andBeyond Mnemba Island Lodge

The Lodge offers 12 chic, beachfront bandas sleeping up to 2 people each and a special family banda with space for 4. With no doors or windows closing you in and the beach beneath your feet the moment you step off the deck, these suites epitomise the beauty of living in harmony with your natural surroundings. Spread along the beach you’ll feel like the only people in the world. Each banda is beautifully designed using rustic wood, stone and thatched rooves, and furnished with a four-poster double bed, a lavish en suite bathroom and an open-air lounge area with ample seating and a minibar.

The food at Mnemba Lodge is simply outstanding. Using fresh and local ingredients, the menus are imaginative and full of flavour. Guests are offered highly personalised service and there’s lots of flexibility over when and where you have your meals. You might enjoy your breakfast platter in your banda, have lunch in the dining area and be served dinner on the beach surrounded by storm lanterns.

With some of the Indian Ocean’s most pristine coral reefs, the coast of Zanzibar boasts some of the most vivid marine views. Diving down 30-40 metres, you’ll find yourself surrounded by colourful coral, tropical fish and other marine life.

Embark on a cultural tour to the historic Stone Town, where you can learn about the rich cultural heritage of Zanzibar. The tour can be tailored to you to line up with your interests and preferences. You can visit local markets, old churches and mosques, a local school, the Sultan Palace Museum and the Stone Town Heritage Society, dedicated to preserving and restoring Zanzibar’s heritage.

This tour offers the unique chance to drive through the island’s spice-growing areas and see why travellers came from across the world to sample the spice the island had to offer. Not only will you experience a delightful feast for the senses, the tour also includes a visit to the ancient Kidichi Persian Baths, the Maruhubi Palace ruins and Livingstone’s House.

Prison Island, more appropriately known as Changuu Island, is a place of tragic history but also of natural wonders. Once the location where enslaved people were kept before being sold at markets, the island is now home to the Aldabra Giant Tortoise Sanctuary. Discover the island’s history, spend some time with the tortoises and enjoy a sun-filled day of exploring, swimming and sunbathing.

Surrounded by clear waters, tropical forest and white sand beaches, you’re in the perfect place to unwind, connect with your inner self and reap the benefits of some yoga or meditation. The Lodge also offers a range of wellness treatments to be enjoyed from the comfort of your banda. All treatments use Healing Earth products, made from natural ingredients sourced in Africa, to enhance your relaxation and rejuvenation.

Since 1991, andBeyond’s company ethos has been “Care of the Land, Wildlife & People.” Always looking for ways to contribute to wildlife spaces and local communities and reducing their environmental impact, without compromising the guest experience. Each of their lodges have a “sustainability champion” who looks for ideas “to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, recycling initiatives, conservation awareness drives, water efficiency … addressing erosion and re-greening.” Exclusive experiences are created for guests whilst showing lasting benefits which are meaningful for the communities around their camps and the natural environment. Currently andBeyond have 59 awards recognising their sustainability impact.

andBeyond protects endangered land and marine species in the areas they operate and they focus on at least 3 endangered species in each area. In Botswana, for example, they support the Rhinos Without Borders initiative which so far has translocated 87 rhinos from South Africa to Botswana to keep them safe from poachers. They also help maintain biodiversity by actively managing the wildlife populations in the areas they operate. To help care for the wildlife andBeyond educate local communities in conservation, over 18,000 lessons on conservation have been taught.

andBeyond understands that to protect the land they operate on they need to implement eco and sustainable initiatives. One of the aims is to reduce their direct carbon footprint by 8%, so far all of andBeyond lodges have been audited with an average sustainability score of 88%. Another way they are caring for the land is by resourcing and using their water sustainably, 96% of lodges use water sourced from water bottling plants and they are currently 85 litres/head better than their target of 500 l/head. A target for andBeyond is zero plastic water bottles through their camps and so far 740,000 plastic water bottles have been eliminated per year.

andBeyond “Maximise our localised shared value opportunities through economic benefit, capacity building and social service infrastructure.” They have created 101 jobs in the communities they operate within, offering life changing opportunities to local people. Through social service infrastructure initiatives 56,000 people from local communities now have access to clean water through water access sites and 4724 Hippo Water Rollers, which assist in the transportation of water. 532 school students have been provided with an opportunity for higher education in 285 new or renovated classrooms.

andBeyond has partnered with The Africa Foundation, a non-profit organisation, in order to collaborate and consult with local communities, identifying the needs of the people and finding creative solutions to fulfil these needs. The main areas in which they focus on are: education, healthcare and clean water, small business development, and environment and conservation.

