Beach

An African beach hideaway is within easy reach of almost any safari destination, and the choice is almost limitless. For a beach break we do not recommend Africa's Atlantic shores: the waves tend to be heavy and the water, especially in southern latitudes, is cold. Look east though, and Africa’s beautiful Indian Ocean coastline stretches right down from the Horn of Africa, through Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique through to South Africa's Eastern Cape. Offshore island groups include the barefoot luxury of the Seychelles, the sophisticated resorts of Mauritius, the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba and the little-visited archipelagos off the coast of Mozambique. What these wonderful places share are clear, warm waters, with good diving, snorkeling and watersports: a few days on the beach are a wonderful finale to any safari.

Which beach you choose depends on your personal tastes and the ease of air links from your African safari. South Africa, Mauritius and the Seychelles probably have the best reputation for sophisticated luxury, and here you'll find elegant hotels and resorts with high standards of cuisine and comfort. Island properties scattered off the coasts of Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya shelter some superb options, with thatched cottages a few sandy footsteps from the sea providing small and intimate hidden hideaways. Scarcely explored by the wider world, some of the islands off Madagascar have recently been developed with luxurious small resorts well off the beaten track, while freshwater Lake Malawi also has some lovely resorts and hotels on unspoiled islands and beaches: a truly unusual beach destination.

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