andBeyond Mnemba Island, an island resort located off the north-eastern coast of Zanzibar, has recently reopened following a comprehensive refurbishment.
Mnemba’s trademark brand of barefoot luxury has been fully reimagined, with the island retaining its intimate and relaxed charm but with a refreshed look devised by long-time andBeyond collaborators Fox Browne Creative and Nicholas Plewman Architects.
The refurbishment preserves the understated elegance of the previous offering with the overall layout of the lodge largely unchanged.
However, the bandas along the beachfront have all been completely rebuilt and enlarged, with all interiors replaced. Each banda now features a redesigned private Beach Lounge, ideal for spending all day by the ocean, and one of the bandas has been converted into a two-bedroom family unit.
The lodge’s main guest area has also been completely rebuilt and brought forward in order to maximise the sea views with the bar its focal point.New design elements allow for dining spaces to be enclosed in the event of inclement weather, while still allowing open-air dining with the resort’s much-loved experience of dining with feet in the sand on the beach still available.
A freshly built Beach Shop is included in the revamp as well as the addition of the Discovery Centre, a dedicated space providing guests with the opportunity to explore the conservation and community initiatives enabled by Oceans Without Borders, a marine conservation initiative managed in collaboration by andBeyond and Wild Impact.In line with an increasing focus on wellness, a new Wellness Banda offers two treatment rooms that open out onto the island forest, as well as an outdoor yoga platform for sunrise or sunset yoga sessions, sound treatments and mindful meditation sessions.
The lodge’s Dive Centre has been renovated and expanded, with the addition of clear-bottomed kayaks and sailing activities.
Guests are now also able to indulge in a full-day private excursion on the lodge’s dhow, as well as additional experiences such as an island conservation tour highlighting efforts to preserve the island’s delicate ecosystem.
A half-day tour of nearby villages is hosted by Wild Impact, andBeyond’s conservation and community development partner, and includes a glimpse of the education and healthcare community projects that the island supports.
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