PEMBA ISLAND · UNDERWATER ROOM · REEF LIFE
The Manta Resort Zanzibar
A secluded island retreat shaped by reef, forest and ocean, home to one of the world’s most extraordinary underwater rooms.
LOCATION
Pemba Island,
Zanzibar
A secluded island retreat on Pemba’s quiet north-west coast.
SIGNATURE STAY
The iconic
Underwater
Room
A floating private hideaway with a bedroom below sea level.
ROOMS
Seafront villas
& garden rooms
Simple, airy island accommodation shaped by beach and forest.
PRICE RANGE
€€€
Remote island luxury with all-inclusive style stays.
EXPERIENCE
Reef life,
diving &
snorkelling
Ocean experiences shaped by Pemba’s reef and marine life.
ACCESS
Remote
island arrival
Usually reached via Pemba, with transfers arranged around your stay.
Welcome to The Manta Resort Zanzibar
Some places are designed to impress. The Manta Resort feels designed to make you listen.
Set on remote Pemba Island, this quiet retreat is shaped by forest, reef and the rhythm of the Indian Ocean. Life here is intentionally simple: soft sand, warm water, local textures, slow paths through indigenous trees and a sense of calm that feels far away from the busier side of Zanzibar.
Its most famous experience is the Underwater Room — a floating private hideaway set above the reef, where the ocean surrounds you by day and night. But Manta is more than one extraordinary room. It is a small, thoughtful island retreat where nature, community and marine life remain at the centre of the stay.
This is Pemba at its most poetic: quiet, blue, restorative and deeply connected to the world below the waterline.
Table of Contents
- Welcome to The Manta Resort Zanzibar
- Why The Manta Resort Stands Apart
- The Underwater Room
- Inside The Villas: Island Design & Ocean Views
- Reef Experiences & Pemba Island Nature
- Dining, Spa & Island Atmosphere
- Best Time To Visit
- FAQ & Where To Book
Why The Manta Resort Stands Apart
The Manta Resort is unforgettable because it is not only about the famous Underwater Room. The real heart of this place is the people.
During our stay, we experienced three different ways of sleeping at Manta: the Oceanview Villa, the Underwater Room and the Seafront Villa. Each had its own magic — from waking up above the reef to staying close to the sand, the sea and the quiet green beauty of Pemba.
What we remember most is the warmth of the staff, the excellent food and the thoughtful little surprises that made everything feel personal. The villas felt natural and beautifully made, with leaf-thatched roofs, open island textures and views that made us stop and look again and again.
Manta did not feel like just another island resort. It felt like coming home.
The Underwater Room
The Underwater Room is the signature experience of The Manta Resort — a private floating structure set above the reef, with a bedroom beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean.
By day, it feels open and cinematic: a rooftop deck, turquoise water, wide skies and the quiet distance of Pemba Island around you. By night, the underwater bedroom becomes the true spectacle, with marine life moving past the windows in the dark.
It is not simply a room, but a rare way to experience the ocean from within — private, surreal and completely unforgettable.
Inside The Villas: Island Design & Ocean Views
The villas at The Manta Resort feel luxurious in a natural, island-rooted way.
We stayed in the Oceanview Villa and the Seafront Villa, both with their own atmosphere — generous space, leaf-thatched roofs, warm wood, soft textures and views that pull everything back to the sea.
The beauty is in the balance: refined comfort without losing the feeling of Pemba. Private, atmospheric and deeply connected to nature.
Reef Experiences & Pemba Island Nature
The Manta Resort is shaped by the world around it: reef, forest, warm water and the quiet nature of Pemba Island.
Days can move between snorkelling, diving, reef walks, kayaking, sunset views and slow moments along the beach. The ocean is always close — not as a backdrop, but as part of the stay.
What makes it powerful is the feeling of being surrounded by nature without needing to overplan every moment. Pemba does the work: the reef, the trees, the light and the sea.
Dining, Spa & Island Atmosphere
Dining at The Manta Resort feels relaxed, generous and closely connected to island life.
Meals are fresh, informal and full of local flavour, with an attentive level of service that makes the experience feel personal without becoming formal.
Wellness is part of the stay, with spa treatments and massages available as a calm extension of the island rhythm. Together with the beach, the reef and the warmth of the staff, this creates the understated atmosphere that makes Manta feel distinct.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit The Manta Resort is during Pemba’s drier months, especially June to October, when the island feels warm, clear and calm.
December to March can also be beautiful for ocean air, soft tropical light and slow island days by the water.
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Where to book
FEMMVOYAGE NOTES
FAQ About The Manta Resort Zanzibar
A few practical notes for travellers dreaming of The Manta Resort — from the Underwater Room and reef life to the quiet details that make Pemba feel so different.
Is the Underwater Room worth booking?
Yes, if you want the most extraordinary part of the Manta experience. It is remote, private and unlike a normal hotel room — best for travellers who love the ocean and want one truly unforgettable night.
How many nights should you stay in the Underwater Room?
One night is often enough to experience the magic. Combine it with a stay in an Oceanview or Seafront Villa so the journey feels balanced: one night at sea, then slower days on land.
Is The Manta Resort only for divers?
No. Diving and snorkelling are highlights, but Manta is also beautiful for kayaking, swimming, beach walks, spa treatments, sunset drinks and quiet time by the water.
What should you know before diving here?
Pemba’s waters are beautiful but can be powerful. Some sites are better for experienced divers, while gentler reef experiences and snorkelling can suit a slower ocean day.
Are spa treatments part of the stay?
Wellness is part of the Manta rhythm. Depending on your booking package, spa treatments or massages may be included, so check the details before confirming your stay.
What makes Pemba different from Zanzibar?
Pemba feels quieter, greener and more remote. Choose Manta if you want reef life, forest, stillness and a more intimate island atmosphere than the busier Zanzibar routes.
FV Tip: which room should you choose?
For the full Manta story, combine the Underwater Room with a Seafront or Oceanview Villa. The Underwater Room gives the once-in-a-lifetime moment; the villas give you the slower island feeling.
This journey was made possible in collaboration with
Remote island retreat
& underwater room
Hosted editorial stay
FemmVoyage was hosted for an editorial stay at The Manta Resort. All experiences, stories and opinions are entirely our own.
We only collaborate with places that genuinely move us.
Our collaboration values →
Visual note: Some images on this page are AI-created or AI-enhanced for editorial inspiration and atmosphere. They may not always represent an exact real-life location, stay, room or experience unless stated otherwise.
