&Beyond Mnemba Island, Zanzibar

All photos: Courtesy of &Beyond Mnemba Island

Overview

Just off the northeast coast of Zanzibar, &Beyond Mnemba Island is the castaway fantasy done in high definition: a tiny coral atoll ringed in white sand, surrounded by a turquoise marine reserve, and home to only a handful of guests at any time. For more than two decades, it’s been one of the Indian Ocean’s most coveted barefoot-luxury hideaways, a place where you arrive by boat, step straight onto powdery sand, and never see a key card.

In 2024, Mnemba reopened after a comprehensive refurbishment led by long-time design collaborators Fox Browne Creative, who reimagined the island with softer curves, sculpted organic forms, and an emphasis on natural textures that blend seamlessly into the casuarina forest. The result keeps Mnemba’s “no shoes, no news” ethos intact while quietly elevating every touchpoint—more thoughtful lighting, more generous decks, and beach lounges that feel like sophisticated driftwood sculptures.

The island’s profile remains quietly high. Mnemba has been recognized in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards as one of the top islands in the world and continues to be featured by editors and luxury travel specialists as a benchmark for private-island escapism. In 2024, Forbes spotlighted the refreshed lodge as a “serene, barefoot luxury” retreat worth the journey, underscoring its status as both remote and resolutely relevant

Rooms

Accommodation on Mnemba is intentionally simple in number and generous in space. After the refurbishment, the island now offers 10 beachfront bandas, including one converted into a two-bedroom family unit, each set under the trees with direct access to a private sweep of sand.

The bandas are open, shell-like structures crafted from timber, thatch, and woven palm, with curved walls and slatted shutters that let in sea breeze, birdsong, and the sound of the surf. Inside, the aesthetic is “castaway, but considered”: four-poster beds draped in mosquito netting, sisal rugs, rattan seating, hand-carved Zanzibari details, and a palette of creams, woods, and pale coral tones that echo the island’s surroundings.

Each banda has an ensuite bathroom reached via a covered walkway, with indoor-outdoor showers and simple, tactile finishes. The standout, though, is the private beach lounge that every banda now enjoys—expanded in the 2024 redesign to include a shaded daybed, sun loungers, and an outdoor shower, with two entrances: one from the beach and one from the forest for added privacy.

There are no televisions and minimal tech; instead, you get lanterns, the Milky Way, and the slow theatre of tide and sky. It feels less like a hotel room and more like your own refined beach camp, curated just enough to be deeply comfortable but never overproduced.

Dining

If the bandas are quietly luxurious, dining at Mnemba is barefoot theatre. Meals are typically served in the open-sided main area under casuarina trees or directly on the sand, with lanterns glowing and the sea just a few metres away.

Menus lean into light, coastal, and hyper-fresh: line-caught fish, just-shucked lobster, tropical fruit, and bright salads layered with Zanzibari spices. Breakfast might arrive as a tray in your beach lounge; lunch could be grilled seafood and salads under the trees; dinner often unfolds as a private, star-lit setup etched into the shoreline.

The kitchen works almost entirely à la minute and à la carte, with staff quickly learning your preferences—how you like your coffee, whether you’re more “oysters and Champagne” or “fresh coconut and herbal tea.” It feels intimate and unscripted, more like being cooked for by friends who happen to run a very good restaurant on a private island.

Experiences

Mnemba’s greatest luxury is how close you can get to the ocean, all day, in as many ways as you’d like. The island sits within a private marine reserve that keeps other boats at least 400 meters from shore, preserving a halo of coral reefs rich with tropical fish, turtles, and dolphins.

Guests can dive with a PADI-accredited team, snorkel straight off the beach, or head out on boat trips to explore deeper reefs and dive sites. Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and dhow cruises offer gentler ways to roam the lagoon; in season, you might spot migrating humpback whales or watch pods of spinner dolphins racing the bow.

Conservation is woven into the story. Mnemba is a key base for &Beyond’s Oceans Without Borders program, supporting projects such as coral restoration, reef monitoring, and protection of endangered green sea turtles that nest on the island’s beaches. On land, guests may glimpse the rare Aders’ duiker, reintroduced here as part of a long-term conservation initiative, moving quietly through the forest undergrowth.

For those who like their days less aquatic, there are beach yoga sessions, in-banda massages, birdwatching, sandbank picnics, and the option to weave in time on Zanzibar’s main island with spice tours or Stone Town walks before or after your stay. The rhythm is entirely your own: you can fill every hour or do almost nothing at all, which is arguably Mnemba’s sweetest experience.

Other notes

• The island is accessible via a scenic drive across Zanzibar followed by a short boat transfer, making the journey surprisingly simple for a private-island experience.

• The 2024 redesign emphasized organic forms, handwoven textures, and natural materials to preserve Mnemba’s understated, nature-first aesthetic.

• The atmosphere is ideal for honeymooners, privacy seekers, and travelers who prefer barefoot luxury rooted in quiet refinement rather than extravagance.

• Mnemba is frequently featured in major travel publications for its conservation work and eco-sensitive design philosophy.

• The property maintains a strong commitment to marine protection and community-based sustainability initiatives.

  
  

Velle Ranking: $$$$ — Ultra-Luxury.