Villa Nyangumi

The main lodge faces the Indian Ocean, with several comfortable lounge and bar areas beneath peaked makuti thatch, and a choice of three dining options – a relaxed sand-between-the-toes barbecue area, a vibey main restaurant, and an intimate private space on the upper level for more formal evenings. There’s an indoor pool, plus a larger outdoor pool and sun terrace along the front with glorious beach views, and a children’s adventure playground in the gardens.

There’s a choice of two spacious and comfortable banda-style rooms overlooking the beach, and four larger, more private, cottages with plenty of room for extra beds, scattered across the gardens. The interiors are cool and inviting, with crisp white surfaces and zesty colourful fabrics, cane armchairs, and private verandas in front. The en-suite bathrooms are vast, with high-pressure showers, twin basins and a separate toilet. All come with mosquito nets and air conditioning, and welcome extras like wi-fi and minibars.

Stroll along the sands, swim and snorkel in the sheltered shallows close to the beach, or take a boat cruise to deeper waters for fishing and scuba diving, where you might see lionfish, moray eels and blue spotted rays darting amongst the colourful corals. The kitesurfing is excellent too, with near-perfect conditions for most of the year. If you feel like exploring Dar's attractions and lively retail areas, a day trip can be arranged.