Where is Mnemba Island and how do I get there?

Just off Zanzibar’s northeast coast. Fly into Zanzibar (ZNZ), drive around 1½ hours to Muyuni Beach and take a 10–15 minute boat hop to the island.

What is the accommodation like?

Twelve rustic-chic beach bandas, including family options, set in coastal forest with ocean-view decks, shaded salas and open-air showers for a relaxed barefoot feel.

What activities are offered?

Snorkel or dive Mnemba’s coral reefs, sail by dhow, kayak or SUP. Enjoy sandbar picnics, beachside dining and unhurried wellness treatments facing the ocean.

What marine life can I expect?

Clear, warm waters with colourful reef fish, turtles and playful dolphins offshore. Seasonal turtle nesting occurs on island beaches under careful protection.

Is there a wellness or family offering?

Yes—flexible pacing for families, private beach meals and relaxed in-room or beachside treatments support easy, restorative days.

Mnemba Island

Just off Zanzibar’s north-eastern tip, &Beyond Mnemba Island is a private, barefoot-luxury retreat set on a 1.5-km coral atoll. Twelve open-air beach Bandas, each with a private lounge and personal butler, sit steps from powder-white sand and clear, warm seas. Days flow from snorkeling and diving the house reef to yoga and wellness in the island’s dedicated banda. Green-turtle nesting, coral-restoration efforts, and intuitive, flexible service make this intimate island feel wonderfully your own.

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Luxury beach banda front exterior – Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Lucury beach banda lounge opening direct onto sandy white tropical beach – Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Quick facts
Private island
12 Bandas
2 dives/day incl
Turtle nesting
Yoga daily

Elegant beach bar at guest lounge opening onto sandy white beach with tropic beach water edge – Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Highlights & Activities.

Swim, snorkel and dive straight from the beach; certified divers enjoy two boat dives per day included, with PADI courses available for learners. Kayak or stand-up paddleboard along the reef, or sail on sunset and private dhow cruises. Join daily yoga classes, meditation or sound-bath sessions at the Wellness Banda, and book soothing treatments. Castaway picnics on a sandbar, private beach dinners, and flexible in-Banda dining keep things relaxed. Learn about coral restoration and turtle monitoring, or tour Stone Town and the Spice farms. Catch-and-release fishing and an in-room gym-in-a-basket round things out.

Dining dinner seafood barbecue on sandy white tropical beach – Mnemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Region overview.

Mnemba sits off Zanzibar’s northeast coast within the Mnemba Atoll Marine Conservation Area, where warm Indian Ocean waters shelter coral gardens, reef fish, dolphins and seasonal green turtles. The island measures about 1.5 km in circumference and is reached via road from Zanzibar Airport followed by a short boat crossing. Nearby Zanzibar (Unguja) adds culture, UNESCO-listed Stone Town, spice plantations and Swahili heritage. Calm seas favor snorkeling and diving year-round; turtle nesting typically peaks from April to August, with hatchlings emerging across many months. Expect clear waters, bright reefs and an easy island rhythm.