ZANZIBAR

The legacy of African, Arab, Indian, Portuguese and, of course, Zanzibari cultures has forged the unique identity of this Tanzanian archipelago, situated about 22 miles from the continent. This all becomes crystal clear when you take a tour of Stone Town, the historic capital now on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Sultans' palaces mingle amongst handsome Arab houses and modest Indian dwellings against a delightfully colourful backdrop that is instantly appealing. After a spot of sightseeing, you can head guilt-free to one of the beaches, either to take it easy with a book in the shade of a palm tree or to put on snorkel and fins to explore the teeming marine wildlife. In fact, the Zanzibar archipelago's translucent waters offer a world of shimmering tropical fish of every colour under the sun, as well as starfish and sea anemones, their tentacles swaying gracefully in the current. The beauty is that snorkelling is accessible to everyone; you don't have to be a qualified diver.

If you can drag yourself away from the delights of the ocean, the island has lots more in store inland: an exhilarating hike through stunning tropical forest, a tour of a spice farm followed by a cooking class or going out to meet the locals, for instance visiting a fishing village where you can watch traditional sailing vessels out in the lagoon as well as women harvesting seaweed at low tide. So many fascinating experiences to lure you away from your sun lounger – which you can collapse into with a smile on your face after an unforgettable day getting to know the island.