Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago off the
coast of East Africa. It is home to idyllic
beaches, balmy weather & warm tropical
waters.
This archipelago is famous for clear warm
waters, coral reefs, and rich marine diversity making it a perfect under-water
destination for snorkeling and diving.
In 2013, Swedish firm Genberg Underwater
Hotels launched Africa’s first underwater
hotel room at the Manta Resort on Pemba
Island in the Zanzibar Archipelago making
it even more famous.
The innovative three-story luxury hotel was
designed by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg, who also built the first underwater hotel room The Utter Inn in the middle of a Swedish lake.
Although there are underwater rooms in
places such as the Maldives, Dubai, Fiji,
and Stockholm, this is the first one in
Africa.
The Manta Resort underwater hotel is
anchored to the seafloor with two cables, just 4 metres beneath the surface (over 13
feet deep in the Indian Ocean) allowing
travelers to sleep while surrounded by sea
creatures.
The three-tiered suite includes a roof deck
which allows guests to sunbathe or stargaze in an area with almost non- existent light pollution also has a landing deck at sea level, a lounge and bathroom as well as an underwater bedroom surrounded by windows that afford a nearly 360-degree view of a nearby coral reef and dozens of fish species.
At night, underwater spotlights around the
bedroom windows attract and illuminate
the nighttime sea life, including octopus
and stingrays.
A stay in the underwater hotel room goes
for $900 a night for singles and $1,500 for
a couple.
According to the United National World
Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) 2012
Barometer publication, the country is the
7th highest tourist destination in Africa.
In 2012, tourist numbers in Tanzania, East
Africa’s second-largest economy, hit 1.1
million and the country hopes it will
increase per year.
