Mtoni Marine
Planning a trip to Zanzibar the day before didn’t leave me
with much options for accommodation. Also considering that I was strapped for
cash, I just took what the travel agent offered in terms of flights and somewhere
to stay. In hindsight, I was quite pleased with what I was given.
While checking in at the Mtoni Marine, a spiced tea was served as a welcome drink. I happen to think I know quite a bit about spiced teas but this was by far the best I’ve ever tasted. It was served piping hot in a little cup and the hotel reception staff were more than happy to pour more for us when we wanted.
The first thing we did after checking in to our room was check
out the cosy beach at the hotel. There’s a pretty mangrove type area where big
trees were growing in the waters. A pier separates the mangrove area to the
rest of the hotel’s beach which is safer to swim in. I love piers and walking
as far in as possible. Watching the depth of the waters and how the waves crash
against the stones on the pier is absolutely breath taking. For a three star
hotel, it is definitely value for money to be able to stay on the beach.
For lunch and supper, we dined at the hotel’s sports bar. I
must say that the food takes super long to prepare. There’s free wifi so you
can use the time to catch up with friends and family. Expect to wait an hour though
– I call it Swahili time – but the food is definitely worth the wait. Zanzibari
food is similar to Durban Indian food but it’s much more mildly spiced. The
restaurant only takes cash or adds the bill to your room if you prefer to pay
by credit card. They actually have quite a cool tipping policy. If you pay
cash, the waiters get the tip and if you pay by credit card, the tips are
settled amongst other hotel staff. I like it as most hotel staff are paid similar
rates yet waiters get all our tips and not the other staff that helped prepare
our meals or make our stay pleasant. 
Back at the hotel room, it was a simple and clean room. The
bed and chairs weren’t that comfy and the balcony was a waste because there
were bugs waiting to come into the room. What the room lacked in terms of
luxury, it made up for in décor. There were woven laundry bags and hangers made
from some sort of leaves hanging in the room. Fresh flowers and leaves were
placed on the pillows and elsewhere in the room which extends the atmosphere of
the environment outside into the room. Outside the hotel buildings, there was
tons of greenery. The palm trees and other plants and flowers growing in
abundance kept in theme with the island.
Breakfast was served in a little lapa on the beach. Even if
breakfast isn’t your thing, just gazing into the horizon across to Prison
Island is mesmerising and enough to start your day in a happy mood.
The hotel can organise tours in and around Zanzibar. As tour
“companies” come a dime a dozen in Zanzibar with lower prices than what the
hotel offers, you can negotiate with the hotel on price. It probably won’t be
as cheap as what the man on the street can offer but you can pay less for a
professional tour.
Overall, Mtoni Marine was great for my 24 hours
that I had to spend in Zanzibar. I would definitely return if I had to stay for
a short while however for a relaxing beach holiday, I’d probably choose a more
luxurious hotel or resort with a secluded beach.
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