Snorkeling in Waters All Your Own at Thanda Island, Tanzania

Located in the Shungi Mbili Island Marine Reserve of southern Tanzania, Thanda Island offers all things aquatic for families and groups of friends to experience on a sole-use basis, including exclusive guest-only access to a private marine reserve ranging one mile in all directions, except south of the island.

Thanda Island is one of but a few truly private tropical islands around the world. Opening in October, the island is part of the magnificent beach residence of entrepreneurs Christin and Dan Olofsson, the largest private Swedish investors and philanthropists in Africa, as well as the sister property of Thanda Safari, a highly regarded Leading Hotel of the World in Zululand, South Africa. Off-grid, solar-powered, environmentally sensitive, thoroughly relaxing, and lots of fun, the island experience plays out in total seclusion across 20 acres, with three-quarters of a mile of coastline with a pristine white sand beach.

For divers and watersports enthusiasts, the highlights begin just offshore. The island is surrounded by its own private coral reef within an exclusive-use zone that can be explored with snorkel and mask straight from the beach. The Mafia Island Diving Center on the neighboring Mafia Island offers equipment, private instructions and dive excursions on a private dhow within the Mafia marine reserve for water enthusiasts of all skill levels, even those lacking PADI certification. Private snorkel sites to be explored with the professionally trained Thanda aquatic guide also await in close proximity to Thanda Island. The five main spots are named for their characteristic attractions, such as “sponge city” or “coral gardens”. The sites average 11 feet in depth. Around Thanda Island divers can explore an array of sites, including fantastic spots off the coast of Nyororo, one of the three marine reserves near Thanda Island, and off Mafia Island in Chole Bay.

The world-class diving waters off nearby Mafia Island are also close to a “sunken city”. Recently discovered and still under research, the site has been speculated as anything from the ruins of a small Portuguese port to remnants of the legendary city of Rhapta, first mentioned in the Greco-Roman Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, dated 50 AD. The sunken city includes “many thousands of square and oblong blocks” according to coverage posted earlier this year on Seaunseen.com. “Some have fallen right off the foundation and others are still leaning against it.” The age of porites corals alongside the walls puts the blocks underwater for at least 550 years. The depth varies from 2 meters to 10 meters, depending on tides.

Of course, there is plenty more for guests to enjoy in the Indian Ocean around Thanda Island. Sailboats, stand-up paddleboards, and single as well as double kayaks are available for active guests. Also to the south, a powerboat zone outside of the island's marine reserve is perfect for water skiing, jet-skiing, wake-boarding and tubing. Big game fishing from a 28-foot reef runner cat is available off the coast of Mafia Island. A favorite is the sunsets cruise in a James-Bond-style 49-feet mahogany speedboat.

Conservation is a priority at Thanda Island. Depending on the season, guests may be able to watch green and hawksbill turtles nesting and their eggs hatching; sight and swim with gentle whale sharks that congregate just south of the island from October to March; and if very lucky maybe spot endangered dugong while diving with qualified instructors. Guests can also discover the local Swahili sea-faring culture on Mafia Island and picnic on a neighboring atoll.

Thanda Island's five-bedroom villa offers accommodation for 10 adults and additional children in fan-cooled, air-conditioned suites styled with handpicked designer furniture and artwork. A huge indoor aquarium provides a glimpse of the sea life that swims around the island, while the white-sand beach and an impressive glass rim-flow swimming pool overlooking the sea are destinations all their own.

Exclusive use of Thanda Island is offered at US$10,000 per night, with a minimum stay of 3-7 nights depending on the season. The all-inclusive rate includes the team of dedicated staff, boat transfers from Mafia Island and all activities offered on the Island, along with all meals and drinks including a handpicked selection of wines and champagnes. Spa treatments are also included. Diving, and exclusive wines and champagnes are extra. Additional guests can be comfortably accommodated in two traditional Tanzanian Bandas on the island.

For more information or to reserve island vacations on Thanda Island, please contact T: +27 (0) 32 586 0149; E: info@thandaisland.com; or visit www.thandaisland.com

GETTING THERE

Thanda Island is located between the mainland of Tanzania and Mafia Island. It is 16 nautical miles or 18 miles east of the mainland of Tanzania. The Island is accessible by boat from Mafia Island or helicopter directly from Dar es Salaam International Airport.

Scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam to Mafia Island take approximately 30 minutes. Boat transfers are between 15-45 minutes depending on point of departure on Mafia Island and wind conditions. Helicopter flights from Dar es Salaam to Thanda Island take approximately 45 minutes.

Thanda Island offers beautiful, warm, tropical weather. The rainy seasons comprise “long” rains in late April to May and “short” rains in November. Rain showers are mostly short, followed by sunshine, bringing a wonderful renewal and freshness to the environment. Thanda Island lies across the trade winds and experiences the northeast (Kaskazi) and southeast (Kusi) trade wind seasons. The Kaskazi usually starts at the end of November and lasts into February. The Kusi is from early July to mid-September.

The Island is in a low-risk malaria area. The main currency is US Dollars. Travel visa and information is available via www.immigration.go.tz