A Remote Island Retreat on Tanzania’s Southern Coast

Songo Songo Archipelago, Tanzania

Surrounded by coral reefs teeming with marine life and white sand beaches washed by clear blue waters, Fanjove Island is an idyllic private island retreat within the Songo Songo Archipelago. Located along Tanzania’s southern coastline, it offers a rare combination of simplicity, seclusion and natural beauty.

The island is intentionally intimate, with just 10 luxury beach villas scattered along the shoreline. Each villa enjoys uninterrupted ocean views and has been constructed using traditional and natural materials to reduce environmental impact. Interiors are understated yet elegant, featuring ensuite bathrooms along with comfortable sitting and dressing areas that encourage a relaxed island rhythm.

Dining is enjoyed at the open air restaurant, where menus reflect the multicultural heritage of the region with fragrant curries and freshly caught seafood. A favourite moment of the day is sundowners atop the island’s historic 19th century lighthouse, offering sweeping views across the Indian Ocean.

Highlights and Activities at Fanjove Island

ROOMS: 10 luxury beach villas

BEST FOR: Honeymooners and couples

ACTIVITIES:

  • Snorkelling
  • Scuba diving through the PADI dive centre
  • Traditional dhow cruises
  • Marine safaris
  • Sandbank excursions
  • Fanjove nature trail
Fanjove Island, Tanzania

WHY WE LOVE Fanjove Island

Fanjove Island has been thoughtfully designed to minimise its environmental footprint and protect the island’s fragile ecosystem. This commitment to conservation is evident in the pristine condition of the surrounding coral reefs, which extend for miles and support a flourishing diversity of marine life.

The result is a private island experience that feels both indulgent and responsible, ideal for travellers seeking meaningful seclusion in a truly unspoilt setting.

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 FAQs About Fanjove Island

Where is Fanjove Island located?

Fanjove Island is one of four coral islands within the Songo Songo Archipelago, forming a secluded sanctuary just off the east coast of Tanzania. Set within protected marine waters, the island is surrounded by healthy coral reefs and clear Indian Ocean seas, offering a rare combination of privacy, natural beauty and rich marine biodiversity.

Is Fanjove Island suitable for honeymooners?

Yes. With just 10 private villas, a secluded setting and a strong focus on privacy, Fanjove Island is particularly well suited to honeymooners and couples.

What activities can I enjoy on Fanjove Island?

Guests at Fanjove Island can enjoy a range of ocean and island based experiences, including:

  • Snorkelling along the surrounding coral reefs
  • Scuba diving through the on site PADI dive centre
  • Traditional dhow cruises along the coastline
  • Marine safaris to explore the surrounding waters
  • Whale shark excursions, seasonally available
  • Sandbank excursions for secluded beach experiences
  • Guided walks along the Fanjove nature trail

What safari destinations pair well with Fanjove Island?

Fanjove Island pairs exceptionally well with Tanzania’s northern and southern safari regions, making it an ideal Indian Ocean beach extension after a wildlife focused journey.

Northern Circuit
Fanjove Island combines beautifully with Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. After days spent exploring classic savannah landscapes and enjoying iconic wildlife encounters, Fanjove offers a peaceful island retreat where travellers can unwind and slow the pace.

Southern Circuit
Fanjove Island is also an excellent match for Tanzania’s Southern Circuit, particularly Ruaha National Park and Nyerere National Park. These regions share a similar sense of remoteness and low visitor density, creating a seamless transition from immersive safari experiences to a secluded island escape.

How do you Get to Fanjove Island?

Guests typically fly from Dar es Salaam via Mafia Island to Songo Songo Island, with Coastal Aviation operating a scheduled flight once daily. The flight time is approximately 50 minutes, offering scenic views along Tanzania’s coastline.

On arrival at Songo Songo airstrip, guests are transferred a short distance to the shoreline, where a 45 minute boat or traditional dhow journey carries you across to Fanjove Island. The final approach is part of the experience, with the island slowly revealing itself from the water.

Ready to start planning Your Safari?

Reach out and let’s start talking. We’ll listen and begin to tailor an experiential, private, luxury vacation based on exactly how you want to experience Africa. From adventure to relaxation—and everything in between—let us handle every detail of your unforgettable journey.

