Located off mainland Tanzania, near Mafia Island and opposite Africa's largest game reserve Selous, this little slice of paradise is perfect for a completely exclusive beach escape at the end of your safari to Tanzania. Or spend your entire holiday there – with plenty to keep you happy indefinitely!
The benefits are immeasurable! The opportunity to spend time with your family or friends only, with no distractions or intrusions, is something that we don’t often come across. Thanda Private Island is exactly that – the entire island is booked by your party, with no other guests at all. The only other people you will see are your wonderful hosts and staff who look after your every need!
Thanda hosts just a single luxurious villa and two traditional beach chalets – Bandas. This is all booked exclusively for your party.
The villa has an expansive living area and five beautiful bedroom suites that all lead directly onto the beach. There is a glass infinity pool which one can use too, just metres from the ocean. Everything you could possibly want from a beach villa is found inside, including an aquarium, musical instruments, a collection of wonderful wines, air-conditioned gym, a library and en-suite bedrooms.
In the additional Bandas, (which are perfect for hosting members of your group who may want a bit more seclusion from the rest of the party), the air of traditional Tanzanian coastal living permeates the entire chalet and one feels a part of the ocean and the soft sands. They are open to the sea breeze in the style of traditional Bandas so there is no need for ‘aircon’ – they are air-cooled!
See the extraordinary wildlife of the Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve, including:
On the island you can spend the time:
Participate in yoga and meditation sessions overlooking the ocean.
Venture further afield with an expert guide who can take you to see:
The food is an event in itself! One can dine on:
Absolutely! In fact, Thanda was created with families in mind! The owners wanted to create a paradise island where generations of families can come together to reconnect and bond away from the distractions and pressures of the outside world. Should you wish for some time together without the children, babysitting services can be arranged too.
Thanda is a small tropic island located in its own Private Marine Reserve near Mafia Island, off the coast of Tanzania. Guests fly to Dar es Salaam and are met by the Thanda team who assist you with your onward travel. One can then select to their fly by fixed-wing for 30 minutes to Mafia Island and then take a private 30-minute boat ride to Thanda, or take a private 45-minute helicopter flight directly from Dar es Salaam to the island.
Thanda Private Island is highly active in conservation and community programs. Sitting in the largest Marine Reserve in the Indian Ocean, Thanda is blessed with extraordinary marine biodiversity and has pledged to help protect it.
Thanda Island’s marine biologist monitors the condition of the surrounding Shungimbili reefs and their reef restoration project is helping to regenerate the reef, providing a habitat for the many species that live there. Other species that are protected in the Marine Reserve include five species of sea turtle, dugongs, dolphins and mayn more, all of which are protected by the Park Rangers which use Thanda as a base to patrol the western side of Mafia.
Thanda are committed to helping the local Tanzanian people, too, and are involved in various social empowerment programmes on Mafia Island. They assist with programmes that teach young people about sustainable fishing and marine conservation, and help to run healthy sporting activities. Local people from Mafia Island are employed on Thanda Island, offering them valuable experience and training in hospitality.
For further information, please do feel free to contact Nicola directly or at The Explorations Company for further inspiration and unforgettable safaris and holidays to Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
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