Mnemba Atoll
Mnemba Island Marine Conservation Area (2002), A Coral Atoll Around A Private Island, Known For Dolphin Pods, Green Turtles And Reef Snorkelling And Diving. Visitors Snorkel Or Dive From Boats From Matemwe And Nungwi; The Island Itself Is A Private Lodge And Not Open To Day Visitors. · Matemwe, Zanzibar North
Mnemba Atoll is a coral reef around a small island, about 2.5 km off the north-east coast of Zanzibar's Unguja island. The island is about 1 km long and holds a private luxury lodge, so day visitors may NOT land. The sea around it is a marine conservation area, set up in 2002, and open to anyone arriving by boat to snorkel or dive. Visibility can reach 20 m, and the reef has green and hawksbill turtles, moray eels, nudibranchs and nine dive sites such as Mnemba Wall and Kichwani. Bottlenose and spinner dolphins sometimes meet the boats. Day trips leave from Matemwe, Nungwi, Kendwa and Kiwengwa, 30-45 minutes by dhow or speedboat, for roughly USD 60-100. The honest picture: the snorkelling is excellent but BUSY, especially December and January, and some operators chase dolphins, which harms them. Choose an operator who does not. Bring reef-safe sun cream, a rash vest and a seasickness tablet, and book the earliest boat you can find, because the best light and the calmest water are before mid-morning.
Small coral island and surrounding atoll about 3 km off the north-east coast of Zanzibar, reached by boat from Matemwe and Nungwi, Matemwe, Zanzibar North, Tanzania
The reef is open every day and there are no gates or tickets; boats leave from the beach at dawn and mid-morning. The island itself is CLOSED to day visitors all year, and rough seas at high tide or in strong wind can cancel trips. Confirm your pick-up the day before.