Review: &BEYOND Mnemba Island, Tanzania

Everyone has heard about Zanzibar, yet almost nobody knows its hidden gem called Mnemba Island. Located on the north eastern side of Zanzibar, you’ll find this tropical archipelago just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the main island. And what a difference that distance makes!

The welcome

The welcome start from the moment you arrive at the airport. The &BEYOND team will be waiting for you before you even reach immigration to fast-track you through the whole airport and get you and your luggage into the private transfer that is waiting outside. After a little more than an hour you will arrive at Muyuni beach where the last part of your transfer is waiting; a private boat ride to the island which you can already see in the distance. The boat ride itself takes merely 10 minutes but within that short timeframe it is clear that the barefoot luxury for which Mnemba is known, is omnipresent.

From the moment I took off my shoes to board the speedboat all the way till the moment I left &BEYOND Mnemba a few days later, I never ever had anything on my feet, not even slippers. And the staff are equally relaxed in their presence and attitude, yet that doesn’t mean their service and politeness is anything short of perfection.

The closer you get to the island, the more outspoken those little dots in the distance become, until you realise it’s the rest of the team that is waiving at you for several minutes, which explains why their arms and shoulders are all looking very fit due to this daily workout.

Upon setting foot on the island there are instant smiles and warm welcoming words, making you feel right at home. It’s almost like you arrive at that private island which one of your relatives bought a few years ago and which you are finally paying a visit (oh how I wish this would be the case).

The room

After a refreshing welcome drink it’s time to check out the room. The island has only 12 villas (bandas) of which 11 are one-bedroom bandas and 1 is a family two-bedroom banda. Travelling with both our kids, we were of course staying in the latter.

The bandas are spread out over the whole western side of the island, giving each of them tons of privacy and a slice of tropical beach with no-one else in sight. That is just one of the luxuries you’ll find at Mnemba, but it’s an important one cause with the increased popularity of Zanzibar, privacy has become a rare commodity only to be found on private islands like this.

Once you enter the villa you quickly understand why this property isn’t for everybody. While its footprint might be an impressive 180 square meters, it’s the fact that it’s all open air that might put some guests off. However, this is the exact beauty of the property because it allows you to feel the gentle sea breeze in the morning when you wake up, hear the birds while you are taking a shower or regulate the temperature every other hour to make sure everyone in the villa is satisfied. I know the latter might be an issue for some, but with the moderate climate on the island, it’s always an enjoyable temperature at night and during the day the omnipresent breeze will cool everything off. You wouldn’t be the first airconditioning lover that realises that this is a much more relaxed way of being one with nature and the surrounding area.

And while a lot of you might associate open air with open mind in terms of luxury, you couldn’t be more wrong. Plush bedding, an amazing outdoor lounge area where you can linger all day long, a fully stocked bar area filled with every liquor and wine you like, tons of space to roam around and loose all your personal belongings,…. It’s the luxury you don’t see that really puts this place up there with the best.

For example, each banda has it’s own private beach set up, with sun loungers, a dining set up, a relaxed lounge area and equally a bar with fresh ginger shots, waters, juices and whatever drink your heart might desire. Every day the towels are laid out before you even wake up, and in the evening everything is cleaned up, replenished and ready for another day. It’s the whole service that does on behind your back that is so impressive over here.

Our family banda had of course 2 bedrooms and 2 separate bathrooms, and both lead to the communal lounge area where it’s easy to just hang and relax while the birds sing and the unique wildlife (more about that later) pass by. I can go on about the room, but I think images are a better way to give you an idea of what to expect.

The bathroom

As everything is open plan in the villa, the bathroom sort of becomes part of the whole living area and because it is such a relaxing place to hang around, it didn’t really feel like it was just a bathroom but more like an extension of the whole barefoot luxury theme that is of course all around. The quality of a property can often be found in the softness of the towels and at &BEYOND Mnemba there is no test needed as each and every one of the towels (trust me there are many) feels plush, soft and makes you want to turn yourself into a wrapped burrito.

Mnemba uses Healing Ocean products which are of course perfectly in line with their conservation efforts as they are biodegradable and inspired by the sea. The fact they smell amazing is an added bonus.

The facilities

&BEYOND Mnemba is all about relaxation, conservation, water sports and taking the time to enjoy each activity, even if that’s just relaxing in one of the sun loungers. And while they have several facilities to make sure you have the best time on the island, this isn’t like your average high-end Maldivian resort where you have several restaurant option, tennis and padel courts, wine cellars, kids clubs and what not. This place is made to make you feel like you’re on your own private island where time and schedules are just a thing of the past.

