The Manta Resort

Pemba is a remote island off the east coast of Africa, and probably as far away from civilization you might ever find yourselves. The Manta Resort offers something different from most tropical islands - it’s not about five-star luxury. If it’s serenity, close encounters with nature and a family of staff you crave, The Manta Resort is the place for you. Switch off the noisy, polluted electronic world and enter a completely different one, not as a tourist, but as a guest with simple needs: sunshine, fresh air, natural food, a comfortable bed and friendly company.

The local staff are so passionate about where they work and are all trained here and they very much involve the local community with making clothes for the shop, buying fruit, vegetables and fish locally and also teaching the locals to speak English.

There are four different room categories, the Sea Front Villas, the Superior Garden Rooms, the standard rooms and then the one and only Underwater Room, which sleeps two and is a private floating island with your bedroom four meters below the surface. 

Activities from The Manta Resort include spice and rainforest trips, kayaking, lighthouse walk, snorkelling, (there is a donation, which goes directly to the conservation committee) diving, (they have a Padi dive centre with two instructors), sunset cruise and village walks, where a member of staff will take you to his village.

The property has helped set up a clinic and police station, plus they have their own football team and organise a local “Ngalawa” boat race. They really are very much into helping the local community.