Medjumbe

Medjumbe private island  lies on the northern-most tip of the Quirimbas Archipelago: a 45 minute light-aircraft flight from Pemba on the mainland.

A hop, skip, and a jump from the sea, the 13 beach hideaways at Medjumbe are in the ultimate location for barefoot luxury and total privacy. Each opens out to a secluded veranda and a private plunge pool, whilst inside there’s an eclectic mix of Swahili artefacts, Persian rugs, and lavishly draped beds. We also love the quirky blue and white tiled bathroom, and the al fresco shower.

The bar and restaurant at Medjumbe is made for watching the sunset, in a large open-sided building that looks directly out at the sea. For lunch, there’s a varied but traditional a la carte menu, and in the evenings you’ll either have a three course dinner or a buffet depending on how many people are in the restaurant. Wonderfully fresh seafood can naturally be expected, but for non-seafood fans there are plenty of delicious meat dishes too.

Because Medjumbe island is so tiny, you get that real castaway experience of being totally surrounded by water. What it’s really famous for though is having some of the best diving and snorkelling in the Quirimbas, with its protected coral reefs and an amazing variety of marine life. You can also take a boat-trip for to catch and release large game-fish, or try your hand at water-skiing, kayaking, wind surfing, and volleyball.