Sleeping with the fishes in Tanzania #AfroTour

At the Manta Resort on the island of Pemba, Tanzania, you will find a hotel room unlike any other. Designed by Mikael Genberg of Genberg Underwater Hotels AB, is Africa’s first underwater hotel room.

The Swedish-engineered, floating structure provides three distinct levels. The landing deck, at sea level, has a lounge area and bathroom facility. A ladder leads up to the roof which has a lounging area for sun worshipping by day and stargazing at night. Downstairs is the bedroom, surrounded by panes of glass affording near 360 degree views. Some creatures have even taken up residence around the room which affords some protection from predation.

At night, underwater spotlights beneath each window attract the shyer and more unusual creatures like squid. Coral is already establishing itself on the anchoring lines and around the underwater structure. Octopus and even 'Spanish dancers' have been observed attaching themselves to the glass panes.

Visible from this special room is the Blue Hole, an anomaly in the coral reef approximately 250 meters off shore. It falls to 12 meters deep at high tide and is roughly 50 meters wide in diameter. The circular hole is inhabited by a number of large coral heads and abundant marine life.