Island days · Boat trip

MnembaAtoll

TypeBoat trip

DurationFull or half day

Pick-up09:00

Back20:30

Mnemba is a tiny coral island off Zanzibar’s north-east coast, wrapped in a protected marine conservation area with some of the clearest water in the Indian Ocean. Green turtles graze on the seagrass, dolphins cruise the channel and the reef is alive with clownfish, parrotfish and starfish.

The island itself is private, so the magic happens in the water around it: shallow turquoise lagoons, coral gardens a few metres deep and long sandbars that appear with the tide. Your boat anchors where the water is calmest and the crew shows you the best spots.

You choose the boat – a sleek catamaran, a traditional wooden dhow or a short morning trip from Matemwe – and we take care of everything else: the driver to the beach, the crew, a Swahili lunch on board and the sail home with the sun going down.

It is the most popular day out from Amani Home and Villa Kokos, perfect for families, couples and groups of friends, and the boats can be booked just for you.

3boats to choose from

20 mvisibility on calm days

OneSwahili lunch cooked on board

11 hof sea, door to door

Morning · Setting sail

Leave the beach
behind.

Your driver picks you up at the villa after breakfast and takes you to the beach of Kendwa, where the crew is waiting with the boat already prepared: cushions, shade, cold water and snorkelling gear in every size.

The sail along the north-east coast is part of the experience. Fishermen in their ngalawa canoes, the reef breaking far out and the colour of the water changing from emerald to a turquoise that does not look real.

The colour of the water does not look real.

Midday · In the water

Turtles, dolphins
and coral.

At the atoll the boat anchors in the shallows and you slip into water so clear you can count the fish from the deck. Green and hawksbill turtles feed here, and pods of dolphins are often spotted in the channel between Mnemba and the mainland.

Snorkel the coral gardens, float on the sandbank, try a canoe or, on the catamaran, a wakeboard session. The crew stays with you in the water and knows exactly where the turtles like to rest.

Float over the reef and let the turtles come to you.

Afternoon · Lunch and sunset

Lunch on board,
home at sunset.

Lunch is cooked by the crew’s chef: grilled fish caught that morning, coconut rice, vegetables in Swahili spices and a platter of tropical fruit – mango, pineapple, passion fruit.

Then the boat turns west and sails straight towards the setting sun. Your driver is waiting on the beach to take you back to the villa.

On the reef

Who you may
meet underwater.

Hover or tap a card. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the reef around Mnemba is one of the richest in Zanzibar.

Green turtleThe gentle grazer of the seagrass meadows, often seen up close.

Hawksbill turtleSmaller and rarer, with a beautiful patterned shell.

Bottlenose dolphinCurious and playful, often in small groups.

Spinner dolphinFamous for jumping and spinning out of the water.

ClownfishHiding in its anemone, just like in the film.

ParrotfishBright colours and a beak that crunches coral.

Blue starfishBright blue stars resting on the sandy bottom.

Moray eelPeeking out of the coral, shy despite its look.

OctopusA master of disguise, changing colour in seconds.

TrumpetfishLong and thin, hiding vertically among the corals.

The dhow

A boat that
sails with the monsoon.

For a thousand years dhows have carried spices, ivory and cloth between Zanzibar, Arabia and India, pushed by the monsoon winds. Choosing the dhow means sailing as the island always has: a wooden hull built by hand, a lateen sail and a crew who learned the sea from their fathers.

The day

Hour
by hour.

09:00

Private pick-up

Your driver collects you at the villa in a Toyota Alphard minivan and takes you to Kendwa beach, where your boat and crew are waiting.

Morning

Sail to the atoll

Set sail along the coast towards the enchanting Mnemba Atoll.

Midday

Swim & snorkel

Snorkel, swim, paddle a canoe or try wakeboarding in the crystal-clear water around the island.

Lunch

Swahili lunch on board

The crew’s private chef serves fresh fish, rice, vegetables and tropical fruit.

Sunset

Sail into the sun

On the way back you sail straight towards the sunset, then meet your driver on the beach.

20:30

Back at the villa

Options

Choose
your boat.

Private catamaran

Lagoon 45 or 55 feet · Full day from Kendwa

Snorkelling, swimming, wakeboard and canoe
Swahili lunch by the crew’s chef
Lunch and drinks included
Sunset sail back · home around 20:30

Private dhow

Brand-new traditional wooden dhow · Full day from Kendwa

Two crew members on board
Snorkelling and swimming at the atoll
Swahili lunch with fresh fish and water
Sunset sail back · home around 20:30

Morning dhow

Private wooden dhow · Half day from Matemwe

Pick-up at 10:00
Matemwe is the closest beach to the atoll
Snorkelling and swimming
Fresh fruit and drinking water on board

Practical tips

Before
you go.

What to bring

Swimsuit, towel, hat, sunglasses and a light shirt for the sun on the boat.

Sun cream

Choose a reef-safe sun cream: it protects your skin and the coral.

Seasickness

The water is usually calm, but if you suffer from seasickness take a tablet before leaving.

Snorkelling

Masks, fins and life jackets are on board in every size, also for children.

Respect the turtles

Never touch or chase them: keep a few metres away and they will stay close.

Best season

June to October and December to March have the calmest sea and best visibility.

Included

What’s in

Private return transfer by minivan
Private boat with crew
Swahili lunch and drinks on full-day trips
Fresh fruit and water on the half-day trip

Good to know

Your day, your pace

Times are indicative and can be adjusted. Tell us if you are travelling with children, if you have food preferences or if you would like to add a stop: we tailor every day to you.

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