I was looking for a secluded and beautiful place close to the best diving spots. Sunshine Marina Lodge ticked all the boxes and more! The room was massive, tastefully decorated, with a gorgeous view over a lush garden and the sea. The place is so peaceful and the staff really awesome: all have been very kind, helpful. The food was good also, mixing local traditional dishes and international food. The fact that the diving center is located inside the hotel made my life so easy. The diving instructors did everything they could for a memorable diving journey (pulled some night divings, organized diving excursions in the Northern part of the island, in addition to the numerous beautiful local spots). Highly recommended!!

The only little thing that I thought was missing is mosquito screens on the terrasse door and windows, for customers wishing to leave them all open at night time. There is a full bed net and efficient ceiling fans but I'd have liked to be able to leave the balcony door open and fall asleep with the sound of the waves, without uninvited guests in the room when I wake up!

I absolutely loved my stay and would absolutely go back again! It’s a small hotel with beautiful grounds, stunning pool and scenery looking onto mnemba island. There is no beach, but this didn’t bother me with such a beautiful view and you can get the shuttle bus to the sister hotels (azure and sunshine bay) to go onto matemwe beach. I did this and have to say that I’m so glad I didn’t choose either of those hotels and was happy to go back to mine. I had a lodge room (number 1) looking out to sea and I could have stared at the view forever! The staff are so friendly and helpful and nothing is too much hassle. The food was lovely, a wide menu with a range of specials on each evening. There’s plenty of room by the pool and there’s little areas of sun beds if you don’t want to be right next to the pool. There are only a couple of beds that get the complete sunshine all day, just to note for other sun worshippers! I don’t know why other reviewers have put more negative comments as they’re really not deserved, people should read the description of the hotel and know there is no beach before commenting that there isn’t a beach!!

Nothing, it was fabulous

The beautiful and helpful staff are the highlight of Sunshine Marine Lodge. The food was excellent, with a wide array of options to choose from. The spa is a fantastic amenity to the lodge, with lots of affordable treatments carried out by the team of great therapists. Yoga with Ana (who is a fantastic teacher) is also a really great addition to the property and I recommend to future guests taking some classes to unwind from your day and carry you into a chilled evening.

Sea urchins in the shallows of the sea- when the tide is out (although staff were very helpful when I had to remove urchin spines from my foot). Perhaps that information can be presented to guests upon arrival or there be a sign posted by the water.

Sunshine Marine Lodge is an authentic traditional style beach lodge with A frame thatch rooms that let the sea breeze through (or AC if you choose to turn it on) and good quality, reasonably priced food in its restaurant. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff if you ask nicely and I had an awsesome five days here. The DivePoint centre is really five star PADI and I had six excellant dives on nearby sites around Mnembe island - I dont think any other hotel is this close and can do the dives every day the same time no matter the tide. It is off the main tourist track so dont expect to travel around easily from here (although all Zanzibar tours are offered), I chose to chill and relax after diving in a very private enviroment with excellant views and lovely gardens. i would recommend to anyone who wants to do the same.

I prefer to be transported to and from the airport by the hotel but at $60 this is too expensive for a solo traveller (many choose this Lodge) but reasonable for a family of four.

Almost everything! The staff were very friendly and welcoming, eager to make our stay exceptional. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. Relaxing infinity pool with unrivaled views of Mnemba Island. The rooms were lovely, clean, and very comfortable and spacious. Also, they provide a free shuttle to their nearby sister hotel Sunshine Bay which has direct beach access. Would definitely go back!

Nothing negative. It’s a bumpy dirt road to get there, not ideal, but it’s part of the experience. Our last dinner we were looking forward to feast on the seafood platter, only to be told that there’s no lobster. Disappointing, but they did compensate with alternatives to add to our meal. The very early check out time is unusual, however they let us keep one of our rooms to use until an early afternoon check out.

Everything! The staff were all amazing, especially the masseuses. The food was very nice, and since we were on our honeymoon they gave us a special table one night and treated us like royalty, it made us feel so so special. The room was lovely, gorgeous view. The cats were also adorable by reception. Such a nice place, very sad not to be there now! Also, delicious cocktails!

The dive centre wasn't very ethical in terms of their diving practices, lots of poking fish and breaking coral. The dive centre is on site but seperate to the hotel so not really relevant other than it being the reason we chose the hotel (very pleased to have ended up somewhere so lovely despite the bad diving).

The room decoration and cleanness was impeccable! The staff was super helpful and nice to us. The pool was pretty great. We arrived very late (22h00) and they even arranged us some light dinner snacks to be in the room upon arrival as we requested , which was truly appreciated.

The access to the hotel and the street was very damaged, took us a while to arrive there. Also this is a remote place so not easy to reach other areas around. This hotel does not have a beach in a walking distance, but this we already knew when we booked it.

Really enjoyed my stay here. The gardens are stunning and surround the rooms giving you privacy and the feeling of being in the jungle. The staff are all extremely friendly and helpful. Lovely views over the island of Pemba. Great food and good value for it and the drinks - the nightly visits from the bush babies was also a highlight. Enjoyed a lovely massage as well. Rooms were lovely with comfy beds and good showers and air-con. You can also get a free transfer to their sister hotel which is on a beach rather than a swim off a jetty although i didn't bother. Highlight was the attached dive centre which was my prime reason for visiting. Great to get up and straight to the centre and then the boat out to the sites. Lovely staff and great diving. You could hardly see the hotel from the sea as it was so well nestled into the gardens. Would definitely return.

It is a well designed resort, the gardens are very well maintained. The toilets near the restaurant and pool area were exceptionally clean every time we visited- a rare find in many resorts. I liked the yoga - Anna was great. The diving was very well organized and friendly helpful staff.

We had expected more choice/quality for breakfast based on what we had at other resorts on the island. Specials were ok but slighted limited range for our preferences.

If one wants to relax in a tastefully arranged, intimistic, and really comfortable space right in front of the ocean, this is quite the gem ! The food is great, the music and mood is prone to rest, the view is amazing, the staff are absolutely fantastic (kudos to Charles and Daniel !). Leaving was difficult!

The ocean is not really there to be swimmed in because of the tide and urchins but the beach is walkable and they provide free shuttles or bikes to go to the sister hotel which has a better access to water