Search hotels in Micheweni, Tanzania

This is a beautiful property with a great taste in many details, the architect thought about a lot of small details in all parts of the hotel, the views, the mix between African, Arabic, modern, etc, the way rooms are located, the floor in the toilet and the combination with nature, etc. The sunrise and sunset from the hotel are both amazing, the staff is the best the hotel has, they are always looking to help you and Max the owner is always there and looking to help if anything is needed. The food was also very good, they have an amazing chef, specially the Tuna was very fresh and cooked to perfection.

I had a wonderful stay at Verani Lodge. Not because it was a 5-star experience, hardly! BUT I was expecting absolute basic and what it was was much more than that and something else, too. I booked due to the affordability and the proximity to Afro Divers. It is less than 5 min walk. I expected no hot water (true) and maybe electricity (had throughout stay) and maybe wifi (had though a bit weak/slow intermittently.) But really, it was all I needed for a couple days of diving, and then some. The owner, Kake, couldn’t have been friendlier, more helpful, or more informative about the island of Pemba. His family is from not only the island but the immediate area, and he treats guests like family. He showed me around the island a bit on the way from and to the airport (he also does the transfers; allow extra time!). He arranged seafood dinners that, though they took some time to prepare, were better than just about any food I had in Africa in the 3 weeks prior, including at a couple fancy safari lodges. The octopus in coconut sauce with potato greens and ugali was soooo good. They are growing produce on the property too. They also put on a lovely beachside seafood BBQ. If I ever make it back to Pemda to dive some more (and the diving was beyond expected too), I’d happily stay there again. Kake and his staff were a pleasure. This is what you’re looking for if you want to feel like you’re visiting Pemba island rather than a generic resort.

Pemba is a special place, as it has lovely beaches, great diving/snorkelling, kind locals, but it is not yet over-developed by the tourism industry. There are only 4-5 resorts on the island and this is one of the few mid-priced ones. The pool is lovely and the rooms are spacious. There is a small private beach and at low tide it serves as a thriving seaweed farm which is interesting. The staff all went above and beyond to make us feel special and to make sure we had a positive experience. Emmy, the GM, was an attentive host, her assistant manager Grace is a rising star. Bello and Hussein worked so hard and always greeted us with a smile. The security team and all the staff were excellent. I also recommend hiring a local to take you on a walk through their nearby village.