Mnemba Island
Mnemba Island is a single small island located about 3 km off the northeast coast of Unguja, the largest island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, Tanzania, opposite Muyuni Beach. It is roughly triangular in shape, about 500 metres (1,640 ft) in diameter and about 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi) in circumference. It is surrounded by an oval reef seven by four kilometres in extent. These reefs have been declared a Marine Conservation area. Mnemba Island and its reef are sometimes called Mnemba Atoll which is incorrect because an atoll is an island that encircles a lagoon, which is not the case for Mnemba Island.
Mnemba Island is a popular scuba diving site, with a wide variety of corals and associated species, as well as occasional sightings of larger species such as turtles and dolphins. Calm conditions are most frequent in November and March, with maximum visibility. The island itself is privately owned and can be visited only as a guest of &Beyond Mnemba Island, at a price of US$1155 to US$1600 per person per night (2015 rates). At these prices, the average Zanzibar citizen would have to work four to six years to spend one night on this island.[1] If non-guests accidentally set foot on the island, a hefty fine is charged[2][3][4][5] and the intruder is then told to leave.[6] When people snorkeling approach within a 200-meter zone around the island they will be driven back by Mnemba staff in boats.[7]
Mnemba Island is a 90-minute drive from Stone Town across the main Zanzibar Island, before a twenty-minute boat crossing.
The marine reserve comprises four distinct habitats which are home to a diverse array of Indian Ocean wildlife:
- Nesting place of threatened green turtles (monitoring and protection project has been underway since 1996)
- Humpback whales (July to September)
- Three species of dolphin
- Whale sharks (the world's largest fish)
- Migratory and resident shore birds feed and roost on the Island
- Approximately 600 species of coral reef fish.
Green Sea Turtles can be seen laying their eggs on the beaches between February and September.
References
- Finke, J. (2006) The Rough Guide to Zanzibar (2nd edition). New York: Rough Guides.
- ^ "Islands for Sale Worldwide - Private Islands Online". privateislandsonline.com. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
- ^ http://www.swahilicoast.com/contents.php?bbb=47&cc=27
- ^ http://www.swahilicoast.com/downloads/Swahili%20Coast%2047.pdf
- ^ "Pédalons dans la savane - Allons voir les poissons a Mnemba Island - Blog de voyage". savanavelo.uniterre.com. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
- ^ "Zamzibar". Archived from the original on 2004-11-12. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Some Zanzibar snaps | 2R+1L= some lovely chaos". poppyseedandmuffin.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
- ^ "Mnemba Archives - Africa Odyssey Testimonials". africaodyssey.com. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
External links