A perfect example is the restaurant, or better said, the lack of it. Sure, there’s the courtyard near to bar, or the beach right in front, but if you prefer it anywhere else, that not a problem either. As are the timing of your breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s all up to you and what your preference is on the day. The food itself is delicious with lots of local fish which the chef buys daily from the fishermen. Make sure you try the lobster ravioli!

The bar is somewhat the central area where some of the guests hang before or after a meal, but most importantly it’s a place where you can have a drink and let it all sink in. The views are stunning, the service effortless and the cocktails are as good as ever.

Of course many guests come here to enjoy the amazing water activities. The location of Mnemba certainly lends itself perfectly for a plethora of experience on and under the water. There’s always staff around at the water sport centre and not a single request is too much. My kids for example wanted to try out all kinds of water toys and while they needed some guidance and help in the beginning, the staff we on it without ever loosing their smile. It’s the small details that truly make the difference and having staff that really enjoys what they are doing is the (not so) secret sauce to a successful product. Mnemba is the perfect example.

I paid a visit to the spa which is located on the backside of the island. There’s a yoga pavilion for those who like to enjoy some sessions, however I opted for a deep tissue massage. It was a superb one which revived me completely after 10 days of intense safari.

For those still craving a bit of a shopping spree, there’s a beautiful shop where you can find anything from clothing to jewellery, souvenirs, interior decoration and so on. I’m usually not a fan of these purely because it rarely offers something unique or of good quality, however I was pleasantly surprised to see the total opposite here. Tasteful and overall useful items, all while keeping the local culture and traditions in mind.

The location

As mentioned earlier, the Mnemba atoll is located on the north-eastern side of Zanzibar. While it might sound like a lot to get a road transfer first before hopping onto a short boat transfer, the whole process is actually swift and relaxed. Because the atoll is such an insanely gorgeous place to explore, you might see some local tourists at the far end of the atoll in the morning, trying to grasp a bit of the Mnemba magic. But as quickly as they come, as quickly they disappear on the horizon.

Other nice touches

The Discovery Centre is the home of the marine biologists and the conservation rangers. Few only know but Mnemba island is a refuge for one of the most endangered antelope species on the planet; the Aders’ Duiker. On top of that, Mnemba also forms a safe place for the endangered green turtles to lay their eggs, all under the watchful eye of the conservation team.

Besides the incredible wildlife, guests are also treated to a traditional dhow sunset cruise. The crew hoist the sails while you sip some bubbly and enjoy the snacks laid out in from of you. No motor, just pure bliss of slow sailing in front of the island. Even my kids felt like it was the perfect time to calm down and enjoy the moment of peace.

The cost

Seclusion and exclusivity doesn’t come cheap in one of the most visited areas of the Indian Ocean. Prices start from 2150 USD per person per night in the one-bedroom bandas, while our family banda sets you back 7525 USD for the family per night. Of course there are a lot of inclusions in this price like fast track meet & greet services at the airport, transfers to and from the island, all your food and drinks, 2 daily dives (if you are PADI certified), tons of water sports and activities,…..

The best bit

And that’s exactly one of the best bits overall; the fact that almost everything is included so you don’t have to worry about anything. The kids and I really enjoyed ourselves with the watersports and the team is eager to help you with anything you fancy, from the kayaks to the paddle boards and so on.

The food and service is equally great. Being such a small island with only a maximum guest total of 24 at any given time, the team really knows everyone by name, remembers their personal preferences and makes sure that you are taken care off throughout your stay on the island. One evening I wanted to do sundowners on the beach and the team set up beanbags and even brought in a fire pit in front of our banda on the beach. It was without a doubt one of the best sundowners I’ve ever witnessed in Africa (and I lived on the continent for over a decade) and it’s the small details and gestures like these that make all the difference.

The final verdict

&BEYOND Mnemba is a special place and the amount of return customers just confirms that. It’s hard to point out exactly why the island feels so unique but in the end we all know that it comes down to the people who welcome you and truly embrace your presence in the most amazing way. This is certainly not just another resort in Zanzibar, on the contrary. It’s one of the OG’s of the Indian Ocean and isn’t going anywhere soon.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by &BEYOND Mnemba.