Umoja Journey January 2024 - "Adventure with Purpose" - Led by David Marshall

What better way to relax than at Nasaro - which literally means 'refuge' or 'relaxation' in Maa - the local language.

Nasaro is located down near the valley floor and provides a private, intimate setting in which to be pampered. We use a range of products from Africology ethical skincare products to capture the rejuvenating and healing essences of Africa.

A whole range of treatments are available, from facials to massages to those essential grooming rituals.

While you’re staying at Mahali Mzuri you’re welcome to visit one of the Maasai villages in the local area to get a flavour for daily life in the Mara. The village is only 10 minutes’ drive from Mahali Mzuri and the best times to go are first thing in the morning when you can help milk the cattle or in the evening when the cattle, goats and sheep are being herded back to their enclosures for the night.

The local school is a further 5-minute drive from the village. This is where the Maasai children aged 3-15 years attend. You are welcome to visit the school, please let your guide know in advanced of your trip. Your Guides at Mahali Mzuri will take you on a tour and introduce you to their families while explaining some of the cultures and traditions.

Armed with a snorkel, mask, and fins, step directly from your Banda into the ocean to explore the vibrant coral reefs encircling the island. With the added option of full-face masks, you can fully immerse yourself in this underwater world, taking your snorkelling fishing experience to new depths.

Highly regarded as one of the best waters to explore, it comes as no surprise that the glorious diving spots in and around &Beyond Mnemba Island have been included in many top dive site lists across the globe. Catering for every diver, from novice to experienced, Mnemba Island’s dive sites vary in topography, substrate and marine life, making for an exclusive and varied underwater adventure like no other.

With most dive sites a short 10 to 20-minute boat ride from the island – a few of which can even be dived directly from shore; our PADI-certified dive masters and instructors know the reefs around Mnemba Island intimately and take divers to sites best suited to their specific interests. For non-divers, an introductory PADI Discover Scuba Diving course is available, providing the incredible opportunity to see the vast majority of what the islet has to offer in the first 12 m (39 ft) of water. Other PADI-certified experiences and courses for divers from ages eight and up are also on offer.

The shallow sea grass patches, sandy slopes and coral reefs just off the beach are a haven for critters. Robust ghost pipe fish, leaf fish, harlequin crabs and even zebra snout seahorses are just a few of the incredible oceanic beings to be seen, as well as various eels, shrimp, scorpion fish and octopus. Further from shore, coral walls drop drastically from the surface into the depths. While Mnemba Island is not commonly known for larger sea creatures, lucky divers may catch a glimpse of grey reef shark, giant grouper or other denizens of the deep on occasion.

A combination of wild naval landscapes, the bounty of sultry ocean currents, and an abundance of aquatic life, makes Mnemba Island a truly world-class scuba diving destination.

The Dive Centres at Mnemba Island offers a full range of PADI-accredited courses for those looking to advance their diving qualifications.

PADI BUBBLEMAKER & DISCOVER SCUBA
This introductory diving course is perfect for little ones or adults who are keen to explore the fascinating underwater world of diving, facilitated by experienced, multilingual professionals.

MANDATORY REFRESHER DIVER COURSE
This course is mandatory for any diver with less than 25 dives, who has not logged a dive in the last six-months, or any diver with 26 – 100 dives, who has not logged a dive in the last year (12-months).

PADI OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE
Learn to scuba dive independently in buddy teams to a depth of 18 m (59 ft). This four-dive course takes three to four days, where upon conclusion, guests will receive a lifetime global certification.

PADI ADVANCED OPEN WATER DIVER COURSE
This dive course only applies to already certified Open Water divers. After successfully completing five dives, the course will certify divers to dive down to a maximum depth of 30 m (98 ft).

SINGLE TRAINING DIVE & ADVENTURE TEST
This is ideal for those who would like to try specialised dives, such as deep dives and drift dives. This course will be credited towards your Adventure Diver or Advanced Open Water diver certification.

