Mnemba Island is a single small island located about 3 km off the northeast coast of Zanzibar island, opposite Muyuni Beach. It is roughly triangular in shape, about 500 meters in diameter and about 1500 meters in circumference.
It is surrounded by an oval reef seven by four kilometres in extent. These reefs have been declared a marine conservation area.
Mnemba Island is a popular scuba diving site, with a wide variety of corals and associated species, as well as occasional sightings of larger species such as turtles and dolphins.
Calm conditions are most frequent in November and March, with maximum visibility. The island itself is privately owned . As Mnemba is a private island, non-guests are not permitted to land on the island.
Mnemba Island is a 90-minute drive from Stone Town across the main Zanzibar Island, and one hour from nakupenda villa before a twenty-minute boat crossing.
The marine reserve comprises four distinct habitats which are home to a diverse array of Indian Ocean wildlife:
• Nesting place of threatened green sea turtles (monitoring and protection project has been underway since 1996)
• Humpback whales (July to September)
• Three species of dolphin
• Whale sharks (the world's largest fish)
• Migratory and resident shore birds feed and roost on the Island
• Approximately 600 species of coral reef fish.
Green sea turtles can be seen laying their eggs on the beaches between February and September.
