We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
The listings of booking offers for each property take into account the compensation paid to us by our partners. Prices shown may be for varying room types. Prices displayed are the lowest available, corresponding to the least expensive room type available, as provided from our partners as of the time of the user’s search.

Marimba Secret Gardens

avatar-imageavatar-imageavatar-image
Traveller (202)
Room & Suite (38)
Dining (19)

View prices for your travel dates

Contact accommodation for availability.
There are similar hotels available.
View all

About

#2 of 8 lodges in Vilanculos
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
In a peaceful and pristine bay, 25km north of Vilanculos, Marimba Secret Gardens offers comfortable and unique accommodation for individual travelers. Take a time out in pure nature, get to know the traditional Mozambican way of life or discover the Bazaruto Archipelago either by diving, snorkeling or just a day trip.Our restaurant offers a combination of European and African dishes and a big range of cocktails.
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Beach
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Shuttle bus service
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Quaint

Location

Macunhe, Vilanculos 1304 Mozambique
Marimba Secret Gardens
Getting there
Vilanculos Airport
14.1 mi
See all flights
117Reviews1Q+A9Room tips

Reviews
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.

Traveller rating
  • 111
  • 5
  • 0
  • 1
  • 0
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
  • More
Selected filters
  • Filter
  • English
Sort by:
Most Recent
avatar-image
Donna wrote a review Jun 2020
11 contributions2 helpful votes
Marimbas secret garden is a little peace of heaven. It is the perfect blend of beach meets bush... The staff are friendly and helpful, and the hosts, Sam and Mike, go above and beyond to make sure you have the best holiday! Between the delicious food and nightly bonfires we couldnt of asked for a better getaway!
Read more
Date of stay: June 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
randomwalkw wrote a review Mar 2020
12 contributions14 helpful votes
Marimba is not only an exceptionally beautiful and pristine place, but it’s also an initiative that brings the Mozambican idea of warmth and hospitality into the hard work and joyfulness of a team of professionals. Secret Garden is a project to experience and support. Adapt to whoever needs a relaxing gateway with simple yet unique attention to details. Food is lovely, access to sea, rooms are nice, possibility of doing activities around the area and directly going to the islands.. and you finish the day by a lovely night campfire and an avalanche of stars... Not to miss!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
lud0vica2020 wrote a review Mar 2020
Rome, Italy1 contribution
We were a group of 7 people and we stay at Marimba Secret Gardends for few days, the hosts were really friendly! They picked us up, they helped us organise the excursions to the islands and the food was excellent! The bungalows and the area is very well done and equipped. I highly recommend few days in this place, it is truly magical!
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2020
Room Tip: Bungalows are amazing!
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Jalo686 wrote a review Mar 2020
Salamanca, Spain1 contribution
We were a group of 7 staying in different huts. We absolutely loved the experience. It was remote enough that we could feel we were in close contact with nature, but we were also able to organise great tours into bazaruto. The food, the service, the owners, all were amazing, going above and beyond on all matters. Really cannot recommend enough, it made our trip!
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
juliawittmer wrote a review Dec 2019
1 contribution
Sam and Mike really do have a paradise there in the middle of nowhere ... next to Vilanculos. They offer everything you want from a relaxing beach holiday - and definitely more! It’s like staying with friends (but with the perfect amount of privacy). The casitas are simply amazing, the food is just delicious and they organize snorkelling-trips to wonderful Bazaruto! What I liked most where all the little beautiful details in the garden, in the rooms, even on the (short) way to the beach! We had a wonderful time at this breathtaking place and recommend everyone who wants to stay at the beach in Mozambique to go there. Thank you so much, Sam and Mike! :)
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: The casitas are overwhelmingly beautiful and cosy!
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from samanthastew11, Manager at Marimba Secret Gardens
Responded 2 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for your beautiful review Julia. We really enjoyed having you both stay at Marimba. We hope to have you back at Marimba one day!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
avatar-image
Fukre wrote a review Dec 2019
Reading, United Kingdom2 contributions
Heaven must be like this. Out near Paradise islands, in complete serenity lies Marimba gardens that has been infused with love by beautiful Samantha's. You can see her eye of detail and lovingly kept abode. She is a great company and makes you feel comfortable. I simply loved this place !
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from samanthastew11, Manager at Marimba Secret Gardens
Responded 2 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for your kind words. I will be sure to pass on thanks to all the staff that were involved in making your stay a memorable one. We hope to welcome you back to Marimba in the near future!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
avatar-image
010svk wrote a review Dec 2019
Rotterdam, The Netherlands2 contributions2 helpful votes
