Thanda Island: World’s Best Luxurious Island In Tanzania

“If you want to enjoy life on the world’s smaller private island in Tanzania, administration of Thanda Island charges US$45,000 per night for a minimum of five-night stay, during which you will have the single-key luxury Villa and island exclusively to yourself.” By Prosper Makene Located in Tanzania’s Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve in Mafia and surrounded by its own coral reef, Thanda Island is one of the truly exclusive tropical islands in the world. The luxurious Island is located off the coast of Tanzania and was inspired by the traditions of iconic properties where family generations reconnect and spend precious time together. The Island is owned by a generous European family.  It is natural, pristine and magical, and entirely for you and your family. If you want to enjoy life on the world’s smaller private island in Tanzania, the administration of Thanda Island charges US$45,000 per night for a minimum five-night stay, during which you will have the single-key luxury Villa and island exclusively to yourself. Thanda Island is your home away from home, with an incredible choice of amenities and adventures included in the price. On its uniqueness, Thanda Island has on October 2022 announced Africa’s Leading Luxury Island by organizers of the World Travel Awards. This was the six years in a row that Thanda Island won the category that scooped for the first time in 2017. More than an incredible destination Thanda Island is more than just an incredible destination - it is also highly active in several conservation and community initiatives. The Island partner with the Tanzanian Marine Parks and a leading NGO, Sea Sense, on a range of marine conservation and education programmes in the region. Their philosophy is underpinned by a sincere commitment to the Tanzanian people, and the Thanda team is participating in a range of social empowerment programmes on nearby Mafia Island. Marine conservation is at the core of the Island’s offering and guests are encouraged to get involved in a range of projects, such as marine wildlife monitoring or awareness workshops with villagers on neighbouring Mafia Island. Sailing & Deep Sea Fishing Boats At Thanda Island, you have exclusive access to the stunning Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve as well as a fantastic range of water and marine sports. Scuba diving The largest marine protected area in the Indian Ocean 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. On the Island, guests can rejuvenate and enjoy a variety of water sports or island activities as they explore this remarkable destination, where shades of turquoise infuse the days and tropical spices the nights. Snorkelling In Thanda Island, marine turtles have frequently been sighted during snorkels, along with plenty of exciting marine species, including trumpet fish, threespot dascyllus, blue-spotted stingray, jewel damselfish, cleaner wrasse, goldbar wrasse, reef needlefish and cornetfish. Big game fishing If you would like to do some big game fishing, they guide and lead your fishing expedition on Real Magic to seek out iconic catch-and-release species or bring home the catch of the day for our chefs to prepare for lunch or dinner at your private villa. Children are also welcome to fish or learn how to fish. The fishing season is from September to March, with Sailfish from November to January. Swimming with whale sharks One of the most emotional and spectacular ocean wonders you can ever experience in Thanda Island is being up close with a whale shark, which can grow to an astonishing 18 metres. These harmless, gentle giants - the largest fish in the world and categorised by the IUCN as vulnerable to extinction - are an incredible part of the Thanda Island experience, as they feed just south of the Island from October to March. We are privileged to be able to share these beautiful creatures up close with you: you can either swim with them or view them from our luxury adventure vessel, ably commandeered by our trusted captain. Location & access Thanda Island is located in between the mainland of Tanzania and Mafia Island. To get to the Island, international guests fly directly into Dar es Salaam. From Dar es Salaam, you can either go directly to the Island by helicopter or fly to Mafia Island by fixed-wing plane, from where you can reach the Island by boat. *Culled from April Issue of PAV Magazine