Mnemba Island Lodge
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Mnemba Island, an untouched atoll off the coast of Zanzibar, is the ultimate escape. Selected by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the three most romantic ocean destinations in the world, Mnemba surpasses all expectations.
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This is where Bill Gates comes to unwind and savor Mother Nature's delights, on this heart-shaped splash of sand in the blue depths of the Indian Ocean.
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Fresh, delicate sea breezes waft through Mnemba Lodge, lending a castaway air to the entire island. Zanzibar and its islands are bathed in the heady scents and romanticism of a bygone era. You wake to bubbling dove song and the smell of coconut bread baking in a wood stove, as traditional dhows (coastal Arab sailing vessel) drift across the horizon.
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Mnemba Island features just ten en suite banda cottages, bordered on three sides by tropical beach forest and overlooking the beach and coral reef. Each exquisite banda has been hand-woven and thatched from tree branches and traditional Zanzibari palm-matting. The materials were chosen to allow the cooling sea breezes to move through the bungalow and, assisted by overhead fans, the cottages remain cool all day. From each room, a palm-covered walkway leads to an en suite turquoise bathroom. The shower water comes from the island's well or boiled rainwater. Each banda also has a spacious outdoor verandah.
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Getting there: Mnemba Island Lodge is accessible by road transfer from Zanzibar Airport or Stone Town (45 minutes), followed by a short boat transfer (20 minutes).

Zanzibar
Tanzania, Africa
U.S. Reservations: 904-288-0036
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The island is an incomparable barefoot paradise: private cottages are hidden in the dappled shade.
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Mnemba, an Arabic word meaning octopus head, lies two kilometers northeast of the island of Zanzibar, a 20-minute cruise in a traditional, 16 foot flat-bottomed boat. A pristine swathe of beach defines the island's one-mile circumference. A protection zone surrounds the island, conserving magnificent coral reefs where giant turtles, Ghost Crabs and spectacular tropical fish drift through the lagoons.
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Gentle, soft-spoken islanders host you with warmth and grace. The only inhabitants of the island are lodge staff and guests, offering luxurious privacy and guaranteed exclusivity unparalleled on the African coastline.
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The calm warm seas around Mnemba are nothing short of a giant aquatic playground. The clear blue seas provide unsurpassed visibility for snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts. The best months to visit Mnemba are from July to March. The island is closed from 1st April to 31st May (inclusive) due to the monsoons. The best time for big game fishing is mid January to mid March, and for fly-fishing and bone fishing, mid July to mid October. There are good sand flats throughout the year. Turtles nest on the island from January to the end of March, with hatchlings arriving 60 days after eggs are laid.

2004 Daily Rates: January 1-February 29...$650 per person. March 1 - March 31...$520 per person. April 1-May 31 CLOSED (heavy rain season). June 1 - June 30 $520 per person. July 1 - December 31...$650 per person. Rates Include...Tropical accommodation in hand-woven “banda” cottages. Three delicious meals daily including all teas and coffees. House wines, local brand spirits and beers, soft drinks and bottled water. Incomparable scuba diving (two dives per day). Snorkelling, kayaking and windsurfing. Laundry Service. Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance. VAT / Taxes. MasterCard and Visa are accepted for payment.

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