Thanda Island, Mafia Island | Timbuktu Travel
Mafia Island

Thanda Island

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Voted No.1 in 2024 and No.2 in 2025 by Travel+Leisure

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!
From $3.7K per person/per night
Beach
13 Rooms
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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.

What you'll love

What you'll love

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

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

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!

Tanzania

Mafia Island

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