THE PLACE
- Spread over two adjacent properties, Hakuna Matata resort in Morjim comprises the beach-front cafe restaurant and the more inland accommodations of tented rooms. Owned and managed by a Russian brother and sister team, this resort particularly caters to the Russian visitors who flock to Morjim's shores for their winter getaway.
- The restaurant offers a private entrance to Morjim's picturesque beach, while the area's famed nightspots are a quick walk away. Simple and laid-back, Hakuna Matata offers an unpretentious charm right by the beach, with a "problem-free philosophy", as the famed song sings.
THE RESTAURANT
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Set right on Morjim Beach, Hakuna Matata's open-air cafe restaurant is operational through the season (October to May), opening at 10am sharp every morning and closing only when the last customer leaves. Laid-back is the way here and the restaurant offers an option of table seating, a bar area and a chill-out zone with comfy throw pillows. With stunning views of the Arabian Sea right in front, Hakuna Matata makes for an ideal spot to laze away the afternoon.
THE FOOD
The Russian chef has created a menu to appease the pickiest of eaters, featuring his specialities across Italian, French and, of course, Russian cuisines, and encompassing everything from breakfast foods, salads, sandwiches and main courses of seafood, meat and veggies. Specialities here are the King prawns fried in butter garlic sauce and the Russian soup - Borsch.
THE EVENTS
Hakuana Matata's beachfront restaurant additionally serves as the venue for the resort's many events organized throughout the season, from daily film screenings, live music and beach parties. Stay tuned to The WUG calendar on the homepage for more details!
ACCOMMODATIONS
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Located across the street from it's restaurant, is the Hakuna Matata tented resort property. Set within a tropical garden, the resort offers ten tented rooms, each with comfy furnishings, double beds, a mini-bar and a private patio. A few tents additionally offer air-con, while the others have overhead fans. Guests may request for an additional fold-out bed if travelling in groups. Room service is available from the resort's restaurant directly across the street that also boasts a private beach access. Offering every convenience required for a comfortable stay, Hakuna Matata makes for an ideal choice of accommodations for those seeking to stay by the beach and in the midst of Morijm's nightlife.
ROOM RATES 2011-2012
- 1.11.11 - 31.11.11- Non Ac Tent: INR 1400 | AC Tent: INR 1800
- 1.12.11 - 20.12.11 - Non Ac Tent: INR 2850 | AC Tent: INR 3250
- 21.12.11 - 04.01.12 - Non Ac Tent: INR 3900 | AC Tent: INR 4400
- 05.01.12 - 31.01.12 - Non Ac Tent: INR 2850 | AC Tent: INR 3250
- 01.02.12 - 29.02.12 - Non Ac Tent: INR 1400 | AC Tent: INR 1800
- 01.03.12 -End of Season - Non Ac Tent: INR 900 | AC Tent: INR 1300
THE STORY
Hakuna Matata is owned by Russian Mikhalev Sergey and managed by his sister Natalia. Hakuna Matata opened in 2008 in its current location on Morjim Beach.
Sergey first arrived on the Goan shores in 2007 for a brief visit and immediately fell in love with area, particularly Morjim. The following year, he returned with the dream of creating Hakuna Matata, an idyllic resort where life presented no worries.
Sergey has been living in Goa every season since with his wife and three daughters; one daughter being born in Goa in 2010. With two of his daughters now enrolled in school in Russia, Sergey has enlisted his sister Natalia to manage the daily operations of Hakuna Matata, while he continues to oversee its management, visiting the property several times during the season.
Hakuna Matata is run like a family business and every guest here is treated as one of the family. Family fun events are regularly organized here, from daily film screenings to kids play days.
