For those who truly wish to get away from it all there is no better place than the eastern side of Zanzibar Island, where there are numerous glorious beaches and simple fishing villages. The east coast of Zanzibar is lined with powder-white beaches which look out towards a long barrier reef, about a kilometre offshore. Inland there's a coastal strip of coconut palms within which there are small fishing villages and a variety of places to stay. This area is also the site of the Dunga Ruins, the site of a palace built by Ahmed bin Mohamed bin Hassan el Alawi in 1845. Treasure is rumoured to be buried in the ruins, but it also reputed to be haunted by the ghosts of the slaves who were sacrificed and buried in the foundations.

Lodges here generally have more space than those in the Nungwi area, but like the north, the beaches here slope very little. This means that when the tide is out, the water retreats a long way and swimming from the beach is difficult – although paddling to the top of the exposed reef with the right local guide is fascinating!

There's good diving and snorkelling here, and Matemwe Beach Village and Retreat has a nearby dive centre for easy diving and snorkelling trips.