Zanzibar Ocean & Reef

After the dust and early starts of a safari, few rewards beat the warm turquoise waters and powder-white sand of Zanzibar. This spice-scented archipelago off the Tanzanian coast is the classic way to round off an East African journey, and its blend of marine life, history and pure relaxation makes it a destination in its own right.

Beneath the surface lies the real treasure. The reefs around Mnemba Atoll and the outer islands are alive with coral, clouds of reef fish, turtles and, in season, dolphins, and the snorkelling and diving rank among the best in the western Indian Ocean. Above the water there are traditional dhows to sail at sunset, sandbanks that appear and vanish with the tide, and tidal flats where seaweed farmers and fishermen work as they have for generations.

Inland, the labyrinth of Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, repays a wander: carved doors, a tangle of alleys, bustling markets and a layered history of Swahili, Arab, Indian and European influence. Spice farm tours explain the cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon that once made these islands rich, and the local seafood is superb.

Whether you want to fill your days with watersports or do nothing more strenuous than move from hammock to sea and back, Zanzibar flexes to suit. It is easily reached by a short flight from the safari circuits, making a bush-and-beach combination simple to arrange.