Africa's Island Escapes

Out in the Indian Ocean lies Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world. Though physically close to Africa now, 100 million years ago Madagascar was in fact part of the Gondwana supercontinent, attached to the Indian peninsula. An estimated 75% of the wildlife here - including nearly 15,000 species of plants, 103 species and sub-species of lemur, and 260 different types of reptile - are found nowhere else on earth. This incredible biodiversity, not to mention the epic landscapes, magnificent resorts, pristine white beaches and seemingly endless possibilities for discovery and adventure, makes Madagascar an island paradise you’ll never forget.

If a private island is more your thing, then Mozambique’s Quilalea is exactly what you need. If Robinson Crusoe had a taste for the finer things in life, this is exactly where he would have stayed. The island’s Azura Retreat has 11 luxurious infinity villas, all with king sized beds and panoramic baths, exquisite sun decks and private pools, and you can spend your days kayaking through the mangroves, diving in crystal clear waters, or simply reading your book in a hammock hung from a baobab tree. A few days chilling out on Quilalea is the perfect end to a Mozambican safari, so why not treat yourself?

Closer to the mainland, just off the eastern coast of Tanzania, is Zanzibar, an archipelago of spice islands where UNESCO World Heritage sites lie side-by-side with palm tree-fringed beaches, mangroves and coral reefs just waiting to be explored. The shallow sandbars and wealth of marine life make it the perfect place to dive, snorkel or enjoy a ride in a glass bottomed boat. If that all sounds a little too active, why not relax at the Baraza Resort and Spa? Set on its own white beach - rated by Conde Nast as one of the top 30 beaches in the world - time seems to stand still at Baraza. Elegant arches and high ceilings define the architectural style, whilst the interiors are exquisitely decorated with hand-carved furniture, intricate brass lanterns and exotic wall coverings. The hotel’s Frangipani Spa Zanzibar is the final word in luxury, featuring its own plunge pool with underwater music, candle-lit treatment rooms, and professional therapists from Thailand, Bali and India.

Last but certainly not least is the tiny, granite North Island in the Seychelles, an exclusive spot which shot to fame in 2011 as the honeymoon destination of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Follow barefoot in their foot prints along the shores of this ocean paradise, the rushing of waves across the rocks and the occasional twitter of birds the only sounds to disturb you. On a guided walk to the island’s highest point, Spa Hill, you’ll learn about North Island’s fascinating history of pirates and ship wrecks, come close to the indigenous tortoises, and find out about the ambitious Noah’s Ark Island rehabilitation programme. Dine on sumptuous, freshly prepared dishes in the candlelit Piazza restaurant, or grab a cocktail and some tapas-style barbecue snacks as you watch the sun sink below the horizon from the resort’s West Beach Bar.