THANDA ISLAND - TANZANIA

Thanda Island is one of the world’s most exclusive tropical islands located in the District of Mafia Island, Tanzania. The Thanda Island Villa features five bedrooms and an expansive living area featuring everything you would want from an extravagant beach house, including an indoor aquarium. On Thanda Island you can rest, rejuvenate, enjoy adventure sports and explore this pristine playground.

Thanda Island is so remote and so well-assembled that it’s practically its own vacation nation. It is, first, an Indian Ocean island off the coast of Tanzania, about a forty-minute helicopter flight southeast of Dar es Salaam. At low tide it measures about twenty acres of forest and beach, and further insulates its guests in a cocoon of privacy by being in an aquatic Tanzanian game reserve.

The island is the matching super-luxe offshore retreat, bookable year-round at $10,000 per night, with a minimum stay of a week.

Step onto the Island

Nestled within Tanzania’s Shungi Mbili Island Marine Reserve, Thanda Island is 8ha in size, 1,1km in circumference and 350m wide, and surrounded by coral reefs, which protect it from stormy seas. This adds to the Island’s suitability for families. All you need to do is fly to the international airport at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s capital city, and we’ll either fly you directly to the Island by helicopter or arrange a charter flight for you to nearby Mafia Island, where we’ll meet you by boat.

Glittering Turquoise Waters

Once you step onto the silken white beaches of your own private island, surrounded by glittering turquoise waters, you’ll experience a complete sense of freedom. It’s how we should feel.

Adventure, Relaxation and Total Privacy 

Everything on the Island has been created for adventure, relaxation and total privacy. There’s no driving to the Villa, as you step off the boat or helicopter, it is right there and yours alone to enjoy. It’s your home, with a paradise-inspired living area featuring everything you could want in this beautiful beach house, and five exquisite, air-conditioned bedroom suites leading directly onto the beach. The Island is totally safe for you to explore and enjoy.

Your Every Need and Desire 

Looking after your every need on Thanda Island is a select team dedicated entirely to you, including your own Executive Chef, Hostess, Housekeeper and Boatman.

Massages and Dining on the Beach 

Dine on the beach or on an Arab dhow, have a massage on the beach or take a sunset cruise around your own private island; head out on a big game fishing adventure or bathe in the warm tropical waters where we will serve you a delectable picnic on a sandbank in the sea.

  

Off The Grid 

Experience an off-the-grid lifestyle on the Island, which is powered by solar energy. For those who need to remain connected, the Island has full wifi Internet and mobile phone reception.

Thanda Island Relaxes You And Restores Your Vital Force 

You have exclusive use of the Shungi Mbili Island Marine Reserve surrounding Thanda Island. A boathouse full of equipment is yours to enjoy, and a Boatman is dedicated to you as your personal guide.

Big Game Fishing 

We have a fully equipped 28-foot reef runner cat, deep-sea boat if you would like to do some big game fishing nearby Mafia Island. Catch and release iconic species or bring home the catch of the day for the Chef to prepare for your lunch or dinner.

Scuba Diving

We’ll take you to Chole Bay for an incredible diving experience in the Mafia Island Marine Park. The largest marine protected area in the Indian Ocean, it offers some of the most spectacular diving off the East African Coast, including an intriguing diversity of coral reefs, five species of turtles and 400 species of enchanting reef fish. Because Chole Bay is well protected, you can dive here all year round.

Swimming And Snorkelling

Swim and snorkel in the translucent, tropical waters. Enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of an up-close encounter with the gentlest giants of the ocean, the whale sharks, when they congregate just south of Thanda Island from October to February.

Sailing, Paddling And Kayaking 

Ride the trade winds in paradise on your very own sailboat, or explore the coral reef in a kayak or canoe. We can also organise a sailing trip on a traditional Arab fishing dhow.

Tanzanian Adventure 

We can arrange a visit to Zanzibar Island with its spice fields and incredible blend of modern and ancient Tanzanian culture; or a visit to Africa’s largest game reserve, the World Heritage Site-listed Selous Game Park. Both are an hour’s flight away.

Conservation Commitment 

Thanda Island is situated within the Shungi Mbili Island Marine Reserve, and is partnering with the Tanzanian Marine Parks and a leading NGO called Sea Sense, on a range of marine conservation and education programmes in the region. 

These include research and conservation projects on the sea turtles, dugongs, dolphins, whale sharks, coral reefs and marine reserves. Five species of marine turtles occur in Tanzania’s waters. The largest fish in the world – the gentle, human-friendly whale shark - breeds just south of the Island.

Community Commitment 

Thanda Island has a far-reaching commitment to the Tanzanian people, and is participating in a range of social upliftment programmes on neighbouring Mafia Island, which has approximately 60 000 people. We are committed to the education of young people in sustainable fish harvesting, marine conservation, and in the development of healthy, sporting activities, such as football.