Yoga and Dive Retreat
Matemwe, Zanzibar
January 23 – 29 , 2028
The Retreat
Are you ready to discover the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of Zanzibar, both above and below the surface?
Join Erika on the northeast coast of Zanzibar, in the fishing village of Matemwe. In 2026, Erika returned to Zanzibar and spent three weeks travelling the whole island in search of the right place for this retreat. After driving from coast to coast and visiting resort after resort, she found Villa Kiva, and it suited everything we were looking for. It’s a small boutique hotel right on the beach, with lush gardens, two pools, a calm and intimate atmosphere, and one of the best dive sites in the Indian Ocean on its doorstep. It’s a place to slow down, not to party.
This is a 7-day / 6-night retreat. You’re welcome to arrive earlier or extend your stay. For any accommodation bookings or questions, please contact Villa Kiva directly (see below).
Here’s what you can expect from our Yoga and Dive Retreat:
- Daily Yoga Sessions: Start each morning with an energizing practice and end the day with a restorative yoga session, plus meditation and breathwork. All levels are welcome, and yoga mats are provided.
- Sunrise by the Sea: Matemwe faces east, so each day begins with the sun rising over the Indian Ocean. It’s an unforgettable way to arrive in the day.
- Scuba Diving and Snorkeling around Mnemba Atoll: We dive with One Ocean Matemwe, a 5-star PADI Dive Centre that takes guests diving and snorkeling around Mnemba Atoll every day. Mnemba is a protected marine conservation area known for its coral gardens, turtles and, with some luck, dolphins. Beginners can learn and certified divers can explore. Expert guides keep every dive safe.
- Stone Town & the History of the Slave Trade: We visit Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the site of the former slave market with its memorial and museum. A space to honestly confront the history of the East African slave trade, to reflect, and to honor the people whose lives were shaped by it. Afterwards, we share lunch together at Lukmaan, a Stone Town institution for Zanzibari home cooking.
- Cultural Immersion in Matemwe: Walk through the village with a local guide and get to know everyday life on the coast, from seaweed farming to the fishing dhows.
- Healthy Cuisine: Enjoy fresh, local food at the Bahari Veranda, the open-air restaurant overlooking the ocean, where the catch of the day comes straight from the sea. Fresh juices are served at the Masai Bar, and private dinners on the Pwani Beach Deck can be arranged for special evenings.
- Time to Rest: Two freshwater pools, a spa, a lush garden and a quiet beach give you plenty of space to rest between practice and dives.
Retreat Investment
7 days/6 nights
Early Bird Rate: € 800*
(until October 30, 2027)
Standard Rate: € 1,000*
Sample Schedule
7:30 – 8:30 Morning Practice
8:30 – 10:00 Breakfast
10:30 – 12:30 Boat dive or snorkeling trip to Mnemba Atoll
13:00 – 13:30 Free time
13:30 – 15:00 Lunch
15:00 – 16:45 Afternoon Dive| Village Walk | Beach Walk at Low Tide
17:00 – 18:30 Evening Yoga Practice
19:00 – 20:30 Dinner
The Rooms
Villa Kiva began as a private family beach villa and has become a boutique hotel with 29 rooms and suites. They’re designed in a contemporary African style that combines natural materials with modern comfort. Every room has air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a minibar, an electronic safe, a mosquito net, tea and coffee, and a private balcony or veranda. The rooms are cleaned every morning and there’s a turndown service each evening. Choose the space that suits you best for resting between yoga sessions and dives.
Junior Suite Sea View (50 m²) – The heart of the villa, in the main building, with a large balcony overlooking the Indian Ocean. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunrise. There’s only one, so book early.
Garden Suite (70 m²) – A spacious suite with a king bed and a sofa bed, surrounded by the lush garden. It’s ideal if you’d like extra room to spread out.
First Floor Superior Sea View (30 m²) – Distinctive round rooms on the upper floor, with a large balcony facing the ocean. They’re the hotel’s most requested rooms and a good choice if you love privacy.
Ground Floor Sea View (25 m²) – A round room right on the seafront, with a private veranda just a few steps from the beach.
Garden View (25 m²) – A bright room with a balcony or veranda overlooking the tropical garden. You can choose a king bed or two single beds.
Economy Garden View – A slightly smaller garden room with the same comfort, and the budget-friendly option. You can choose a king bed or two single beds.
Family Room – Two interconnected rooms, each with its own bathroom. It’s ideal for families or friends travelling together (up to 4 guests).
Your Stay
6 nights | 7 days, per person, full breakfast included
Junior Suite Sea View / Garden Suite
Single Occupancy 1.153,- USD
Double Occupancy 678,- USD | per person
First Floor Superior Sea View
Single Occupancy 1.275,- USD
Double Occupancy 750,- USD | per person
Ground Floor Sea View
Single Occupancy 1.051,- USD
Double Occupancy 618,- USD | per person
Garden View
Single Occupancy 877,- USD
Double Occupancy 516,- USD | per person
Economy Garden View
Single Occupancy 796,- USD
Double Occupancy 468,- USD | per person
Family Room
Quadruple Occupancy 540,- USD | per person
Optional meal upgrades (per person, 6 nights):
Half board (breakfast and a daily dinner menu with meat, fish/seafood and vegan/vegetarian options): 180,- USD
Full board (breakfast, set lunch and daily dinner menu): 300,- USD
The government infrastructure tax of 4,- USD per person per night (24,- USD for 6 nights) is not included and is payable locally.
Scuba Diving
PADI Open Water Diver
550,- USD
3 days, eLearning, pool training, 4 open water dives, certification to 18 m
PADI Advanced Open Water
500,- USD
2.5 days, eLearning, 5 adventure dives, certification to 30 m
Enriched Air (Nitrox)
195,- USD
1 day, no dives
Refresher in the pool
25,- USD
recommended if you haven’t dived in the last 12 months
Single dive plus snorkeling
85,- USD
Double dive (1 day)
110,- USD
4-dive package (2 days)
210,- USD
6-dive package (3 days)
305,- USD
8-dive package (4 days)
395,- USD
10-dive package (5 days)
480,- USD
Dive packages include soft gear (mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit), snacks, fruit and drinking water.
BCD and regulator rental is 20,- USD per day. Packages are individual and cannot be shared between divers.
Marine conservation fees are not included and are charged separately. Prices are set by One Ocean and may change without notice. Dives are booked and paid directly with One Ocean.
⚠️ Flying after diving: For your safety, PADI guidelines say you should wait at least 18 hours after your last dive before flying, and 24 hours is recommended. Please plan your final dive no later than the day before your departure. The last day of the retreat is dive-free, so it’s a lovely day for a final practice, a swim and time to say goodbye.
Meet your Host
Erika Smith Iluszko Studio Owner | Meridian Yoga Practitioner
I’m delighted to invite you on this journey to Zanzibar, an island I keep coming back to. In 2026, I returned and took three weeks to find the right home for this retreat. We drove all around the island, from the busy north coast to the quiet beaches of the south and east, and visited many resorts along the way. Some were beautiful, some were too big, and some were too far from the sea. Villa Kiva was the one that felt right from the very first moment.
It’s small, warm and surrounded by gardens, right on the beach of Matemwe. The staff welcomed us like family, the reef begins just in front of the villa, and Mnemba Atoll is close by. For a retreat that brings yoga and the ocean together, I couldn’t imagine a better place. I didn’t choose it from a brochure; I chose it after seeing, comparing and staying there myself.