Shooting Star Lodge, Kiwengwa

Wonderfully secluded at the northern end of stunning Kiwengwa Beach, the Shooting Star offers a laidback stay on Zanzibar’s little developed east coast. Accommodation includes private pool villas, cottages with ocean-facing verandas and cosy lodge rooms opening onto luxuriant gardens. In keeping with the traditional Zanzibari style, interiors are airy with high-beamed ceilings, handcrafted wooden furnishings and whitewashed walls contrasting with brightly colored fabrics.

You can spend your days relaxing amidst the idyllic surroundings – strolling along the powder soft sands, sipping cocktails under palm trees and lounging by the cliffside infinity pool. For those feeling more active, the lodge’s staff can arrange snorkelling excursions to the nearby Mnemba Atoll, fishing trips with the locals and guided tours around Stone Town and the Jozani Forest. The lodge’s two restaurants are extremely popular, specialising in traditional Zanzibari cuisine and making the most of fresh local seafood. The Beach Bar is the perfect spot for a midday snack, as well as being the venue for romantic beachside BBQs.