Barefoot island paradise off the northeast coast of Zanzibar

Embraced by reef and forest, &Beyond Mnemba Island feels less like an arrival and more like a return. Just 12 open-air Bandas lie tucked beneath whispering casuarina trees. No doors. No windows. And nothing between you and the ocean but a stretch of untouched sand.

Here, time drifts with the tides. Dive into coral reefs just a few steps from your Banda. Drift by traditional dhow at sunset. Or do nothing at all—sometimes just what’s needed. Meals are fresh, light, and made when your heart desires. There’s yoga in the shade, reef walks at low tide, and warm smiles that appear when you need them. This is a place for bare feet and unfiltered nature. Where every stay supports the reef and the life it holds. And where the quiet follows you home.