What an amazing experience it was to stay at Marimba Secret Gardens. We had the warmest welcome by Samantha and her staff. Her staff are all locals from neighboring villages, who are learning trades as they go. We felt part of the family while staying there and got to see the beautiful Bazaruto archipelago and enjoyed incredible fresh food. And, because we loved it so much, we extended our stay. For the ones looking for a beautiful location for a destination wedding, make sure to put this place on your list... paradise!
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from samanthastew11, Manager at Marimba Secret Gardens
Responded 2 Mar 2020
Thank you so much for your kind words Sophie. It was an absolute pleasure having you both at Marimba and appreciated your company so much! Hope to see you again soon :)
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
avatar-image
linderms wrote a review Oct 2019
San Francisco, California29 contributions20 helpful votes
I rearranged my travel schedule in Mozambique to spend three nights at Marimba, based on a friend's recommendation, and I'm so happy I did. It's definitely in the middle of nowhere: a solid 40/50 min drive on a rough road from Vilankulo. If you're looking for a place with restaurants/attractions nearby or a lot of activities, this is NOT for you. But if you're looking for a charming, quiet spot out in nature that's perfect for reading, chilling, and relaxing, it's a great option. The new managers, Samantha and Mike, are super sweet and helpful, and they're doing a great job of renovating and keeping up the property. The casitas are quite simple and basic, but they're cozy and adorable. The landscaping is really interesting, and they're also building out the gardens. Food is reasonably-priced, fresh and tasty. The beach is a short, sweet little walk and is quite pretty, too. My only recommendation would be to change the blinds on the casita windows so you can let light into the room, but...that's pretty tiny. Great stay; would love to come back.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2019
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Share
Response from samanthastew11, Manager at Marimba Secret Gardens
Responded 11 Oct 2019
Hi Sara, Thank you so much for your feedback and kind words. We loved having you at Marimba Secret Gardens. Enjoy the rest of your travels and we hope to welcome you back again in the near future! Travel Safe x
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
avatar-image
gogosahy wrote a review Sept 2019
Paris, France6 contributions1 helpful vote
We were supposed to stay there 3 days. But when you arrive at Marimba you just want to stay more. One hour after arriving we asked to stay one more day. And the day after we asked to stay another extra day, so 2 extra days! When you arrive in Marimba you feel a such a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere that you just want to stay more! Mike, Sam and their team are wonderful people fully dedicated to their guests and with a and will stay in our memories. The restaurant is the best we did during our stay in Mozambique. You get great meals and for those who like seafood you can enjoy having every day a different fish depending on the catch of the day. If you care about shared bathrooms just don’t care! They are very clean and it is just a detail you forget quickly when you are in such an idyllic place. Picture 1:Marimba Secret Gardens Picture 2:Ocean from Marimba Secret Gardens beach
Read more
Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from samanthastew11, Manager at Marimba Secret Gardens
Responded 25 Sept 2019
Hi Gaultier, Thank you so much for your fantastic review! :) We absolutely loved having you both stay at Marimba and are so glad you ended up staying the extra days with us. Will definitely pass on the kind words to our staff and the chef in the kitchen. We hope to welcome you back to Marimba Secret Gardens one day!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
avatar-image
Christiaan M wrote a review Sept 2019
4 contributions
We had a great time at Marimba secret gardens. The off the beaten track location makes it a unique place to explore the Vilanculos and Bazaruto archipelago. The hosts are very friendly and made us feel at home immediately. The place looks very idillic and romantic, with good facilities and camp fire every night. The almost " private" beach is just a few minutes away by foot with a great ocean view overlooking the Bazaruto archipelago. Excursions to the Bazaruto islands were arranged for us with a pick up at the beach of Marimba. We would definitely recommend staying at Marimba secret gardens, for us it was an unforgettable experience!
Read more
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Response from samanthastew11, Manager at Marimba Secret Gardens
Responded 10 Sept 2019
Thank you so much for your kind words Christiaan. Was an absolute pleasure having you both at Marimba Secret Gardens and we hope to welcome you back again for one of your wedding anniversaries!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Previous
123456
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Vilanculos area.
LOCATION
MozambiqueInhambane ProvinceVilanculos
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

Claim Your Listing

MARIMBA SECRET GARDENS - Updated 2024 Prices (Vilanculos, Mozambique)

Frequently Asked Questions about Marimba Secret Gardens
What are some of the property amenities at Marimba Secret Gardens?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and free parking.
What food & drink options are available at Marimba Secret Gardens?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Marimba Secret Gardens?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Does Marimba Secret Gardens have airport transportation?
Yes, Marimba Secret Gardens offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are pets allowed at Marimba Secret Gardens?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.