Mnemba Island, a quiet sanctuary
A barefoot, grounded and exclusive private island escape just off Zanzibar’s east coast. Crystal clear, turquoise shallows like one would expect from the Caribbean. Open air castaway bandas where the Indian Ocean breathes through the room. andBeyond has shaped a sanctuary to reconnect with nature and with yourself. Simple, considered, and unmistakably andBeyond. The design nods to the nautilus shell with soft curves, coastal pastels, Zanzibari craft, coral stone and palm thatch. Everything sits lightly within a fragile island ecosystem.
Island life
Collected on the main island, we skim across in ten minutes of glassy water and step straight off the boat. Feet wet, smiles wider, the team waving from shore. Cool towels, the familiar Rare Earth scent, and that instant feeling of being in good hands. Shoes go into a basket and stay there. Paths are soft sand beneath coastal forest that throws deep shade against the tropical heat.
The bandas feel like a reset. Curves and texture, open on every side to embrace inside outside living. Set in coastal woodland, they catch cross breezes and a ceiling fan helps. There is no air conditioning, no television, no pool.
This is grounded luxury with space, privacy, and the sea for company.
Water, wellness, and quiet evenings
Days breathe. There is no timetable unless you want one. Snorkel straight from the beach or take a short boat to Mnemba Atoll. Included are scuba diving with two dives per day for certified divers (PADI certification required), guided snorkelling, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, a dhow sundowner cruise, and a daily yoga class on a deck that hums with salt air and forest quiet. Dine in your banda, on the beach, or at the small restaurant. When the sky is clear, dinner is under a scatter of stars with excellent South African wines in the glass.
Cooking is fresh and light, quietly confident, locally sourced where possible, and it celebrates the island’s spirit without fuss.
What stayed with us is the barefoot ease that still feels highly considered. The honest open air build that puts breeze and birdsong first. Clarity like glass, reefs just a short fin away. A team that anticipates without over managing. Mnemba is intimate, grounded, surreal, and restorative. A place to recharge and, in a small way, be reborn.
Essential details
Location and access: private island about ten minutes by boat from Zanzibar’s northeast coast
Footwear: barefoot from arrival, paths are soft sand
Bandas: 12 open air with thatch and timber, designed for breeze, ceiling fan
Tech and trappings: no air conditioning, no television, no pool
Included activities: two dives per day for certified divers, guided snorkelling, kayaking, stand up paddle, dhow sundowner cruise, daily yoga
Dining: flexible locations and times including banda, beach, and restaurant. Fresh, light, and seasonal.
What we loved
The island carries a calm, almost magnetic energy. Staff who read your pace, fellow guests who feel like instant companions, and the reef just offshore where turtles, rays, and rarer visitors drift through clear water. Days fold into nights under bright stars and the whole place - people, forest, shoreline, and reef - settles into one quiet circle of life that is easy to feel and hard to leave.
