Discover Safari Stay
andBeyond Mnemba Island
Zanzibar Accommodation
andBeyond Mnemba Island
The Island
Mnemba Island is a tiny private island off the northeast coast of Zanzibar, owned and operated by andBeyond as part of their East Africa lodge portfolio. The island spans just 1.5 kilometres in circumference, accommodating just 12 open-air bandas and the dedicated staff who care for them. The atoll surrounding the island is one of Tanzania’s protected marine areas, and the coral reef that encircles the island is one of the finest dive and snorkel sites in East Africa.
The island is inhabited solely by andBeyond guests and the staff who serve them. There are no day visitors, no passing boats, and no noise that does not belong to the ocean. The casuarina pine forest that covers the island’s interior filters the sea breeze and the light in a way that makes the bandas feel simultaneously exposed to the elements and sheltered from them.
Former guests include Naomi Campbell, Tom Cruise, and Bill Gates, names that the island mentions not as boasts but as illustrations of a calibre of experience that attracts people who have seen most of what the world’s finest hotels offer and still chose this.
Accommodation
Twelve open-air bandas are the entirety of the accommodation. The word banda refers to a thatched structure, and these bandas are essentially the finest versions of the concept that have ever been built: large, airy, built from local timber and palm fronds, with a king-size bed positioned to feel the sea breeze at night, a private seaside garden with a day bed and sun loungers, and an outdoor shower.
There are no windows in the traditional sense. The bandas are open to the air on the beach side, with the soft sound of the Indian Ocean as the constant backdrop. There is no television. There is no separation between you and the island, because the island is the point.
At night, the mosquito net creates an intimate space inside the banda, and the sounds through the mesh are the casuarina trees, the surf, and whatever else is moving on the beach in the darkness. Hawksbill turtles nest on the island between October and February, and guests sometimes wake to find the evidence of a turtle’s night on the beach just outside the banda door.
Diving and Marine Life
The Mnemba Atoll is consistently ranked among the top dive sites in Africa. The protected reef supports extraordinary marine biodiversity: coral gardens in exceptional health, vast schools of reef fish, green and hawksbill turtles, reef sharks, rays, and occasional whale sharks and humpback whales in season.
Two dives per day are included in the all-inclusive rate for PADI-certified guests, and the island’s dive team, led by instructors of considerable experience, guides every dive with a depth of knowledge about the reef that makes each session an education as well as an experience. Snorkelling directly from the beach accesses the inner reef, and the clarity of the water means that even a mask-and-fins exploration from the shore produces wildlife encounters that would qualify as highlights at almost any other destination.
For non-certified divers, PADI Open Water courses can be completed at the island, and the island’s dive team is known for producing patient, thorough instruction. Several of the island’s regular guests learned to dive at Mnemba and return annually to dive the reef they were certified on.
Dining
All meals are included in the Mnemba rate, served in locations that rotate with the weather, the tide, and the preferences of the group: tables on the beach, in the casuarina forest, on the main deck, or wherever the light and the moment call for. The kitchen cooks with whatever has arrived from the fishing boats and the mainland market that morning, and the daily sorbet delivery, a small and delicious touch that guests consistently mention in reviews, is the kind of detail that distinguishes this island from any other.
Sundowner dhow cruises depart in the late afternoon, with cold drinks and the island visible on the horizon behind you as the sun goes down into the ocean. It is one of the most completely satisfied feelings that travel produces.
Rates
| Season | Rate |
|---|---|
| Low Season (Nov 1 – May 31, excl. Apr 8-May 20) | From USD 1,650 per person per night |
| High Season (Jun 1 – Oct 31 and Dec 21 – Jan 10) | From USD 2,100 per person per night |
Rates are fully all-inclusive: accommodation, all meals, all drinks (excluding premium wines and champagne), two daily dives for PADI-certified guests, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, sundowner dhow cruise, yoga, laundry, and return transfers from Zanzibar. andBeyond offers a honeymoon special: one partner pays 50 percent of the accommodation rate for a minimum two-night stay, valid within six months of marriage. Contact Africa Bed of Roses Safaris for current confirmed rates and availability.
Getting There
Mnemba Island is accessed by boat from the Matemwe landing site on Zanzibar’s northeast coast, approximately one hour by road from the airport. Africa Bed of Roses Safaris arranges all transfers and can include a complimentary one-way scheduled internal flight between Arusha, Manyara, or Nairobi and Zanzibar Airport as part of the East Africa honeymoon package.
The Mnemba Island Conservation Story
The island’s conservation programme is one of andBeyond’s most celebrated. The coral nursery and artificial reef project, the protection of hawksbill and green turtle nesting sites, and the preservation of two endangered antelope species on the island all reflect andBeyond’s commitment to the health of the ecosystem that makes the island so extraordinary. Guests can visit the coral nursery, join community visits through the Wild Impact programme, and take a behind-the-scenes sustainability tour.
Every night spent at Mnemba Island directly funds these conservation efforts, meaning that choosing the most exclusive address in East Africa is simultaneously one of the most conservation-positive travel decisions available.
Why Mnemba Island Is the Ultimate Zanzibar Honeymoon
The private island setting, the exceptional diving and snorkelling, the barefoot luxury of the bandas, and the level of personal attention that twelve guests sharing an island naturally receive from a full staff team, combine to create a honeymoon experience that no resort on the Zanzibar mainland can match. Africa Bed of Roses Safaris places Mnemba Island at the top of its Zanzibar recommendations for couples for whom nothing less than the very best is acceptable.
Frequently Asked Questions About
andBeyond Mnemba Island
Not at all. The snorkelling directly from the beach is outstanding, and the island offers PADI certification courses for guests who want to learn to dive during their stay. The island experience is equally magnificent for non-divers.
Children of all ages are welcome, but the open-air design of the bandas and the water-focused activities make it most suitable for older children and adults. Contact Africa Bed of Roses Safaris for advice on family suitability.
Book Mnemba Island with Africa Bed of Roses Safaris
Africa Bed of Roses Safaris regularly combines Mnemba Island with Tanzania safari circuits and Kenya honeymoons. Contact us to design your complete East Africa honeymoon with Mnemba at its centre.
Facilities
Welcoming reception area
On-site Bar and Restaurant
24-hour security
Luxury Tented Suites
Swimming Pool
Safari Excursions on Request
Luxury Rooms with Private Bathrooms
Free Wi-Fi in the restaurant and bar areas
Family-Friendly Stay Experience
5/5 Based on Our Reviews
What our guests are saying
"Trustworthy tour oparator"
"Lots of wonderful sights"
"Great tour"
4.8/5 Based on Our Reviews
What our guests are saying
"Trustworthy tour oparator"
"Lots of wonderful sights"
"Great tour"
Partnerships & Accreditations
Africa Bed of Roses Safaris is an accredited tour operator under the Kenya Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) and a proud member of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO). As part of the KATO bonding scheme, our services are insured to ensure your honeymoon holiday safari is protected, offering peace of mind even in the rare event of a member ceasing operations.
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