Have you got your beach bod in order? Is your six-pack primed for some serious sun, sea, sand and sex appeal? Are the swaying palm trees calling your name? Then throw your bikins and budgie smugglers in a duffel bag and let's all go to the seaside, safari-style...



Of course, not everyone has six-packs. Many of us have the cooler box the six-pack sits in and have been unsuccessfully working on our swimsuit model look for decades. That's the best thing about getting away from it all on a remote African beach far from everywhere - no one really cares about the cellulite and love handles or whether the speedos are a bit too retro for your gentleman's area, because hey, this is wilderness-sur-mer - wild and out of the way.

Africa is blessed with some of the most beautiful, gob-smackingly awesome beaches and beach destinations in the world. And it's our job to send you to the ones where you'll find the paradise old poet Mr Milton lost somewhere back in the mid 1600s. From the Seychelles to the Maldives and the Tanzanian coast, we've assembled some of our best-loved beach destinations for your consideration and delight.

So come with us as we transport you to the land of turquoise and white, where the sand is like baby powder and the sun kisses like a lusty latin lover...

Seychelles, say me...

"... Say it together, naturally." Yup, Lionel Ritchie had no idea we'd murder his masterpiece but hey, if the headline fits! And when it comes to the Seychelles, it's the perfect fit because these unfathomably gorgeous collection of islands are up there with the best on Planet Earth, especially for helpless romantics sold on the dream of the ultimate beach escape à deux.

There's the alluring Alphonse Island, part of the Alphonse group of islands that belong to the Seychelles' outer island chain. With just a single resort, this is Robinson Crusoe meets Conde Naste with a side order of fabulous thrown in for good measure. Or how about Denis Private Island, with its choice of colonial-style cottages tucked in amongst the native forest habitat, all accessing a wrap-around beach? 

Then there's Cosmoledo Eco Camp on Wizard Island, part of the Cosmoledo Atoll. It's about as authentic and unspoiled as it gets in the Seychelles, so forget sitting on your cellphone glued to meaningless pet videos and experience the thrill of a full digital detox and give your cozzies a run for their money. Finally, we love Astove Coral House on Astove Atoll, one of the most remote uninhabited islands on offer with pristine coral reefs and a beach experience to die for.

Magnificent, magical Maldives

You've all seen the picture-postcard coral atolls fringed with impossibly white sand and lapped by crystal clear turquoise seas with amazing rooms suspended on stilts above the endless blue ocean... Well, it's actually even better in real life as our very own Sian will attest to, having recently returned from a trip to the Maldives. If you don't believe us, you'll just have to go yourselves to make sure we're not telling pork pies.

Choosing between so many slices of paradise is a hard ask, but there's a handful of truly special destinations that really float our boat. First up is Six Senses Laamu - the only resort in the Laamu Atoll. You can go all castaway and desert island diva to your heart's content in ab fab over-water villas or grab the fandamily and get some "we" time in at the family beachfront villas.

COMO Cocoa Island is in the South Malé Atoll just 40 minutes by speedboat from the international airport in the capital of Malé. It's also heavenly and everything a committed beach bum needs for the perfect seaside rendezvous, with its over-water villas mimicking the shape of the local dhoni boats. 

On its own island in the South Ari Atoll, Constance Moofushi is all about the simple art of luxury (and all that jazz) and getting wet. Like in and under the water wet. With some pretty amazing dive sites and superlative snorkelling you can make like a mer person with ease.

Speaking of mer people, Gili Lankanfushi on Lankanfushi Island in the North Malé Atoll is to breathing under water what Jason Momoa is to making men in fish suits look good, thanks to its off the charts diving and marine life that makes Finding Nemo look pale in comparison. The accommodation is to die for too, just in case you were wondering.

Last on our list of hot hits is Kudadoo, the only completely solar-powered and absolutely fully inclusive resort in the Maldives and something of an architectural wonder to boot. On the small but perfectly formed Kudadoo Island in the Lhaviyani Atoll, its ethos is "anything, anywhere, anytime" making you the absolute centre of attention and nothing too much trouble. It's sustainable, sexy and everything really is included, with unlimited excursions and watersports thrown in.

Tantalising Tanzania

The coast of this East African country is home to some of the most stunning beach resorts and private islands on the continent, making it the obvious complement to a traditional safari to boot. We're going to just jump right in and rave about Mnemba Island (our main image at the top of this page), 3km off the northeast coast of Zanzibar.

Small, exclusive and intimate, with just 12 simple but exquisite beachside bandas - the local vernacular for a beach hut - you'll be one of a maximum of 24 guests enjoying a complete escape from reality, even if just for a few days. 

On Zanzibar itself is Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar, originally developed as a private getaway for ABBA's Benny Andersson. So if you have a dream and want to take a chance on this little slice of Scandi-cum-Arabian heaven, then just say gimme, gimme, gimme and we'll lay all our love on you.

Come on, you didn't really expect us not to take advantage of anything ABBA related did you? Seriously, though, it's a really super (trouper) place with its gorgeous domed and shuttered pavilions screaming romance.

Matemwe Lodge is on Zanzibar's northeastern coast and is a famously relaxed beachside idyll that appeals to families and couples alike. So you can honeymoon in heaven or drag the rug rats away from their devices and introduce them to the great outdoors, with a sandpit par excellence thrown in to boot. Or you can do both, because we're totally cool with the vagiaries of modern family holiday dynamics!

Off, now, to beautiful Fanjove Island in the Songosongo Archipelago off the southern coastline of the Tanzanian mainland. It's the real deal, complete with obligatory swaying palms, impossibly turquoise ocean and sand like baby powder. With just 10 eco-friendly guest villas you're not going to be stuck in queues at the buffet or fighting for loungers before dawn. Instead, you'll be doing the desert island dance of pure delight. 

Which brings us to journey's end and the flabbergastingly fantastic Manta Resort on Pemba Island with its underwater room that takes the cake, biscuit and whole baked caboodle when it comes to immersing you (cough) in pure beach brilliance. Yes, that's right. Underwater room. Like sleeping in a reverse fish tank where the fish are on the outside looking in. In a big, blue bubble. The rest of the accommodationis on terra firma with drop-dead gorgeous seafront villas and private, secluded garden rooms. 

To get your beach vibe buzzing, get in touch and let's chat!