Explore the warm Indian Ocean waves in utter tranquility in a tandem deep-sea glassbottom kayak. Ask one of Mnemba’s Dive Instructors for a quick tutorial session or set off with your partner on the quiet waters protected by the island’s surrounding reefs. Paddle along the shoreline, admiring its shifting features, or venture farther into the ocean's depths in hopes of encountering dolphins or sea turtles. Combine exercise with underwater marvels, offering a unique perspective of the island.

Experience an exhilarating aqua tic adventure aboard an inflatable stand-up paddle board (SUP).

Glide gracefully on tranquil waters as you master the art of balance and exploration. Whether you're a beginner seeking leisure or an enthusiast craving a workout, SUPing offers a unique perspective and connection to the sea. Perfect for the calm waters off Mnemba Island, this activity immerses you in your surroundings, providing exceptional views of the ocean waters and the Mnemba horizon.

Channel your energy, balance your chakras, and increase your self-awareness against the backdrop of
the pristine ocean during a yoga class. Skillfully adapted to accommodate all levels of experience, daily group yoga classes can be enjoyed in the Wellness Banda on the yoga deck, along with other restorative healing sessions such as singing bowl meditation.

*Private yoga sessions can be arranged at an additional cost.

From daily yoga classes and sound bath therapy to specialised alternative therapeutic methods and meditative practices, Mnemba Island seeks to provide a holistic healing experience. Using only 100% natural Healing Earth products, pamper yourself with a soul-soothing massage in the Wellness Banda or book a private in-room wellness treatment in the comfort of your Beach Banda.

Healing Earth Signature Massage
Melt away your worries & float away into island bliss. This holistic massage will release tension & toxins from your aching muscles and assist your body to restore its wellbeing. Choose from a selection of nourishing & balancing Healing Earth oils.

30min | 60min
45min | 90min

The Zanzi-Spice Journey
Experience Aromatherapy with a powerful blend of coffee, cinnamon, cloves, and orange floats you through a memorable Zanzi-spice journey. Beginning with an energizing body polish, followed by blissful spice oil massage that will delight your skin, body, mind and soul.

30min | 60min
45min | 90min

Healing Earth After-Sun Treatment
After a long day in the sun, the soothing Aloe Vera Gel body mask will cool you down. Then African Potato Balm will be applied to nourish and repair the skin, assisting in its recovery.

30min | 60min
45min | 90min

Head, Neck & Shoulder Relief
For headaches, neck tension, stiff shoulders and stubborn stress, allow this pressure point and tension release massage to melt away all your worries magically.

30min | 60min
45min | 90min

Please chat to your therapist to find out more. This treatment also needs to be booked in advance

Give in to the lure of total isolation and pretend that you are marooned on a deserted island, albeit one where your personal butler is perpetually on hand to cater to your every desire! You may catch a fleeting glimpse of your fellow guests as you lounge in the tropical sunshine in your private beach sala or take a leisurely walk around the island. But you can also choose to make the most of your solitude with a private dinner in a secluded forest clearing or enjoy the light-hearted intimacy of a sandcastle dinner set to the sound of the waves gently sighing on the shore.

Families and groups will fall in love with the tranquility of the island. We will only accommodate a maximum of two children under 12-years at Mnemba Island at any given time. Travel to Zanzibar is recommended for children eight-years or older.

ACTIVITIES
Children visiting the lodge can take advantage of the fun-filled and interactive WILDchild programme thatoffers various activities such as:
• Morning walks with turtle monitors to observe turtle nests
• Assist with replanting trees in the island indigenous tree nursery, learning about the various vegetation types that grow in and around the island
• Join the lodge chefs to welcome the local fishermen onshore and check where the catch-of-the day is on the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) List
• Assist the Community and Conservation (CNC) Rangers with building coral bases to plant coral
• Learn about the incredible impact initiatives in and around the Mnemba Atoll in the Ocean Without Border’s (OWB) interactive centre
• Get involved in the dive centres helping the OWB staff
• Go snorkelling along the coral reef
• Help in the OWB staff input new and exciting sightings in the Beyond Sightings platform, while learning about the various sea creatures
• Go on beach and nature walks around the island
• Hand-line fishing from a dhow or the beach
• Enjoy sea kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding
• Bake turtle biscuits with the lodge chef

CHILDMINDING
While we don’t have trained childminders, we can offer the services of certain staff members who are wonderful with children. This will be at an additional cost.

