Thanda Island Private Marine Reserve

At just a 45 minute helicopter flight off the coast of mainland Tanzania this private island escape is easily accessible. Accommodation on the island is in a large villa which houses five en suite bedrooms and an expansive living area featuring an indoor aquarium, Steinway grand piano, wine cellar and glass rim swimming pool. The villa was built as the private island escape of its Swedish owners, which can be felt in the Scandi-cool interiors; whitewashed wooden ceilings and French doors open out to the soft sand beach ensuring the villa is light and airy, while vibrant soft furnishings inject an element of Swahili style. Two open-air Robinson Crusoe-esque Tanzania Bandas complete the island accommodation.

Meals at Thanda are crafted using fresh, local produce including herbs from the island garden, home-made coconut milk for curries, and even home-made ice creams and sorbets for a post-dinner treat. Super fresh seafood features highly on the menu, alongside spicy Swahili flavours and there's a pizza oven on the island for low-key or family friendly dinners. If the occasion warrants a more special dining experience, romantic meals on the beach, under the starry African sky are also easily arranged.

The five star PADI accredited dive school on nearby Mafia Island provides the excellent dive instructors and equipment for Thanda's guests, with most dives taking place around the excellent Chole Bay sites from a private traditional Arab dhow. Some of the most popular dive sites near Thanda Island include Kinasi Pass, Milimani Coral Gardens and Chole Wall, which are home to reef rays, barracuda, colourful coral, tropical fish, turtles, whale sharks (October to February) and more.

If you can tear yourselves away from the diving, there are plenty of other water based activities to enjoy on Thanda Island. These include snorkelling, deep sea fishing, swimming with whale sharks (again, October to February), paddle boarding, kayaking and jet skiing. For land based pursuits, a tennis courts, beach volleyball nets, a yoga sala and, of course, the gorgeous beaches, mean all the family are well catered for.