A private island to rent 30km off the coast of Tanzania

An ultra-luxe private island hideaway in the Indian Ocean’s largest marine reserve, with a plantation-style villa, two traditional beach bandas, not one but three boats and an army of discreet staff. 

Few holidays compare to hiring your own private island, off limits to everyone but the staff and whoever you choose to bring.

Lying 30km off mainland Tanzania, in a marine reserve home to turtles, stingrays and migrating whale sharks, lies an island playground like few others we know.

Thanda Island was little more than a blip in the ocean before the Olofsson family took it on over a decade ago. The private villa they built has been designed in plantation-house style, with deep, wraparound verandas and five beautiful air-conditioned bedrooms, each with a four-poster bed.

The villa offers everything you’d want from an extravagant beach house, plus plenty more you never knew you needed, like an indoor aquarium, a Steinway grand piano, an excellent wine collection, a cigar humidor and a wraparound dining area with 180-degree views of the ocean. And though off the grid and 100% self-sufficient, the house still has great WiFi and mobile reception.

Away from the main house and sat right on the beach are a couple of two-storey, Tanzanian beach Bandas. Each Banda has a double bedroom and en-suite bathroom per floor. Airconditioned and beautifully decorated with locally carved furniture and fabrics from Mafia Island, they offer laidback island living with exquisite ocean views.

Outside are romantic copper beach baths, a glass-sided infinity pool, a cocktail bar, pizza oven and an outdoor sala overlooking the ocean used for yoga, meditation, reiki and spa treatments.

Life here unsurprisingly revolves around the ocean and the boat house is crammed with SUP boards, kayaks, banana boats, wakeboards, snorkelling gear and even a pair of jet skis.

Three larger boats along with captain and crew are also at your disposal. Scuba diving trips to nearby Mafia Island can easily be arranged, and game fishing season runs September until March, with sailfish often caught from November to January.

However, the highlight in the water is often swimming with whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, which feed just south of Thanda Island from October until March.

The seafood is incredible too, with the likes of fresh lobster, red-snapper ceviche, seared tuna and prawns as big as langoustines appearing regularly on the menu.