Mvuvi Boutique Resort

For those of us in the Northern and/or Western hemispheres, Zanzibar City is already half a world away. Even more remote is the spectacular white-sand Kiwengwa Beach, on the northeast coast of Unguja, an hour’s drive across the island from the city. Mvuvi Boutique Resort isn’t the only hotel to have sprung up along the Kiwengwa coast in recent decades, but it feels like something singular all the same; with its thatched-roof construction and its supremely relaxed atmosphere, it feels like a secret oasis tucked into the jungle right along the beach.

The concept is Swahili heritage and Western comfort, and it’s a concept faithfully executed, with local crafts decorating the rooms alongside modern fixtures and unsexy (but welcome) high-tech touches like free wi-fi. What you’re here for, though, is to experience the stunning relaxation on offer here, and to take part in a roster of activities that include world-class diving and snorkeling, as well as cultural tours, a variety of seafaring expeditions, and visits to the wildlife in the Jozani Forest Natural Reserve. The cuisine is a pleasing Mediterranean-Swahili fusion, served in the shade of the terrace with views out into the endless expanse of the Indian Ocean.