (10/5): A real gem! Joyce and her staff makes you feel at home. Every detail is well thought, the food is delicious, the garden -
• Guillemine (10/5): Exceptional -
• Jen (10/5): Could not have asked for more. - It looks better than the photos. It is a home away from home. You really feel you can just relax as you would in your own place and leave your belongings all over without a hint of worry. Joyce is something else, one rarely meets people like her in the world, such an inspiration, and her evening stories kept everyone entertained and enlightened (guests eat together at night and it was lovely meeting people from France, Holland, Japan and America and discussing life. Two families that were there, were returning guests which is probably the best advertisement one can have for a place. She went over board in accommodating food requests for everyone , and often changed the set menu to accommodate teenage dietary requirements. The house has a bohemian feel to it and we sat in different nooks and corners all the time just watching the world go by. We went from here on our snorkeling trip from here which was perfect as they all depart 20 mins from this guesthouse (others had travelled for a LOT longer to get there). Joyce's dogs are very much part of the establishment which we loved, being an animal family. The beach is so so so beautiful to look at and stretches for miles, perfect for long walks. It is however not great for swimming but we ended up just paddling out and examining the tidal pools.
• Rashmar (2/5): Very poor -
• Stephen (8/5): Very good - The great helpful host Joyce makes this a perfect stay.Great almost on the beach location. Eat in the communal dining room with views of the Indian Ocean. There is no air cond in the rooms bit there is always a constant breeze.
• Mm (10/5): Relaxing and interesting -, a rare combination. - Delicious local fruit, fresh eggs and well made crepes for breakfast. Ginger or otherwise herbal teas of top quality. Fabulous interior, and exterior, with millions corners to sit or lay. It is nothing like a typical beach bungalow or guest house. It looks and feels as a house made with love, by creative and artistic minds. Coffee, and a couple of holes in mosquito nets.
• Sergiu (7/5): A place with a lot of character, but dated and in need of some investment and renovations - Family atmosphere, friendly and helpfull staff. Joyce, the owner, is very keen to help, listens to complaints and requests and tries to solve everything in a timely manner. A daily menu is sent to all guests via whatsapp so you can provide a time to serve lunch or dinner and choose your meals. I found this nice. Food is amazing. Usually, dinner is served at a big round table with all guests, so everyone can meet and share experiences. This gives the place a friendly family character. Even if we moved to another property in the neighboorhood earlier than initially planned, Joyce was so kind and took us there with her car. Trully a great person. The place needs some renovations a a proper cleaning. The rooms do not have windows, just mosquito nets, and those are torn / have holes in several places. Older building with wooden first floor, so whenever someone walks, moves or opens/closes a door upstairs it feels like they are in your room. In our room we had 2 beds, one on a stone frame and another one on a wooden frame. The one on wooden frame was moving from all joints, so all 3 of us had to share the big bed (family with 1 child, so not a very big issue there) Similar price compared to other new/renovated hotels in Matemwe, so, in terms of facilities and comfort, you receive less for the same price. We moved to another hotel 300m away and we paid less per night for a renovated see view room with windows and AC.
• Inger (9/5): A home away with fantastic areas and settings - A magical place to stay with fantastic details put into the interior and outdoor areas. Joyce is very informative and makes you feel very welcome. All guests are included as «family members» with a great chance to get to know each others, seated together at one dinner table. Super well-tasting meals.Comfortable beds. Bath room needed an upgrade (at least the one I had) but functioned. Several of the personnel did not seem happy or service minded which was an obvious contrast to other places we stayed at the island.
• Pascale (10/5): prefect place to lay back and relaxe! - everything! it had a very bohemian feel and it brought me back to my 20ties! minus the cockroaches 😉
• Marit (8/5): Very good -
• Henry (8/5): I would recommend Utopa any day and would return when I go back to Zanzibar. The host is the best! - The breakfast was very good. Customised to our taste and made fresh each day. The high-tech facilities like TV, Internet in some areas. It's good for R&R but sometimes it's good for a guest to watch a movie.
• Mark (7/5): Good -
• Adam (9/5): Great spot for some family time at the beach. Quiet location, friendly staff, good food! - The place is beautiful, with nice architecture and a lot of style. The owner and staff were very friendly and helpful, including connecting us with transportation and a snorkeling/dolphin-spotting boat tour. It is a small B&B-type place, and we enjoyed time with the other families who were staying there. Right on the beach and with a small, private pool, it is a nice place to stay with kids. The food was also very good, with family-style dining with the owners and other guests. It was quite hot the first night we were there, and the necessary mosquito nets meant the overhead fan was not very effective at cooling us down for the night. The staff provided a couple of spare fans, and the second night was much more comfortable.