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What Ubuntu Travelers Are Saying

 
 
 
  
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Absolute 1st class travel planning.  We had the most amazing and memorable trip, and as a person who likes to travel plan myself, this trip had so many moving parts there's no way I could have tackled it. I'd give Ubuntu an 11/10 rating if I could.  They made our travel seamless, relaxed, and delivered the most incredible experience.  100% we will use them again.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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What an incredible South Africa trip Ubuntu planned for my wife and I! Ubuntu set us up with full-day guided Peninsula and Winelands tours during our few days in Cape Town, followed by four days of Safari game drives at the Savanna Lodge within the Sabi Sands Nature Reserve. A huge thank you to Ubuntu for finding a perfect balance/mix of fun activities and relaxed downtime throughout out trip! Ubuntu took care of all the travel logistics once we got down to South Africa. Ubuntu set us up with our Guest Experience Liaison that would check-in with us ever couple of days and was available on call if we needed any sort of logistical support. We didn't end up needing to lean on our liaison since everything went so smoothly, but surely felt we had all the support we needed had something come up. We know we will be utilizing Ubuntu the next time we travel to Africa and highly recommend Ubuntu to anyone else planning a trip to Africa!
  
 
 
 
 
 
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12 August 2026
 
 
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From the plains of the Serengeti to the shores of Zanzibar, Ubuntu Travel designed an unforgettable Tanzanian package to celebrate a milestone birthday. I was especially grateful that they embraced this solo traveler and ensured that every detail was planned out in advance, making this a trip of a lifetime.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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24 July 2026
 
 
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Ubuntu Travel planned the most epic safari vacay for my husband and in Tanzania.  We loved every place we stayed and every detail was taken care of!  Their communication was exceptional! 100 out of 10!
  
 
 
 
 
 
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15 July 2026
 
 
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Best vacation of our lives!!  My husband and I booked with Ubuntu for an unforgettable vacation to Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar this past June.  The experience and support of Ubuntu was beyond our wildest dreams.  We had first class, 5 star luxury service from start to finish.  Jenna was absolutely amazing and was always a text, email or phone call away to answer our 100s of questions we had during the planning process.  Owner's, Kyle and Leah were so kind as to even share links with my husband and I from some of their favorite stores so we could look safari chic.  The care and support we were given during this entire vacation were top tier.  The vacation itself was so personal, intimate and beautiful.  The accommodations were breathtaking.    Every lodge and camp left us speechless other than uttering the word, WOW, over and over.  The service and staff at the lodges and camps were first class and luxurious. I didn't know a tented camp could be so fancy.  I could have never dreamed of having a hot shower in the middle of the Serengeti with fresh French pressed African coffee brought to our tent every morning, or a 3 course breakfast with fresh fruit smoothies in the Masai Mara.  We felt connected and so safe throughout our 3 week journey.  The safaris were breathtaking and educational.  You cannot describe how incredible this vacation is, you have to experience it and Ubuntu gave us a vacation of a lifetime.  I cannot recommend Ubuntu enough to anyone looking to book a luxury African vacation.  They did the hard work for us all the way down to sending us our beautifully embroidered Ubuntu duffle bag.  Great customer service, great company, great people!
  
 
 
 
 
 
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We loved working with Ubuntu.  From start to finish they were easy to work with. They really listened to what we wanted and planned the perfect trip. Their support in getting ready and throughout our trip was truly excellent (they really took great care of us). We had a flight cancelled and they went all out to get us back on track so we did not miss a thing.  Their planning, work and local partners on the ground really allowed us to relax and be present. We had the trip of a lifetime and would absolutely use them again. Highly recommend.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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Wow!  Ubuntu Travel planned the most amazing trip to Uganda for me.  I cannot say enough good things about the meticulous planning they provided.  Not only were they superb in planning, they also checked in while I was on my trip.  The lodges I stayed at were spectacular, my guide seemed hand picked just for me and the scenery was beautiful and the food was 5 star quality.  It was the most amazing trip of a lifetime.  I am hoping to go back to Uganda someday.  I definitely am going back to Africa and there is no doubt that I will be using Ubuntu Travel to plan my trip! I cannot imagine ever using anyone but Ubuntu for travel to Africa.
  
 
 
 
 
 
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14 March 2026
 
 
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Ubuntu planned our honeymoon to Tanzania recently and it was the greatest trip of our lives--and it's not even close. From start to finish, everything was taken care of. Ubuntu plans the type of trip where you don't even have to think--travel stress is off the table. After a brief call to discuss options, we had an itinerary sent to us with the perfect combination of safari and beach. If you've come across Ubuntu, you're done searching. Just do it. At the end of our trip, my wife and I agreed: "If this is the best trip we ever take for the rest of our lives, we're okay with that."
  
 
 
 
 
 
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6 February 2026
 
 
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We cannot thank Ubuntu enough for planning such a special trip for our honeymoon. From beginning to end, the trip was so smooth. Every point of contact in South Africa was so kind, helpful, punctual, and informational. They partner with incredible companies, and they really know what they are doing. Leah, Kyle, and Jenna planned the perfect trip for us, and they were readily available for any questions we had.They selected the most stunning places for us to stay, and we experienced such a range of types of hospitality. We felt so spoiled and taken care of the entire trip. Would strongly recommend Ubuntu for anyone who was traveling to Africa. They were a dream to work with.