Matemwe, on the northeast coast of Unguja, is the quietest and most genuinely remote-feeling of Zanzibar's main beach areas. The coastline here is long and white-sanded, fringed with casuarina trees, and the village behind it is a working fishing community that has so far avoided being overwhelmed by resort development. Seaweed farming — a significant local livelihood — is visible on the tidal flats, with neat rows of coral stakes and trailing lines at low tide.
Matemwe's main distinction is proximity to Mnemba Atoll. The atoll sits just offshore, close enough that you can make it out on a clear day, and dive operators here offer the shortest and most frequent trips to the atoll's reef. If snorkelling or diving Mnemba is your main reason for coming to this part of the island, staying at Matemwe makes good logistical sense.
At high tide, the beach itself is wonderful — deep blue, calm inside the reef, and almost empty outside the small cluster of guesthouses. At low tide, the reef exposes extensive sandy and rocky flats that reward exploration on foot. Snorkelling in the channels between the reef sections at mid-tide is excellent even without venturing to Mnemba. The pace is slow; this is a place for reading, walking, and watching the dhow traffic on the channel.