Zanzibar

A thousand year old destination and a cultural epicenter for Indian Ocean peoples: Africans, Indians, Arabs, Comorans and wayward Portuguese. The archaic buildings and web of alleyways in the old Stone Town make for fascinating cultural exploration. Visit the spice market, get lost in the alleys, feast on fresh tuna before heading across the island to unwind on long beaches by the sea. There are daily flights direct from all of the Tanzanian safari parks to Zanzibar, making this a popular post-safari escape. We love Mnemba Island, Thanda private atoll and Qambani on Zanzibar for quiet retreat.

MARINE SAFARI

Head to the water for another kind of safari. At Chumbe, snorkel one of most diverse coral gardens on earth. At Mafia, experience incredible surface-water whale shark viewing as they congregate here from January to April. And scuba diving along the East African coast is superb at Pemba and Mafia islands.

THE SEYCHELLES

Maybe the most stunning tropical waters in the world, the Seychelles are the distant storybook islands of lost beaches, giant tortoises and lush peaks rising from the deep. From the world’s best big game fishing to award-winning ‘eco-luxury’ retreats such as North Island, the Seychelles is a complete Indian Ocean experience.