The Aroma Boma at Ulusaba is the perfect antidote to all the excitement of being out on the game
drives. Book in for a relaxing treatment, from facial rituals to massage to essential grooming.

The Aroma Boma at Rock Lodge is located 800 feet above the African Savannah with truly stunning views over the Bush and offers complete privacy.

Ulusaba uses a range of products from ‘Africology’. ‘Africology’ prides itself on its African roots, taking inspiration from home and using local active ingredients including Rooibos, Aloe, Marula and African Potato. Spa treatment are available for an additional charge.

There is a wine cellar at Rock Lodge which offers a comfortable location to enjoy a night of wine tasting.

Guests can enjoy a star gazing evening as part of their game viewing experience at our observatory in the Bush. Our Rangers will teach all about the constellations you can see from points in the southern hemisphere!

The daily Safari walk usually commences after breakfast. This is a fascinating activity as it allows

you to observe the smaller animals that you would usually not see while out on the game vehicles. Our knowledgeable Rangers and Trackers will enthral you with stories about the medicinal properties of plants, local beliefs regarding the wildlife and fascinating facts.

Fancy a spot of tennis? We have two floodlit tennis courts for you to play on during your stay. Don’t worry about tennis racquets and tennis balls - we have everything you need as well as a fully stocked bar!

There is an outdoor heated swimming pool, perfect for rest and relxation. The pool is solar heated in the winter months (May to September).

There is a gym for guests use which is available 24 hours.

The Community Tours and Excursions are organized by Pride ‘n Purpose, Ulusaba’s charitable
arm. The basic philosophy behind its work is the principle of empowering people to help themselves while promoting sustainable development.

The different types of tours available are:
• Day in the life:
The Day in a Life village tour looks into some of the charitable projects and schemes Ulusaba is actively involved with. We tailor this tour’s itinerary according to your interests.
• It's Child's Play:
The It’s Child’s Play tour has more hands on activities. You will have the opportunity to share your skills and teach children anything from new songs to the school numbers and alphabet.
• Justicia Village Tour:
The Justicia Village tour has more of a cultural emphasis

All of Pride’n Purposes’s expenses are funded by Ulusaba and Virgin Unite, the group’s entrepreneurial foundation, so 100% of donations can be put into the much needed projects to
improve living conditions for the local population. All money raised through those tours goes to the
local communities.

Canyons, Cultures and Contrasts
A day out on the famed ‘Panorama Route’ along the Drakensberg Escarpment: this tour features
visits to the Victorian Town of Pilgrims Rest, the infamous Robber’s Grave, Blyde River Canyon, The
Three Rondavels, God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and Lisbon Waterfalls. You’ll get up close
and personal with some of the region’s natural beauty, and we’ll tell you about the history of the
area’s hardy pioneers. Lunch is enjoyed at Harries Original Pancake Restaurant in Graskop, where
sweet, freshly prepared, pancakes and fresh salads and other country fare are served.
This is a full day excursion.

Cascades and Canyons Spectacular
Take an exhilarating helicopter flight that swoops over deep and mysterious gorges and through
lush valleys bursting with vegetation and colour. Linger above cascading waterfalls for some
brilliant photo opportunities. The flight will continue to God’s Window, which offers awesome panoramic views of the bushveld below. Then it’s on to the fascinating and dramatic rock
formations of the 1 000-metre-deep, 30-kilometrelong Blyde River Canyon, (the third deepest and
greenest Canyon in the World). You will have a bird’s eye view of the curious Three Rondavels!
We will then land at a site with magnificent views of the Mpumalanga Lowveld, while you tuck into a delicious picnic.