Mnemba Island, at a glance

Located 3km off the northeast coast of Unguja, Mnemba Island is a small, exclusive island which sits within a halo of coral reef. The island is adorned with pristine white sand beaches and a casuarina pine forest, and it is owned by &Beyond.

&Beyond offers 12 luxurious beachside bandas which accommodate 24 guests, and their attentive staff outnumber guests by two to one. The island is roughly triangular, and its 1.5km circumference gives it an intimate ambience.

The island is famous for its celebrity guests, but it is also a great post-safari getaway for families. &Beyond offers a host of exciting activities that will enthral every member of your family.

Mnemba Island

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Brilliant Africa helped us plan an unforgettable week in Tanzania. They listened to what we were looking for and then created a custom itinerary that perfectly fit what we wanted. We absolutely loved our accommodations, guides, and entire trip! All of our transfers and logistics were seamless and it was so helpful having contacts within country (via Whatsapp) to answer any questions. Thank you again to Brilliant Africa for designing and coordinating an amazing trip!

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Mnemba Island

Experience Mnemba Island

The trips below showcase just some of what is possible. Use these itineraries as starting points, or to draw inspiration. Then get in touch, and let our expert team help craft the perfect itinerary for you.

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How to get to Mnemba Island?

One of &Beyond’s private chauffeurs will collect you from Zanzibar’s main airport, Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, or Stone Town, the main city of Zanzibar. Abeid Amani Karume International Airport receives flights from East Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

The road journey across Unguja takes 1.5 hours, and the final 20 minutes are on a bumpy, unpaved road.

Next, you will take a 15-minute boat cruise in an open top boat across crystal clear waters.

There are no jetties, so your departure and landing will involve a little wading, but the staff will ensure that this is as comfortable as possible.

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Accommodation at Mnemba Island

The resort offers 12 exquisitely designed beachside bandas which are tucked away in their own private patch of tropical foliage, and each banda has a veranda that overlooks the beach.

Despite being luxurious, these romantic hideaways are not pretentious, and they possess a simple beauty.

Family bandas can accommodate up to 4 guests, and their verandas are the perfect place to watch the sunset.


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Dining at Mnemba Island

The dining experience at Mnemba is characterised by candlelit dinners on the beach, which are prepared with fresh local ingredients.

You can choose to dine indoors under the shade of a thatched roof, or on the beach where the waves will gently lap at your feet.

If you enjoy lie ins, you can order a basket of fresh fruit to your room, and sip on Tanzanian coffee to start your day in style.

Mnemba Island

During mealtimes, the chef regularly comes out to check that each guest is happy with the menu, and you can inform him of any specific dietary requirements.

The menus always include fresh seafood which is caught on the traditional ngalawa outriggers, and you can expect lobster, crab, prawns, and many more delights.

Before dinner, many guests enjoy a cocktail at the bar as they watch the picturesque sunset. Alternatively, guests who prefer their own space can order champagne and sushi to their sun loungers.


Mnemba Island

Activities at Mnemba Island

Snorkelling

Mnemba’s beaches offer fantastic snorkelling and swimming conditions due to the favourable tide. The best snorkelling site can be reached by a 10-minute motorboat journey, which can be easily arranged with staff.

For experienced divers (diving certificates are required), there is a private diving centre which is run by PADI. Instructors run two dives each day, and this is included in your stay.

The centre also offers PADI diving courses. During a dive, you have the chance to see bottlenose dolphins, sharks, and a few lucky guests have even seen the whale shark, the world’s largest fish.

All snorkelling and scuba equipment is free.

Mnemba Island

Deep sea fishing

This island is the perfect destination for deep sea fishing, and you have the chance to catch king fish, barracuda, tuna, mackerel, sailfish, and marlin.

Fly fishing on the beach can also be organised. The resort follows a policy of catch and release.

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Relaxation

The simplest but best activity at Mnemba is to take a deep breath, inhale the sea breeze, and appreciate the mesmerising views.

Some guests choose to relax on sun loungers in privacy, but fitness enthusiasts can book a yoga session on the beach or indulge in a massage at the wellbeing centre.

As well as providing equipment for fishing and diving, the resort offers equipment for kayaking, windsurfing, and cycling

If you are travelling with children, the Wild Kids Club will provide an exciting range of activities for them.

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Wildlife

For such a small island, Mnemba boasts an impressive range of wildlife both above and below water.

The island is home to the tiny Suni antelope which were originally brought from Jozani Forest in Unguja. The Ader’s duiker also lives on the island. This is the rarest antelope species in Africa, with experts estimating that there are only 300-600 remaining in the wild.

Mnemba Island was chosen to become a conservation area for the Ader’s duiker as there are no natural predators. The island is home to a population of 25 Ader’s duikers, but they are very secretive and difficult to spot.

The island is surrounded by an oval reef which has been declared a marine conservation area.

Humpback whales3 species of dolphin, and whale sharks, are often seen in the warm waters that surround the island.

One of the most exciting sights on Mnemba is the turtle nesting season in February and March. Green turtles often lay their eggs in the warm sands, and the island is a protected area for turtles.

Mnemba Island

Rates

Rates differ depending on the season. During the low season, (April, May, October, November, and December) this exclusive experience costs $1,270 per person per night at the time of writing. During the high season (January, February, March. June, July, August, and September), the resort costs $1,760 per person per night. The price includes the following:

  • Accommodation
  • Transfers
  • Three meals daily
  • Soft drinks, house wines, teas, coffees, local brand spirits and beers
  • Water sports (scuba diving twice daily, snorkelling, kayaking, sundowner dhow cruise, paddle boarding)
  • Laundry service

Yoga sessions, fine wines, champagne, branded spirits and cigars, and wellness treatments, are not included in this price.

Mnemba Island

Ready to plan your African adventure?

1
Listen

Listen

We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.

2
Match

Match

Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.

3
Reserve

Reserve

We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.

Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.

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