Pemba Lodge

The main area of the lodge is one large, open-sided, thatched building, which incorporates the lounge, bar and dining room. Heavy wooden furniture is carved from old dhow sail boats, and splashed with colourful Tanzanian fabrics and cushions, and there's authentic, island vibe around, as if Robinson Crusoe himself had built it. The bar is a sociable hangout, but dinner is normally served at private tables. Expect lots of fresh seafood bought daily from the local fisherman.

Chilling on the postcard-perfect beach is certainly a highlight at Pemba Lodge, but there's plenty more to keep you busy if you're keen for adventure. Start with a walk through the pristine forest with its abundance of plants and animals, or explore the reef at low tide with one of the guides. At high tide, take a kayak for a paddle around the island and explore the mangroves, don a mask and snorkel the vibrant underwater world or, even better, organise a dive off Pemba's mainland - the diversity of marine life here, along with the pristine condition of the coral reefs, is quite simply as good as it gets. And then , when the day is done, don't miss the chance to gaze at the heavens - you're about as far away from city lights as you can get.