ZANZIBAR – Luxury travel company &Beyond has reopened its Mnemba Island private lodge off the northeastern coast of Zanzibar after a comprehensive refurbishment by long-time collaborators Fox Browne Creative and Nicholas Plewman Architects.
The lodge’s ten beachfront bandas have been completely rebuilt and enlarged with all interiors replaced.
Every banda now features a redesigned private beach lounge with two private entrances from the beach and interior forest. One of the bandas has been converted into a two-bedroom family unit.
The lodge’s main guest area has been completely rebuilt to maximise the sea views. The bar is the focal point with new relaxation areas, an inner courtyard and dining areas that can be adapted for indoor or outdoor dining.
Further additions include a freshly built Beach Shop and Discovery Centre — a dedicated space for guests to explore the Oceans Without Borders conservation and community initiatives.
A new wellness banda offers two treatment rooms that open onto the island forest, as well as an outdoor yoga platform for sunrise or sunset yoga, sound treatments, and mindful meditation sessions.
The lodge’s Dive Centre has been renovated and expanded to serve as the base for even more island activities. Stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking remain available to guests with new additions including clear-bottomed kayaks, catamarans and pedal boards for guests to enjoy water sports.
Guests can also choose a full-day private excursion on the lodge’s dhow or an island conservation tour highlighting efforts to preserve the delicate ecosystem.
Wild Impact, &Beyond’s conservation and community development partner, hosts a half-day tour of nearby villages, showcasing the education and healthcare projects supported by the island.
Guests seeking hands-on experiences can explore the artificial reef and coral nursery maintained by Oceans Without Borders or spend a day with the team collecting and transplanting coral fragments for the underwater nursery.
&Beyond refurbished &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province, a project completed last year. The renovation of the site’s 16 suites will utilise existing lodge and room structures to minimise impact associated with an entire rebuild.
Newbuilds on the slate include Beyond Suyian Lodge, arriving in Kenya in Q3 2025, and the firm’s imminently opening Asian debut, Beyond Punakha River Lodge, featuring six tented suites, a two-bedroom villa with a private pool, and a one-bedroom villa with a plunge pool or hot tub, depending on the season.
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