Mnemba island, 14th August.
The island is a little tropical spec just off the coast of Zanzibar, three and a half hours from Joburg on the weekly 1Time flight.
A slightly ragged, toothy fellow by the name of Bimji greets us effusively and packs us into a mini van for an hours drive north east across the island and then a short boat transfer to Mnemba where we are greeted by PJ our very good friend and one of the island managers. Also on hand is Christopher, our personal butler. Now there's a new experience. Christopher takes care of such tedious details as getting our luggage to our cottage. There are 12 cottages of tasteful simplicity (pole and woven palm) open to the sea and set at discrete intervals.
The island is fringed by talcum like white sand and shaded by casuarinas and pandanus palms inhabited by constantly cooing doves and tiny antelopes called sunis and a very rare species of duiker. You can walk around it in 20 minutes. Just offshore is the coral atoll that Mnemba is part of - some bleached and damaged coral but dazzling fish including a pod of 12 dolphins who cruised under us out on the reef drop-off.
Life here is understated luxury with very fine fresh seafood meals served at lamplit tables placed out on the beach. But it's surprisingly low key,barefoot and relaxed. The isolation and the tropical castaway island setting is the thing that the 1%ers come for. Nice. Very nice.
Tonight there is a seafood barbecue out on the beach under the stars and and in sight of the distant lights of Zanzibar island. First we have sundowner drinks at PJs cottage - Tusker beer for me and a strawberry daquiri for Sally.
Today, a curious event - a greater flamingo was bought in exhausted from the sea. How it got here, many miles from the nearest soda lake is a mystery. PJ called for help and was referred to a Dr who happened to be a neurologist with an interest in animals. However, the flamingo took matters into it's own hands and was last seen standing on the shore with a flock of egrets. Hope he makes it.