Zanzibar

Zanzibar is an archipelago off the Tanzanian coast with a history as a Swahili, Omani and colonial trading centre, and it held one of the last open slave markets in the world. Stone Town, its old quarter, is a UNESCO World Heritage site of carved doors and narrow lanes. Most visitors come for the beaches on the east and north coasts, which is a fine way to end a safari and a poor way to see the island.

The east coast has dramatic tides and at low water you may not be able to swim from the beach, so choose your coast by what you actually want to do. Ramadan changes opening hours and the atmosphere in Stone Town considerably. Dress modestly away from the resorts.