‘The appropriate training, skills and resources are provided by Africa Foundation or through partner organisations to ensure projects are not only effectively implemented but remain self-sustainable long after initiation. Over 26 years, Africa Foundation has made a clear and significant impact on the health, education and economic standing of the identified communities surrounding the wildlife reserves where andBeyond operates.’

The Africa Foundation’s Community Leaders Education Fund (CLEF) bursary programme has created opportunities for youth by providing access to education. One of the biggest setbacks that young people in Africa face in terms of receiving an education is being able to afford it. This issue is particularly prevalent in rural communities. The Africa Foundation has provided bursaries for 475 CLEF students over the last 26 years, giving all of them access to education that will allow these youth to unlock a career.

The Africa Foundation also funded the Mbhedula craft market in 1997, where tourists can purchase locally-made crafts in Mduku. The Mbhedula craft market allows women in rural communities to source their own income and support their families. People living with disabilities are also able to find work here, giving them the opportunity to work and provide for themselves. Additionally, the market allows Mduku women to sell their products locally rather than having to travel up to 300km away to Durban and be forced to sleep on the streets. As well as funding the construction of the market, the Africa Foundation also invested in street signs and improving the visibility of the craft market, bringing in more trade and supporting the people who work there.

andBeyond recognises the threat posed to the world’s oceans and marine resources. Efforts to combat the peril of ocean degradation have inspired a partnership with fellow bastion of ecological awareness, Africa Foundation. In addition to the over 3.6 million hectares (9 million acres) of protected wildlife sustained through the Care of the Wild initiative, andBeyond’s footprint now covers an additional 2000 km (1242 mi.) of African coastline, striving to conserve and enlarge Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

andBeyond seek to apply their trilogy philosophy to their marine operations in order to better care for/impart a positive ecological effect on the areas of ocean under their jurisdiction. This philosophy comprises Protecting Reefs, Protecting Marine Species and Community Empowerment, which have thus far, through the facilitation of partnerships with like minded institutions, has proven initial levels of success and sets optimistic targets for future projects.

The need to make basic healthcare accessible to the communities of north east Zanzibar has been an ongoing challenge. In 2012, funding was given to build a clinic and accommodations for medical staff on allocated land opposite the community school, however the funds ran out before the clinic could be completed and opened. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Africa Foundation prioritised their support to healthcare projects and completed the full construction of the clinic themselves. Over ten thousand people from Kigomani and nearby communities now have access to medical care as well as Reproductive and Health Services (RCH).

Mnemba Island has become home to herds of 2 of the rarest species of antelope in Africa, the small suni antelope and the Ader’s duiker antelope, so that their populations could grow and recover. With no natural predators on the island, both species have flourished. Between 2005 and 2013 the number of duiker antelope tripled from 5 to 15, and more than 250 suni antelope have been relocated to 13 sites across Zanzibar.

Mnemba Island’s coral reef is known for supporting a variety of marine life, which andBeyond is dedicated to preserving. In 2005, they partnered with the Zanzibar Department of Fisheries and members of local Zanzibari fishing communities to create the Mnemba Island Marine Conservation Area (MIMCA). Specific areas have been delegated for activities such as diving and snorkelling, and fees have been introduced for use of the area. The funds go towards supporting local fishermen, community projects and the upkeep of the MIMCA. Another of its key objectives is to reduce net fishing in the waters surrounding the reefs and encourage more sustainable fishing in deep waters.