Zanzibar’s allure is legendary. One of East Africa’s great trading centres, the archipelago has been for centuries a crossroads of culture, a melting pot of influences where Africa, India and Arabia meet. A complete change of pace from the mainland, a place where life’s rhythms are set by the monsoon winds and the cycles of the moon.

While Zanzibar Island is most visited, the archipelago is also made up of Pemba to the north, plus numerous smaller islands and islets. Each of the islands has its own distinct character. Zanzibar’s major attraction is Stone Town, with its whitewashed, coral-rag houses, quaint shops, bazaars, mosques, courtyards and squares. Its other draw card is of course its coast line, edged by fine, white-sand beaches and spectacular diving and snorkelling.