• Claire (9/5): Great place, nice people, good location and good food. We enjoyed our stay and will go back - Breakfast with fresh fruit and eggs.
• Dennis (10/5): A gem - Where to start? The location is absolutely fantastic. When we walked in, we received a very warm welcome from Joyce. As soon as we entered the property, tranquillity hit us in the face. We immediately thought we needed to extend our stay at Utupoa. The staff went out of their way to give us everything we needed. Phoebe and Freddie, Joyce's daughters, also came over for the holidays. We had some great chats, laughs and drinks together. We left with pain in our hearts and will never forget the home we never knew we had. It felt like Utupoa is not completely in control of the weather or the tides, they could definitely work on that. I am joking of course, they did everything they could to ensure we had a great time <3
• Anne (9/5): Superb - A wonderful quiet escape right on the beach. Owner Joyce and her staff were so friendly and helpful. Food is great, access right on a magnificent secluded beach. Best place to take days off with family, like being a guest in a family home. kids loved it big time.
• Andy (10/5): Awesome. Our stay at Utupoa was perfect. - From the photos available at the time of booking, we hoped that Utupoa would be intriguing and quirky. It was that, and more! It is spacious, charming, peaceful, unusual, eclectic, well-located for the beach etc etc. My list of adjectives could go on and on and on. Utupoa was everything we could have hoped for. Then add to the mix our host, Joyce, who could not have been more delightful and helpful and we had a perfect holiday. The nature of Utupoa (and Joyce) inherently encourages guests to interact with each other. We quickly made some extraordinarily close friends while we were there. Utupoa is right on the fabulous Matemwe beach - some of the finest white sand you'll ever see and crystal clear warm sea. The beach out front is teaming with marine creatures if you walk out to the reef at low tide. Nearby Matemwe village is as authentic as it gets and there are a few scattered eatery shacks along the beach-edge or in the village. Also a few other larger hotels nearby, so you can also visit them for a meal (and occasional live music) if you wish. That said, the food at Utupoa is excellent, so I've no doubt you will choose to eat in-house as often as not. Utupoa (and the Matemwe area generally) is the epitome of a relaxing holiday venue. If you choose stay at Utupoa you will not be disappointed. This is just a heads-up, not a dislike. Just be aware that the Matemwe beach is gorgeous, but it is not really a swimming beach. It remains very shallow all the way out to the reef. There are also corals and lot's of spiny urchins just under the surface. So it's hugely interesting and beautiful for exploring, paddling and walking out to the reef (make sure you have some surf shoes or something like that), but not so great if you're someone who actually wants to go swimming or snorkelling. If you want to snorkel you will probably want to go on a boating excursion (maybe over to the reef at Mnemba island, as we did) which is fabulous for snorkelling.
• Beckicourtney (8/5): Fantastic homely stay - The room was huge and well ventilated with a private exit to the pool area. Very comfortable bed and water in the room. The whole house is amazingly decorated and a bit of a maze with so many wonderful spotts to just chill and read a book. There is only one Utupoa that's for sure! The location is great with a private beach and an array of bars and restaurants within walking distance. Utupoa also offers dinner and lunch with a set menu that changes everyday. Joyce is a wonderful host. If you want to feel part of a family and meet other travellers this is the right place, a very homely stay. Would love to go back There were some issues with water supply, however this was resolved during our stay but still left a mediocre water pressure. Although it wasn't an issue we had to pay $1 each day for drinking water in the room and this was not declared anywhere until the final bill. Maybe a bit too pricey in comparison to other places in Matemwe as it is a lovely place but more of a guesthouse than a hotel/resort.
• Mauro (6/5): It should reduce the price. No good value for money - Locazione is great and the house is beautiful Poor services. No hot water for shower. Hygiene not good enough. Breakfast very basic.
• Bertrand (7/5): good, but devil is in the details and some improvements should be done to justify the price - the main building is very spacious with lots of areas where to rest and relax, direct access and view on the beach is amazing. The atmosphere of the place is impressive. Nice breakfast included in the price. There is an issue with termites eating the wood (furniture, floors, ceilings, …). The whole place was certainly beautiful 10 years ago, but now it is slowly decaying and would need a proper refurbishment to justify the current rooms’ prices. (Some bed sheets had old stains, hot water not always available, wifi very moody, …) Be ready to have the right amount in cash as it was surprisingly difficult to get change.
• Elodie (9/5): Little gem right by a quiet and beautiful beach ! - The location was amazing, right by a quiet beach, not too many tourists. The breakfast was really good! The beds by the beach to relax during the day. The house is very charming. A hidden gem ! The rooms don't really have windows that close, so the noise from outside (dogs barking, people talking, etc...) can be annoying sometimes. . The shower wasn't powerful and never really hot.
• Sophie (8/5): Very good -

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