Mnarani Beach Cottages

Destination

North Coast

Mnarani Beach Cottages is a small, locally owned beach lodge, near the village of Nungwi on the northern tip of Zanzibar Island. It is located on the eastern ridge of the village beyond the Lighthouse, along pristine unspoilt beaches, just over an hours drive from Zanzibars International Airport. Mnarani means Lighthouse in Swahili and this one is the oldest in the whole Zanzibar Resort, built in 1886 and it is still in operation. Mnarani Beach Cottages is an intimate bungalow retreat, where you can enjoy your lazy days by the sea, fresh local and continental dining and the simple comfort of local hospitality and island life. Privately nestled in a cove near the tip of Nungwi, it provides its guests with a quiet location, with the guarantee of a peaceful, crowd-free beach which is perfect for relaxation. More Zanzibar all inclusive Accommodation More Zanzibar December Specials

Mnarani Beach Cottages Amenities

Restaurant Bar Motorised dhow En-suite rooms Mosquito nets Honeymoon suite

Directions To Mnarani Beach Cottages

Mnarani Beach is situated near the village of Nungwi, on the northern tip of Zanzibar. It's located on the eastern side of the lighthouse and is a 20-minute walk along the beach from the festive bars and restaurants of Nungwi Village. It's about a one-and-a-half hour drive from Stone Town.

Area Attractions

Accommodation at Mnarani Beach Cottages There are 17 comfortable rooms at Mnarani Beach Cottages, situated along sandy paths in the greenery. They're all en-suite with hot water and mosquito nets. The 12 standard makuti-thatched cottages are small, arranged in pairs and face the sea. They are furnished in simple Zanzibar style and are decorated with fresh blue, pink and white shades. If you're into star signs, you'll enjoy the names of these rooms. The four new apartments are more spacious and are recommended for couples or families, since the children can sleep downstairs in the lounge and the adults upstairs (in an open-air bedroom). They have a kitchen and one downstairs bathroom There's also a romantic wooden honeymoon cottage called Mahaba House. It is situated at the edge of the property for privacy and has its own garden and access to the beach. Mahaba is an open-plan, double-storey cottage. There's a kitchenette and sitting room (with cushions on the coir floors and hammocks for lazing) on the ground floor, which leads out onto a large balcony (great for relaxing over sundowners). The bathroom has both a bath and shower (uncommon in Zanzibar). Upstairs is an airy bedroom with a large bed decorated in local style with wooden floors and reed matting covering the walls. It’s open to the seabreeze. If you can't go without music, no matter how much you love the sound of the ocean, there's a CD player. Dining at Mnarani Beach Cottages One thing about Zanzibar is that they love their seafood, and Mnarani Beach Cottages restaurant reflects this. Their fish is freshly caught every morning, and comes from the local fish market or direct from local fishermen, which is then prepared for you in traditional Swahili style. If you are lucky enough to catch your own fish, take it to the chef yourself, he will gladly prepare your own catch in whichever way you like it most combined with island spice. If fish dishes are not your strong point, there are plenty of meat and vegetarian options in their menu to keep your satisfied all day and saying Chakula kizuri sana (the food is very nice) alongside fresh fruits and salads with flavours that might spoil you forever. Mnarani Beach Cottages also boasts a small bar set among the doum palms at one side of the lodge. It’s a great place to relax in the evenings and learn to play bao, a traditional game in Zanzibar that you have to try. Mnarani Beach Cottages Attractions Conveniently nearby all the activities offered in the Nungwi area, you wont find yourself short of things to do, and because they are the only lodge development for kilometers on either side, you'll enjoy space and peace, away from the crowds. However if your taste is for more energetic activities, divers will appreciate their close proximity to the Mnemba Atoll. The beach at Mnarani Beach Cottages is a coral lagoon, changing with the tides as well as the seasons, providing you with one of the finest white sand beaches in the Indian Ocean, where the art of doing nothing on a beautiful beach is one that Nassor Ali and his staff are keen to cultivate. Mnarani Beach Cottages Activities • Diving trips to Mnemba Atoll can be arranged with Nungwi operators. • Mnarani has a dhow to take you snorkelling or deep-sea fishing (kingfish, tuna, marlin). • You can walk along the beach to see the local dhow builders, friendly people in the village and the fishing market. • Visit Mnarani Aquarium. • Laze about on a sun lounges or hammocks on the beach.