Chuini Zanzibar Beach Lodge

Chuini perches on the edge of a bluff, stretching back across some 1.5 hectares of ancient palatial grounds, with many ruins still present. The thatched, whitewashed buildings include two restaurants, a gorgeous lounge and several patios, decorated with appropriately beachy furniture. The tides here rise and fall dramatically, but the lodge management has created a small section of protected powdery white sand on its lagoon side, so there's always some beach for sunbathing. Enjoy the two lavish pools and spa.

Sprawled across the palm-strewn property are 12 bungalows and a two-bedroom villa, accommodating 28 guests in total. The rooms are light and spacious, with their cool whitewashed walls and thatched roofs creating a balmy, tranquil ambience. Each has a private lounge and terrace with shimmering views across the sea to where it dips to the horizon. King-sized beds are dressed with crisp white linens, and draped with generous mosquito nets. En-suite bathrooms have large rain-showers, a basin and a toilet.

The lodge can help you arrange all kinds of activities, from diving and snorkelling to big-game fishing and sunset cruises. Explore nearby Jozani Forest and its populations of birds and red colobus monkeys. Stone Town, with its intriguing history and maze of alleyways, is just a short ride away. Take a spice tour, visit the lively markets (especially the nightly food market), cheerful coffee houses and art galleries. Back at the lodge, the pool, beach and spa await.