Zanzibar’s andBeyond Mnemba Island partners with Africa Foundation, andBeyond’s long-standing community and conservation development partner. The foundation works with island communities on a range of community-led education, healthcare, small business development and conservation programs. One key success of this collaboration: completion of the washing facilities required to open the Kigomani Clinic on Zanzibar’s north-eastern coast. In a region where healthcare facilities are scarce, 11,000 people from surrounding villages now have access to nearby clinic care.

andBeyond Mnemba Island’s extensive efforts to protect its private-island paradise include regular beach cleanups to protect the surrounding marine environment. To date, more than 5000 pounds of plastic waste has been removed.

Mnemba Island is one of only two protected nesting sites for the endangered green sea turtle. The conservation team is continuing the legacy of nearly 20 years of continuous turtle nest monitoring and protection. Guests can join staff for an unforgettable green-turtle nesting adventure while learning about the critical conservation work being done by Oceans Without Borders, a marine conservation initiative founded by andBeyond in collaboration with Africa Foundation.

Nearly 80 percent of andBeyond Mnemba Island staff come from Zanzibar communities. Tours in Zanzibar City with local guides who know it best also provide opportunities to support small businesses, including at Darajani Market, the Old Town’s main bazaar.

The lodge’s on-site water-bottling system eliminates the equivalent of more than 8,500 single use plastic water bottles every year. In addition, this translates into a 25,500-liter saving of water, as it takes 3 liters of water to make a 1 liter plastic water bottle. Furthermore, the elimination of plastic – a fossil fuel derived product – plays a key role in reducing carbon emissions on property.

Ongoing conservation efforts include the monitoring of Mnemba Island’s breeding population of Africa’s Critically Endangered, rare Aders’ duiker. This new source population has developed from the five antelope that andBeyond reintroduced to the island in 2005.

In a collaboration between andBeyond Mnemba Island and Africa Foundation, the clinics of Kijini and Matemwe were provided with medical and PPE supplies to serve nearby villages in need, and the Kigomani Clinic healthcare project was also prioritized as a critical part of support for community healthcare.

Stays at andBeyond Mnemba Island not only help support andBeyond’s broader philanthropic and eco-efforts in Africa, but guests can also give back by donating to Africa Foundation, andBeyond’s long-standing community and conservation partner, directly. Bonus: Guests can specify a project of their choosing from a selection of land, marine, wildlife and people impact initiatives.