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Most romantic destination # 01: Mnemba Island Lodge, Mnemba Island
[Location: Off the coast of Zanzibar, East Africa]
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Mnemba, an untouched atoll off the coast of Zanzibar, is therapy for the spirit. This is where Bill Gates comes to unwind and savour Mother Nature's delights, on our heart-shaped splash of sand in the blue depths of the Indian Ocean. 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 sailing vessel) drift across the horizon. 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 exotic combination of heady perfumes, gently swaying coconut palms and lush vegetation make this an irresistible destination for lovers."
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Exclusive palm and wood bandas
15min by boat from Zanzibar
Tropical barefoot paradise
Castaway feeling
Coral reefs, pristine white beaches
Over 300 fish species
Condé Nast Traveller chose Mnemba Island as one of the three most romantic ocean destinations in the world
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Dolphin, Whale Shark, crab
Turtle season December-May
Scuba diving (speciality dives)
Snorkelling, deep-sea fishing
Diverse water sports
Tours of Zanzibar
Listed among US Travel & Leisure's Editor's picks for "Best Beach Resorts" in September 2000, "World's Best" feature
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Mnemba, meaning "Octopus head", lies two kilometres north-east 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. Fresh, delicate sea breezes waft through Mnemba Lodge, lending a castaway air to the entire island.
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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.
As is befitting an earthly paradise, Mnemba has near-perfect weather. The architecture of the lodge reflects this blissful serenity. You can wander through your lattice-wood doors across the wraparound verandah and stretch out on the beach on daybeds of wood and leather weave with soft white cushions. Zanzibar is famous for producing intricate and detailed wood carvings and some of the island's most skilled artisans have created the scrolled headboards adorning the beds.
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Balmy air wafts through the dining area and adjoining lounge/bar, unhindered by walls or windows. With grass mats underfoot and thatch overhead, these areas have an open view of the beach and coral reefs beyond. The island also has a curio shop and a small library with a variety of books and games. Cottages are situated on either side of the main living area.
Mnemba is all about the sea and the beach, and when you tire of lying on the softest, whitest sand in the world, beach chairs and beds offer a chance for elevation.
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Baskets filled with tropical fruit, lobsters and fresh fish are sailed into Mnemba on traditional ngalawa outriggers. Mouthwatering cuisine with exotic delicacies are lavishly prepared and laid out for your bedazzled palate. Luscious fruit includes coconut, oranges, papaya, bananas, mangoes, lychees, guavas, star apple, jack-fruit, rambutans, breadfruit and avocado pears. Lunch is usually served buffet style or on large wooden carved Zanzibar platters adorned with delicious African Mezze (fingerfood). Dinner is served in the dining area or alfresco style on the beach. A table is placed under the stars, where you may dine with the waves gently lapping at your feet. You may also enjoy your meals privately on the verandah of your beach cottage. The food has a Mediterranean and Moroccan influence - an exciting array of fresh salads, red peppers, olives, humus and aubergine spreads, feta, chillies and grilled vegetables drizzled with olive oil, all enhanced with African spices.
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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 snorkelling and scuba diving enthusiasts. We will provide you with all scuba and snorkelling equipment needed. Optional activities include deep-sea fishing, which is among the best in the world. Other options which are included in the rate, are windsurfing, kayaking, and, needless to say, swimming directly from the beach. On land, choose between bird-watching, walking or simply suntanning. You may walk the streets of the ancient "Spice Island" of Zanzibar and discover the history of the island. Cultural activities on Zanzibar include a Spice Tour or historical town tour as optional extras. It is preferable to do your sightseeing at the beginning or the end of your visit to Mnemba.
Scuba Diving
Mnemba boasts some of the world's most beautiful diving sites. Just a short boat trip from the island, coral reefs drop into the deep open sea. You can enjoy two dives daily. Please note that a valid diving certificate is needed. No need to worry if you have no diving experience - Mnemba offers a professional dive school designed specially for you, at extra cost. Our scuba diving course of three to four days is available. Most diving sites are close by, some right next to the island and others a 15-30 minute boat ride away. Speciality dives include deep, night, navigation, drift and peak performance.
Library
Or you may opt for the other kind of island life, where you can just lie back and relax in the library, play board games, Pictionary, watch TV or enjoy wildlife videos.
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Mnemba has a tropical climate and very bright sunshine. Cyclical weather patterns are very much a part of the east coast and this is how the ancient Arabs were able to navigate this part of the world so successfully during the slave trade years. Rainfall: Ruled by the movements of the Indian Ocean monsoons, the seasons of Mnemba change with the winds. The north-east Monsoons blow from November through December and again from February and March. Starting in June, the south-west Monsoons blow until September/October. The rainy season falls between the two monsoon seasons, in mid March, with a short spell in November. The lodge closes during the heavy monsoon rains between April and June. Temperature: Being a tropical island, it can be humid. The sea breezes that wash over the island bring cooler air and relief from the hot, damp weather. Temperatures do not fluctuate much - the average daytime temperatures are in the region of 26°C/79°F from June to October and about 28°C/82°F from December to February. The minimum temperature in this tropical climate is 18°C/64°F with a maximum as high as 40°C/104°F. The average water temperature during July to March is from 20°C/68°F to 23°C/73°F.
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Best time to travel:
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The best months to visit Mnemba are from July to March. The island is closed from 1st April to 6th June (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.
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The inky green forest light gives shelter to the rare Zanzibar suni antelope and is filled with White Forest Vagrant butterflies. There are no snakes, mosquitoes, scorpions or rats on the island, adding to the assertion that this truly is paradise on earth.
Marine Life
The lagoon is like a huge tropical fish tank, full of colourful marine organisms. Over 300 species of fish are present. Marine life includes Powderblue Surgeonfish, Green and Hawksbill Turtle, Vagabond Butterflyfish, Semicircle Angelfish, Clown Tigerfish, Long-horned Cowfish, Moorish Idol, Manta Ray, Ghost Crabs and bottlenosed, spinner and striped dolphin. The striped dolphin is the most common marine mammal, but other dolphins and whales are also present. The gigantic, harmless Whale Shark, the world's largest fish, is a frequent visitor to Mnemba. A host of other sharks and rays are also present. Game fish include barracuda and marlin, and these are tagged before being released. Corals need sunlight to function, but they are not plants. They are, in fact, gregarious, anemone-like, filter-feeding animals belonging to a large invertebrate group. In addition to the great variety of fish, coral reefs are home to a host of other fascinating creatures including spectacular anemones, nudibranches, starfish, crabs and molluscs.
Bird Life
Crab Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Purple-branded Sunbird, Bar-tailed Godwit and the glimmering Paradise Flycatcher are found on Mnemba. Crab Plovers are probably the most interesting birds on Mnemba and usually the most sought-after by serious bird-watchers. Some birds capture small invertebrates, sand shrimps and sea lice. Those frequently seen on the shores are Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, and the Mongolian or Lesser Sandplover. An abundance of water and wading birds are sighted daily.
At high tide, flocks of wading birds can be seen on sandbars at Mnemba. This may not seem remarkable until it is realised that most of these birds are thousands of kilometres away from their breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra. What is even more phenomenal is that they undertake the long trip from the frozen north to the African tropics twice a year throughout their lives. The greatest numbers of Palearctic waders occur along the East African coast between late August and early May.
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Click here to download the Africa Safaris 2005 Catalogue
Luxury Safari Lodges and Camps in Africa by country:
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