Karibu! Welcome to Zanzibar, the coral island located in the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar – made up of Unguja, Pemba, Mafia and several Islands – lies about 25 miles off the coast of Tanzania. The luxury beach resort Meliá Zanzibar, built on a 40-acre estate, is on the north-east coast of the island, hemmed in by a natural coral reef.

With 124 tony rooms, including the Melia Garden, Melia Terrace, Family Rooms and the Romance Ocean Front Pavilions, Zanzibar Suites and stunning Villas with private pool and garden to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Once a week, the resort organizes a special Swahili evening with traditional local fare. Besides, the tropical seafood, Arabian, BBQ, Indian and Mediterranean, and Tapas Lunch at the Jetty prove to ably hook gourmands.

Beach volleyball, kayaking and kite surfing are other ways you could keep yourself busy on the Gabi Beach here. If you like fishing, then Zanzibar offers one of the best deep sea fishing grounds in Africa – in the waters of Zanzibar and Pemba Island. If tours are more your thing, explore the old-world charms of Stone Town, and depending on the weather, go on a Dhow for a sunset cruise. Nature enthusiasts can wander through the Jozani Forest to discover its hidden secrets: Red Colobus and Sykes monkeys frolicking in the thicket. Prison Island is a 30-miute ride by boat, and is home to peacocks and 100-year-old giant tortoises: you can snorkel, swim or just chill out in the peace and quiet here.

Spa enthusiasts can restore balance and well-being to the body and mind at Anantara Spa, which offers healing treatments amidst a serene setting.

Getting There: Meliá Zanzibar is about 50-mins away from the international airport of Zanzibar, and the capital city Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The principal airline to Zanzibar is Kenya Airways with transit at Nairobi, while other carriers include KLM, Qatar Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways and British Airways. For visa details, contact the Tanzanian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate.

Book it: www.meliahotels.com

Smitha Sadanandan