About this hotel
General information
&Beyond Mnemba Island is a private islet off the north-eastern tip of Zanzibar, ringed by coral reef and shaded by a forest of casuarina trees. At roughly 1.5 km across, with no outside visitors, it is shared only by a handful of guests and the team looking after them. Shoes come off on arrival and rarely go back on; there is no schedule, and the tides set the pace of the day.
There are just 12 open-sided palm-thatched bandas, with no doors or windows and only sand between bed and sea. The island runs on solar power and its conservation work is part of daily life: green turtles nest on the beaches, two rare small antelopes, a forest duiker and the suni, are recovering in the woodland, and at the Discovery Centre the marine biologists of Wild Impact Oceans Without Borders explain the coral nursery and reef restoration. Meals, most drinks and the main watersports are included.
Location
Mnemba lies in the Indian Ocean off the north-east coast of Unguja, Zanzibar's main island. Guests are met at Zanzibar's international airport or in Stone Town and driven for about 90 minutes to the coast near Matemwe, where an open boat covers the last 10–15 minutes straight onto the island's beach; there is no jetty, so guests wade through shallow water. Return transfers are included; the boat crossing depends on the weather and does not run after dark. A private helicopter is the alternative: a 20-minute flight from the airport to a landing site near Matemwe, then a short drive and the same boat.
Spa
The Wellness Banda sits in the shade of the casuarinas, with two treatment rooms and a raised yoga deck. Its menu covers massages with natural Healing Earth products, reflexology, singing-bowl sound therapy, breathwork and meditation, blending traditional and alternative approaches. Treatments can also be given in a guest's own banda. Group yoga runs daily, with private sessions on request.
Sports & leisure
Days on the island revolve around the sea and its protection.
- Snorkelling straight off the beach on the house reef, or by boat to the surrounding reefs
- Diving from the island's two dive centres: two dives a day for certified divers, PADI courses from the Bubblemaker and Discover Scuba introductions to Open Water and Advanced Open Water, plus speciality dives; sites are 10–20 minutes away by boat, some reachable from the shore
- Glass-bottom sea kayaks, stand-up paddleboarding, Hobie Mirage pedal kayaks, a Hobie 14 catamaran and the Hobie Eclipse pedal board
- Catch-and-release fishing from the beach or by boat, with deep-sea fishing arranged through trusted partners
- A sunset cruise on a dhow, the traditional sailing boat of the coast, or a full day on a private dhow with lunch on board
- Reef walks at low tide and picnics on a deserted sandbank close to the island
- An island conservation tour, green turtle nest monitoring, and hands-on work in the coral nursery and on the artificial reef
- Stone Town and spice plantation tours on Zanzibar, and visits to community education projects
- An in-room Gym-in-a-Basket kit and daily yoga
For children
Children have the WILDchild programme: morning walks with the turtle monitors to the nests, planting trees in the indigenous nursery, meeting the fishermen with the chefs, building coral bases with the conservation rangers, time at the Discovery Centre, snorkelling, beach and nature walks, hand-line fishing from a dhow or the beach, kayaking, paddleboarding and baking turtle biscuits. Young divers can start with the PADI Bubblemaker course. Staff members who are good with children can look after them.
Restaurants & bars
There is no single restaurant: meals are served wherever guests like — under the trees, in the courtyard or the main guest area, on the beach, in the banda or at its private beach lounge. The cooking is light and fresh, built on the catch of the day and Zanzibar's spices, and evenings often bring sushi. A personal butler handles everything from morning coffee to sunset cocktails. The social hub is the Beach Bar, with signature cocktails and views over the water, next to the Beach Shop and its East African beachwear, jewellery and homeware.
Swimming
There is no pool on the island; the ocean takes its place. Calm turquoise water and white coral sand begin right outside each banda, and the reef can be snorkelled from the shore. Every banda has its own beach lounge with a day bed, sun loungers and an outdoor shower.
Rooms
Twelve palm-thatched bandas are spread through the casuarina forest along the beach: 11 Bandas and a single Family Banda. Their plan follows the spiral of a nautilus shell, in an opalescent palette with dusty coral-pink tones and local brass, marble and ceramics.
Each banda has a veranda with a hanging swing chair, a personal bar and tea and coffee station kept stocked by the butler, ceiling fans rather than air conditioning, mosquito nets, a Marshall music player, a shower and separate WC, a hairdryer, a safe, a telephone and Wi-Fi, a foot bath at the door and, about 20 m away, a private beach lounge with an outdoor shower.
Banda
An open-air banda for two right by the water, with a double bed that can be split into twins, an en-suite shower room, a veranda and a private beach lounge with a day bed and loungers.
Family Banda
A Banda with an adjoining smaller children's bedroom and its own bathroom, for two adults and two children, with a veranda and a private beach lounge.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.