andBeyond Mnemba Island
Lodge · Kaskazini A
andBeyond Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Highlights
Rustic-chic beachfront cottages, diving, water sports, fine dining
Rustic-chic beachfront cottages, diving, water sports, fine dining
"This secluded isle off northeast Zanzibar is an antidote to beach crowds, with a small collection of thatch-roofed beachfront bandas recently renovated (October 2024) and a new Wellness Banda offering two treatment rooms plus a platform for yoga and sound baths. The dive program was expanded—now including clear-bottomed kayaking—and a Discovery Center showcases marine-conservation initiatives run with community partners, including a coral nursery, artificial reef restoration and a sanctuary for Ader’s duiker and suni antelope." - Laura Begley Bloom, Devorah Lev-Tov
"Sitting almost two miles off Zanzibar, the tiny private island resort rebuilt in 2024 now offers 12 curvaceous bandas designed like a nautilus shell to bring nature indoors; rooms are wood‑and‑reed‑clad Robinson Crusoe–style spaces where sea air (and occasionally a bird, crab, or bat) wafts in, and butler service can bring sushi or a cooling coconut to your room. I enjoyed barefoot strolls to the bar for a Dawa lime cocktail, romantic lamplit beach dinners (lobster ravioli, Kenyan beef, chocolate tart or mango sorbet), a boutique stocked with local jewelry and crafts, and water activities—catamarans, kayaks, paddleboards, and world‑class diving—plus a new spa offering Healing Earth–scented massages and beach yoga; repeat visitors swear there’s nothing comparable. " - Paris Wilson
"The East African coast has some of the most unspoiled beaches on earth yet very few private-island resorts. Which is, in part, why AndBeyond’s Mnemba, a tiny blob of white sand almost two miles off the touristy hot spot of Zanzibar, has been adored for so long. Opened in 1997 and rebuilt in 2024 by the esteemed Fox Browne team, with architect Jack Alexander, the diminutive 12-banda resort is lovelier than ever. Designed to mimic the curves of a nautilus shell, and to bring nature indoors, the rooms are curvaceous, wood-and-reed-clad Robinson Crusoe–esque spaces in which sea air (and an occasional bird, crab, or bat) can waft in and where shower views are of shady forest and chirruping seabirds. It’s a place loved by both seclusionists and socialites. Those wanting privacy can stay put 24/7 and ask a butler to pop by with a basket of sushi or a cooling coconut. Others might slip on a silk caftan and stroll barefoot along the blinding white sand to the bar for a Dawa lime cocktail or a glass of fine South African wine, then a romantic lamplit dinner on the beach—lobster ravioli, perhaps, or rare Kenyan beef followed by a chocolate tart or mango sorbet. For design lovers, a boutique is stocked with colorful local jewelry, clothing, and crafts; for the active, a gang of smiley chaps is on hand who can help you explore the clear, turquoise waters on catamarans, kayaks, or paddleboards; or dive the area’s famous reefs. At the island’s new spa, yoga lessons are offered on a cool, breezy beach deck, and world-class Healing Earth–scented massages administered by the island’s talented, intuitive therapists. Huge numbers of guests are repeat visitors—from America, France, Switzerland, the UK. As one glam couple, on their eighth stay, explained: “We’ve explored the world and haven’t found anything to compare. So we just keep coming back. Yes, it’s a big treat. But there’s nothing like Mnemba.” From $4,300. —Lisa Grainger" - CNT Editors
"AndBeyond’s Mnemba, a tiny blob of white sand almost two miles off the touristy hot spot of Zanzibar, has been adored for so long. Opened in 1997 and rebuilt in 2024 by the esteemed Fox Browne team, with architect Jack Alexander, the diminutive 12-banda resort is lovelier than ever."
"This tiny private island off Zanzibar is less than a mile in circumference and offers 12 spacious thatched bungalows with indoor-outdoor living (no doors) and private stretches of beach for each unit. The clear waters are ideal for snorkeling on coral reefs and sunset dhow cruises to view dolphins and sea turtles; the island also protects terrestrial species such as the suni and the critically endangered Ader’s duiker, which is being bred and safeguarded on-site. Since 2005, a collaborative Mnemba Island Marine Conservation Area initiative with local fishers has demarcated zones for snorkeling, diving, and fishing and charges recreational fees that fund community projects and benefit fishermen." - Kathryn Romeyn, Kristin Braswell, Margot Bigg, Devorah Lev-Tov
