A private island of twelve bandas off the north east coast of Zanzibar, with two dives a day and no more than twenty four other people on it.
Mnemba is a small oval of white sand and casuarina trees two miles off the north east corner of Zanzibar, and one lodge has the whole of it. Twelve bandas set back in the trees, each opening onto its own stretch of beach. No roads, no vehicles, no other buildings. You can walk the entire island in twenty minutes.
The atoll around it is a marine conservation area, and the reef is close enough that you are on it within minutes of leaving the sand. Two dives a day are included for certified divers. If you are not certified, the snorkelling straight from the beach is exceptional on its own account.
Almost everything is included, and the list is longer than most. Three meals a day, soft drinks, house beers, wines and spirits, laundry, and every activity on the island from kayaking to the yoga class to the dhow at sundown.
Why we love this journey — because the flight is complimentary from the Serengeti, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha, which changes the arithmetic entirely. Most bush and beach itineraries charge you twice, once for the safari and again to reach the coast. Here the crossing is already paid for, so six nights on a private island costs what six nights at a good mainland resort often does. And the fast track through Zanzibar International, at the end of a long flight in the heat, is worth considerably more than it looks on a list.
A private island
Mnemba is taken by one lodge alone. Twelve bandas, twenty four guests at most, and no other buildings on it.
Two dives a day, included
The Mnemba atoll is a marine conservation area with the reef minutes from the beach. Diving is included for certified divers.
Nearly everything included
All meals, soft drinks, house beers, wines and spirits, laundry, and every activity on the island.
Flights included
A complimentary return flight from the Serengeti, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha, so this pairs with a safari at no extra cost.
Through the airport quickly
Fast track meet and greet at Zanzibar International, which on a hot afternoon is worth a great deal.
Green turtles nest here
The island is a protected turtle nesting site, and dolphins are seen off the reef most weeks.
Flown in from the Serengeti, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha, and met at Zanzibar International with fast track assistance through the airport. A transfer north to the Matemwe landing site, then a short boat across to the island. Twelve bandas, no roads, and nothing to do for the rest of the day.
The Mnemba atoll is a marine conservation area and the reef sits close enough that you are on it within minutes. Two dives daily are included for certified divers, and the snorkelling from the beach is exceptional without a tank. Green turtles nest on the island itself, and dolphins are seen most weeks.
Days with no shape to them. Kayaking and stand up paddleboarding whenever the water suits, a scheduled yoga class each day, and a dhow cruise at sundown that is the single best hour on the island. Meals appear wherever you happen to be, which is usually somewhere with sand.
Six nights is enough that one day can be given over entirely to doing nothing, and this is it. Walk the whole island in twenty minutes, which is the extent of the exercise available, and then lie down again.
A last morning swim, then the boat back to Matemwe and the transfer to Zanzibar International for your onward flight. Your complimentary return flight to the Serengeti, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha is included if you are continuing rather than heading home.
A private island off the north east coast of Zanzibar, with twelve bandas, no roads and twenty four guests at most.
From USD 12,125 per person sharing. That covers six nights on andBeyond Mnemba Island, one complimentary night in Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha, a complimentary return flight from the Serengeti, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha, three meals daily, soft drinks, tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages excluding champagne, cognac and fine wines, all island activities including two dives per day, laundry, fast track airport assistance and emergency medical evacuation cover.
Two miles off the north east coast of Zanzibar, inside the Mnemba atoll marine conservation area. It is a private island taken by a single lodge of twelve bandas, so no more than twenty four guests are on it at any time. Access is by road to the Matemwe landing site and then a short boat crossing.
Two dives per day are included and full PADI certification is required. If you are not certified, snorkelling directly from the beach is included and the reef is close enough to reach without a boat. Certification courses can be arranged separately.
Three meals daily, soft drinks, tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages excluding champagne, cognac and fine wines. Every island activity is covered: diving, snorkelling, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, a sundowner dhow cruise and a daily yoga class. Laundry is included as well.
Yes, and the flight is complimentary in either direction from the Serengeti, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro or Arusha. Mnemba is the natural finale to a Tanzanian safari, and Ongeri Expeditions arranges the whole journey as one booking.
June to October and December to February are the driest and most reliable, and they coincide with the strongest safari months. The long rains fall in April and May. Diving visibility is generally best from October to March.
Twenty four at most. The lodge holds twelve bandas and there are no other buildings on the island, so it is as close to a private island as a booking of two people can reasonably get.
Mnemba holds twelve bandas and no more, so the calendar fills a long way ahead. Tell us roughly when and we will come back with what is genuinely open.
Mnemba is a small oval of white sand and casuarina trees about two miles off the north east corner of Zanzibar, and one lodge has the whole of it. Twelve bandas set back in the trees, each opening onto its own stretch of beach. There are no roads, no vehicles and no other buildings, and you can walk the entire island in twenty minutes.
Twelve bandas built of palm frond and wood, raised on decks and set into the trees, each with its own butler and its own piece of beach. Simple rather than grand, which is the point of the place.
Three meals a day, served wherever you would like them, and that includes on the sand. Soft drinks, tea, coffee and house beers, wines and spirits are included. Champagne, cognac and fine wines are charged separately.
Curated, tested, and refined over years. Our most loved luxury safari itineraries across East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.
