Thanda Island Dining | Thanda Luxury Private Island

Luxury island dining experience.

THANDA ISLAND

As part of Thanda Island’s utterly private, magical island adventure, we offer a luxury dining experience. The cuisine is fresh, delicious and customised to your specific palate. We will contact you ahead of your visit to discuss the menu of your choice and to find out if you have any allergies or specific dietary requirements.

The Chefs source the freshest quality food, including ocean-fresh fish and shellfish, vegan and vegetarian produce, steak, game and chicken; crisp seasonal vegetables and tropical fruits. A variety of herbs are grown in the herb garden on Thanda Island, and tropical fruit and vegetables produced by local farmers are brought in from nearby Mafia Island.

The Chefs make their own coconut milk for the curries, as well as ice cream, sorbet, yoghurt and muesli.

If you enjoy fish and seafood, this is paradise, and the Chefs are fish and seafood masters: the menu includes fish cooked to perfection, fish carpaccio, sashimi, sushi, prawn curries, lobsters freshly caught off Mafia Island, mangrove crabs, tuna, red snappers and a choice of other sea-fresh fish, caught by you or our team. Gather round the Villa’s magnificent dining table or under a canopy of stars for an exotic royal feast. Breakfasts on the beach, picnics on a sandbank in the ocean and spicy Tanzanian cuisine are all part of the Thanda Island dining experience.

What to expect for your island dining experience

Dining on Thanda Island is a taste adventure of the region’s delectable cuisine. Enjoy lunch al fresco on the beach, or on a traditional Arab dhow. Indulge in ocean-fresh seafoods and experience a Swahili feast dedicated to the exotic flavours, spices and aromas of Tanzania. Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, coriander and saffron from the spice island of Zanzibar and coconut milk are used in many of the local dishes. Tanzanian traditional food includes a culinary crossover of Swahili, Arabic and Indian cuisine.

As part of the Island dining experience, there is a romantic, Swahili-themed night dedicated to the flavours of Tanzania and the spices of Zanzibar. The dishes include Swahili curries, prawn curries, rice, chapatis, samosas, local vegetable dishes, local desserts and Swahili chai.

Rice and ugali are two of the Tanzanian national dishes. Ugali is a stiff porridge made with maize, cassava, sorghum and millet. One of the most famous Tanzanian dishes is wali wa nazi – a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk.

For a taste of Italy, join the Chefs in making your own Italian pizza, cooked in the pizza oven. Or travel by boat for an adventure feast on neighbouring Mbarakuni Island. If you would like to fish, Thanda Island’s team will lead your fishing expedition to bring home the catch of the day for the Chefs to prepare for your dinner.

Enjoy an island adventure with exotic Tanzanian cuisine

From ocean-fresh fish and seafood to beef, game and poultry dishes as well as vegetarian and vegan options, Thanda Island’s cuisine is delectably fresh and tailored to your individual tastes. The Chefs will contact you ahead of your visit to discuss your preferred menu options, and special care is taken to cater to all dietary requirements and personal culinary desires.

As part of Thanda Island’s luxury dining experience, the Chefs take great pride in offering our guests a taste adventure that includes traditional Tanzanian cuisine, European flavours and Asian fusions.

For an experience of Tanzanian cuisine, the Chefs prepare a Swahili feast dedicated to the flavours and aromas of Tanzania, tickled with spices from Zanzibar. Swahili curries, rice dishes, grills, local desserts, chai and more.

Ancient Arabian culture is very much part of the East African cultural mix, and the Thanda Island team offers an utterly exotic Arabian evening of indulgence and culinary delights.

Each and every meal and setting on Thanda Island is carefully conceived. From tropical fruit breakfasts at the pool to romantic candlelit dinners on the beach to completely indulgent feasts at the Villa’s vast dining table, island dining on Thanda Island is one of the reasons our guests repeatedly return.

Everything is fresh

Our chefs set a high value on healthy food. Every meal they prepare is fresh, from herbs freshly picked from the Island herb garden to papayas, coconuts, watermelons and pineapples. They make their own coconut milk for the curries, and they handmake the ice cream, sorbet, yoghurt and muesli.

Fish and seafood paradise

If you enjoy fish and seafood, this is paradise, and our chefs are fish and seafood masters: the menu includes fish cooked to perfection, fish carpaccio, sashimi, sushi, prawn curries, lobsters freshly caught off Mafia Island, mangrove crabs, tuna, red snappers and a choice of other sea-fresh fish, caught by you or our team, as well as seasonal oysters freshly-picked from Thanda Island.

Thanda Island pizza

Pizza-making on our private island resort is part of the entertainment. Everyone gets involved at the alfresco dining area, where there is a traditional hand-built Italian pizza oven. Here you can help make the pizzas with a choice of delicious ingredients, including flour from Italy, delicious cheeses, original prosciutto di Parma, cured hams and meats, artichokes, fresh tomatoes and fresh herbs from the island herb garden.

Swahili Feasts

You can experience a Swahili feast dedicated to the flavours and aromas of Tanzania, tickled with the spices from Zanzibar. Swahili curries, rice dishes, grills, local desserts, chai and more. Ancient Arabian culture is infused in East Arica, and we offer your friends and family an exotic experience of Arabian nights with a themed evening of indulgence, with chiffon drapes, incense, Afghan rugs, low tables, Arabian music and culinary delights.

“Outstanding place! Brilliant food, service and activities. Will go again!”

MARTIN GREEN, USA

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Luxury island dining experience.

What to expect for your island dining experience

Enjoy an island adventure with exotic Tanzanian cuisine

Everything is fresh

Fish and seafood paradise

Thanda Island pizza

Swahili Feasts

“Outstanding place! Brilliant food, service and activities. Will go again!”

Plan your stay with us.

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+27 32 586 0149reservations@thanda.co.za

+27 32 586 0149
reservations@thanda.co.za