&Beyond Mnemba Island
&Beyond Mnemba Island Is An Exclusive Barefoot Island Escape Off The North East Coast Of Zanzibar.
&Beyond Mnemba Island is a private atoll just off the coast of Zanzibar and is known for its high levels of exclusivity, barefoot luxury and stunning diving and snorkelling opportunities. Whilst Mnemba is definitely a premier destination (with a premier price tag to match), the accommodation is not traditional “five star” – you still feel connected to the island and sea with open windows, sandy paths (each banda has a foot bath stationed at the entrance if you’re fussy about sand in the bedroom!) and a very chic but rustic décor. There is no air con and no fancy infinity swimming pool here. The hospitality is excellent though, with tailored service and superb dining. Mnemba is a true island paradise and the ultimate destination for a romantic getaway.
Rooms
Accommodation, for a maximum of 26 guests, is provided in 12 makuti thatch cottages (or ‘bandas’) which nestle into the shade of tropical vegetation and look out on to the coral sand beach. The bandas have been designed in a spiral shape, inspired by a beach shell, and include an en suite bathroom (with double vanity, shower and separate toilet), a spacious bedroom with bed under mosquito net and dressing area. Louvred doors lead to a shaded verandah furnished with comfortable seating and a swing seat. Each banda also has a personal bar and tea and coffee station, which will be stocked with drinks and snacks by your private butler. There is solar electricity and overhead fans. In addition to the verandah, each cottage has a private thatched, open-sided “beach lounge” situated a few paces in front, with a day bed, and table and chairs, sun loungers and outdoor shower. Rooms also come supplied with a gym-in-a-bag. One of the cottages is a family unit and has a second smaller children’s twin bedroom directly adjoining (with its own smaller en suite shower room).
Central Areas
There is a central dining, bar and lounge area at the edge of the beach, together with a gift shop. There is a ‘Discovery Centre’ which showcases all the marine and land conservation happening on the island. The Wellness Banda offers a range of spa treatments (at extra cost), or this can be booked in the privacy of your banda. Daily yoga classes take place in the Wellness Banda on the yoga deck.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – No
Habitat and Wildlife
Zanzibar’s, or more correctly Unguja’s (Zanzibar is the name of the archipelago which includes both Pemba and Unguja islands), history dates back more than 2000 years when the islands traded with ships from Persia, Arabia and India. From about the 10th century, groups of immigrants from Shiraz (Persia) settled on the island and mixed with the local people. In the 16th century, the Portuguese established a trading station before being ousted by Omani Arabs a couple of centuries later. In 1840, the Sultan Said moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar with the Omani Arabs forming an elite group of landlords and rulers. Indian settlers formed a merchant class and the island became an important centre of regional politics and the focus of the slave trade.
In 1890, Zanzibar became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1963. In 1964, the Sultan was overthrown and nearly all Arabs and Indians expelled. Later that year, Zanzibar and Tanganyika combined to form Tanzania. Since then, many of the expelled peoples have returned.
Like most of East Africa, the islands are affected by the monsoon winds – the Kuzi (or sometimes Kisi) which blows from April to September/October is a south-easterly which brings choppy sea conditions and seaweed to the shorelines, whereas the Kaskasi blows from the north-east from October/November to March producing calmer seas and slightly higher temperatures.
&Beyond Mnemba Island is located off the north-eastern tip of Zanzibar’s main island, and is approximately 4 kms in circumference resting on a shallow shelf which at low tide stretches out for about a kilometre. The coral gardens which are found in the lagoon encircling the island (now a protected reserve) provide delight to anyone snorkelling and other natural attractions include dolphins and humpback whales in their migration season (July to September). Mnemba Island is also a significant breeding site for the green turtle (the nesting season begins in January, peaking between April and August and hatching occurs between October and April). In 2006 the rare Ader’s duiker antelope was introduced to the island and since then, the population has increased to around 35 (guided conservation tours around the island can give guests the chance to see the duikers).
Activities
Water sports included in the rate are two scuba dives per day for guests with full PADI certification (otherwise diving instruction and/or PADI courses are available at an extra cost from the dive school located on the island), snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding, sea kayaking, Hobie sea pedal kayaking, Hobie pedal boarding, Hobie sailing and a sunset dhow cruise. Catch and release fishing from the beach is also included.
Guests also have the chance to gain insight into several other initiatives that the lodge is involved in, in collaboration with their conservation partner Wild Impact. These conservation-focused activities are included in your stay:
The island provides a significant breeding site for the green turtle, and guests can join in with the conservation team tracking footprints at night and observing their nests. The nesting season starts in January and peaks between April and August and hatching occurs between October and April, although managing to see the hatchlings make their way from their nests to the ocean is quite rare and very special.
Located just off Mnemba’s shoreline is an artificial reef which was built to help reduce the pressures on the island’s house reef. Those with PADI certification can join the team on a dive to the island’s underwater coral nursery, learning how the team delicately transforms tiny coral fragments into future coral giants, and helping to maintain the nursery. At extra cost it’s possible to arrange more in depth work with the coral project including assisting the Wild Impact Oceans Without Borders team with their daily reef restoration tasks, or helping to build a coral reef frame.
A guided island conservation tour is included in your stay and this will encompass all the land-based conservation initiatives taking place including the Ader’s duiker exclusion zone, the indigenous tree nursery and sandbag erosion wall.
At extra cost it is also possible to arrange a community visit on Zanzibar’s main island to gain firsthand experience of the projects Wild Impact is facilitating and supporting including education and healthcare projects.
Seasons
&Beyond Mnemba Island is open from June until March. July to October is generally dry and warm, so perfect for beach relaxation. November to March are more humid but the water is calmer and warmer, so great for diving and snorkelling. The short rainy season occurs in November and December.
Mnemba does welcome children and recommends children age eight years and upwards, and the family accommodation works well. However, the lodge will only accommodate a maximum of two children under 12 years at any given time to preserve the atmosphere for their core adult market. The price may also be prohibitive for many families.
In collaboration with their non-profit partner Wild Impact, &Beyond Mnemba Island has established a number of community and conservation initiatives in the Mnemba and wider Zanzibar region.
They work with 11 partner communities which are situated on the northern tip of Unguja Island, focusing on improving access to primary healthcare and education, supporting the development and improvement of local clinics and schools.
In 2018 they initiated their Oceans Without Borders (OWB) marine conservation programme, with a focus on coral restoration and improved protection of key marine breeding and nursery areas with the 2,130 ha Mnemba Island Marine Conservation Area. This work recognises that the health and resilience of marine ecosystems is crucial to local livelihoods and the food security needed for a thriving Blue Economy. Conservation initiatives have included coral reef restoration, sustainable tourism practices, local education through workshops and school classes, and enterprise development. The OWB team operate from Mnemba Island, where they are embedded in the day-to-day operations of andBeyond Mnemba Island Lodge.
During you stay you’ll likely see Mnemba staff (and any guests that want to get involved) collecting rubbish off the beach and placing it into a woven basket, which is locally known as a ‘takataka kikapu’.
The Ader’s duiker is the rarest antelope species in Africa, and in 2005 five of these antelope were introduced to &Beyond Mnemba Island. The island is the ideal location for a breeding project due to having no natural predators and a good supply of food. There is now a healthy population living on the island and Mnemba is believed to be one of the only places in the world where these little animals can be spotted in the wild due to their secretive nature. Working with the Wildlife Conservation Society, &Beyond has collected information on the duikers’ diet and behaviour and in the hope that this will allow them to improve the breeding programme, leading to a further increase in the numbers of the species.
