Zanzibar

Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous island group in the Indian Ocean and part of Tanzania. Its two main islands are Unguja, which most people simply call Zanzibar, and Pemba to the north. Centuries of trade with Arabia, India and the African mainland produced the Swahili culture you see in its language, food and architecture.

Unguja has the beaches and most of the hotels. The north coast at Nungwi and Kendwa has the least tide and the best swimming. The east coast, from Matemwe down to Paje and Jambiani, has long shallow lagoons, kitesurfing, and boat access to the reefs of Mnemba Atoll. Stone Town, on the west coast, is the old trading capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pemba is greener, hillier and far less visited, with a few small lodges and some of the best wall diving in East Africa.

Zanzibar pairs naturally with a safari. Flights from Arusha and the Serengeti take about an hour, and from Dar es Salaam twenty minutes. June to October and December to February are the dry seasons. The islands are largely Muslim, and modest dress is expected away from the beach.