Mafia Island

Thanda Island

Q: How much does it cost to stay at Thanda Island?

Stays at Thanda Island start from around US$4K per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Travel and Leisure Worlds Best Awards for number 1 tour operator in the world 2024 and number 2 tour operator in the world 2025

We're one of the World's Best Tour Operators!

Named three years running in Travel+Leisure World's Best, including No.1 in 2024

Thanda Island

About Thanda Island

Pure escapism and exclusive elegance on your own private island off the coast of Tanzania.

If you’re looking for absolute solitude, then it doesn’t get much better than your very own private island. Enter Thanda Island, an exquisite and totally private piece of paradise that is Tanzania’s newest exclusive-use resort. Cocooned in eight hectares of squeaky-white sand and tropical forest, the stylish Cape-Cod-meets-Tanzania style villa sleeps only 10, so even if you do bring the family, there’s lots of space for everyone. And there are plenty of activities to keep them all entertained too with windsurfing, parasailing, scuba-diving, boating and snorkelling in the surrounding Shungi Mbili Marine Reserve all on offer… Leaving you free to enjoy a little of that peace and quiet!

Mafia Island , Tanzania

From $4K per person/per night

Beach

13 Rooms

Open Map

Property details

The property

If you can bear to drag yourself away from the picture-perfect beach, there’s plenty on offer in the villa. Practical yet totally stylish features include a glass-rimmed pool surrounded by chic loungers, enormous living and dining room with 180 degree views as well as an outdoor BBQ area and pizza oven, complete with private pizza chef, of course. Not so practical (but brilliantly fun!) is the indoor aquarium and grand piano – the perfect finishing touches for any super-luxe hideaway.

The rooms

In the main villa, five beach-chic suites sleep 10 people and all can accommodate extra children sharing. Decorated individually by owners and stylish Swedes, Dan and Christin Oloffson, each is a stimulating mix of breezy blues and cool white hues with gleaming glass doors leading straight out to the silky sands beyond. For any additional guests, there are two equally chic double-storey ‘Beach Bandas’ with enormous king-size beds and private bathrooms a few steps down the beach. Haute couture Robinson Crusoe for sure…

Activities

With sailing boats, paddle boards, snorkels and kayaks at your disposal (not to mention your very own instructor and boat captain), it would be rude not to explore the stunning waters around the island and for adrenaline junkies, water and jet-skiing is even allowed in the ‘powerboat zone’ just beyond the reserve. To avoid wrinkly fingers, stay on land and chill out by the pool, take a cocktail making lesson or enjoy an al-fresco lunch on the veranda. The dream.

Why we love it

Treat yourself to a glass of champagne in one of the copper ‘beach baths’ at the water’s edge. Heaven. On. Earth.

Insiders Tip

As well as the pristine (and private) coral reef, the island is also surrounded by a one-kilometre exclusive-use zone so you're free to explore the magical underwater world in total privacy.

Something to think about

When we say Thanda is uber-luxurious, we really mean it. If you don't think James Bond-esque fancies have a place on a remote island, this might not be for you!

Trips

Mafia Island Tours & Trips

Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch

Tanzania

Remote bush & beach in southern Tanzania

11 nights from $6.6K per person

Dar es Salaam Nyerere National Park ('The Selous') Ruaha National Park

Design a Custom Trip

Plan your stay

How to book Thanda Island

How do I book Thanda Island?

Thanda Island can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Tanzania trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Tanzania trips featuring Thanda Island or get advice and suggestions from one of our Tanzania specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Thanda Island?

Stays at Thanda Island start from around $4K per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

Tanzania

Mafia Island

A barefoot beach break with some of the world’s best diving and a good selection of eco-chic lodges.