Kena Beach Hotel - Zanzibar

Package price from, per person sharing

Matemwe is a strong choice for travellers who want Zanzibar’s quieter north-east coast while keeping Mnemba Atoll and the island’s cultural sights within reach. This Zanzibar holiday package can combine return flights from South Africa, airport transfers, accommodation and selected meals in one straightforward trip. Days can move easily between beach time, reef adventures and excursions into the wider island rather than revolving around a large resort complex.

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Property Overview

Kena Beach Hotel is a locally owned, small-scale property set in tropical gardens beside Matemwe Beach. Current information from the hotel group indicates around 35 rooms, keeping the atmosphere considerably more intimate than Zanzibar’s large beachfront resorts. Traditional makuti roofs and garden pathways reinforce the local character, while a swimming pool, restaurant, bars, spa and on-site dive centre provide the principal facilities. The hotel actively welcomes couples, honeymooners and families rather than focusing on one specific market.

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How far is the nearest beach?

The hotel sits directly on Matemwe Beach, with the white-sand shoreline only footsteps from the garden and main facilities. The property describes its beachfront area as private, giving guests immediate access to the Indian Ocean without crossing a road or leaving the hotel grounds. Matemwe is also strongly affected by Zanzibar’s tidal cycle, which creates opportunities for guided reef walks at low tide. Mnemba Atoll lies offshore and is a major focus for snorkelling and diving trips.

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Distance from Airport

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is the relevant international arrival point for travellers coming from South Africa. Kena Beach Hotel advises a transfer time of approximately 75 minutes by road to Matemwe on Zanzibar’s north-east coast. Stone Town is around 65 minutes away, so cultural sightseeing remains practical as a day excursion despite the quieter beach location. Airport and ferry terminal transfers can also be arranged directly through the hotel.

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Rooms

Accommodation is divided into four main types: Standard Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Rooms with Jacuzzi and Family Rooms. Standard and Deluxe rooms can accommodate two adults and a child, while the Family Rooms use interconnected accommodation with one king and two twin beds for up to four guests. Deluxe rooms add outdoor showers, while the Jacuzzi category is designed for two and is specifically recommended by the hotel for honeymoon couples. Private decks and garden surroundings feature prominently across the accommodation.

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Food & Drink

The Bridge Restaurant handles the main dining programme, combining international and African à la carte dishes with themed evenings inspired by regional cuisines. Mambo and Mnemba bars provide drinks throughout the day, adding poolside and elevated ocean-facing settings to the relatively compact food and beverage offering. The hotel currently sells Bed & Breakfast, Half Board, Full Board and All Inclusive plans. All Inclusive therefore represents a genuine current meal-plan option rather than a historical or wholesaler-only product.

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Experiences & Activities

The on-site Scubafish PADI 5 Star Dive Centre is one of the hotel’s strongest features, running diving and snorkelling trips around Mnemba Atoll for different experience levels. Guests can also join guided reef walks at low tide, cycle through Matemwe village or spend time in the games room. Off-site excursions extend to Stone Town, spice farms, Prison Island and traditional dhow experiences. This mix provides genuine opportunities to combine the beach with marine life and Zanzibar’s history and culture.

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SPA & Wellness

Maua Spa provides the hotel’s dedicated wellness offering, with massages, body scrubs, facials, manicures and pedicures among its current treatments. Couples can book a full-body massage together, while some treatments incorporate locally associated ingredients such as cloves and fruit. The spa is clearly established rather than simply being an in-room treatment service, although it is modest in scale compared with large destination spas. Its role fits the hotel’s generally relaxed, small-property character.