![]() The unique a/c over the bed and mosquito netting allowed us to leave the doors open all night so we could hear the ocean and feel the breeze. The oceanfront villas are huge and well maintained and the private soaking pool was a pleasant surprise. They were also a great resource for some of the group who had last minute glitches in their return flights. We were greeted warmly when we arrived and through out our stay the ENTIRE staff, including the manager Juma and our waiter Haji, did everything possible to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable. A stay here is more pleasant and relaxing than the hustle bustle of Zanzibar. We, a group of seven siblings and spouses, stayed for three nights at The Manta Resort following a nine day Tanzanian safari. To say we hated to leave is an understatement. It keeps you cool even with the doors open which was a revelation to us. In both, we had our first encounter with an air conditioning system that is located under the bed. It was nice, especially the outdoor shower, but the ocean front cottage had it beat hands-down. We were in a garden cottage the first few nights. It is hot on Pemba so we skipped the excursions except for a sunset cruise on a fishing boat carved out of a mango tree and were more than happy to spend the mornings diving and the afternoons reading in our private plunge pool before heading off for our complimentary massages. Our last night there found us dining on the beach by candlelight with an enormous seafood platter – lobster, shrimp, squid, fresh fish, etc. The food was the best of our entire month-long trip, and every lunch and dinner has a fish menu, another that is vegan and a third that is meat. Just as it occurs to you that you’re thirsty, someone shows up with a glass of fresh watermelon juice or a fresh coconut with a straw. The wait staff is professional and attentive, but relaxed, which suggests management treats them well. (FYI, we were originally booked into one of the other lodges, but it does not have its own dive center, which means you have to drive.) The dive center is just a few powdery white steps from the divine ocean-front rooms. Pemba has many diving sites and Manta’s excellent dive team will take you to all of them if you have time. So glad we had a week to enjoy Manta, the smallest of the three luxury lodges on Pemba (18 rooms to the other lodges' 30)! We went scuba diving every morning and while it wasn’t quite as varied as the introductory diving we did on a remote Tahitian atoll a few years ago, it was still well worth experiencing. In sum, it was the perfect honeymoon and we are already thinking about when we could go back. We saw dolphins! We also visited a local schoolroom started by Manta staff that provides extra math and English lessons to children in the village. The diving and snorkelling were wonderful, as was the sunset cruise, which we highly recommend. We loved laying out under the stars and sleeping with the fishes. Our night in the underwater from was truly an experience we will never forget. ![]() The food exceeded our expectations: spectacular fresh seafood seasoned with locally grown spices and fresh tropical fruit. The resort is so small and intimate it seems all of the staff are invested in ensuring your stay is perfect. A highlight was when he set us up for dinner one night by the pool and we watched bush babies (small, nocturnal primates) playing in the trees. Our service fundi, Saidi, took incredible care of us. We were blown away by the spectacular views and delicious Pemba spiced tea upon arrival. We had an amazing time at the Manta Resort for our honeymoon. Finest Punta Cana By The Excellence Collection All Inclusive.Pemba Island All Inclusive Beach Hotels.
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