Bawe Island has some of excellent snorkelling spots. Around a 30 minutes boat ride and slightly more expensive than the boat to Prison Island, it is much less visited.

In 1870, the Island was used to anchor the first telegraph cables to Zanzibar linking it with Seychelles, South Africa, and Aden. A further line was run across to Stone Town, into the old Extelcoms building, now the Zanzibar Serena Inn.

If complete isolation and privacy is what you are after, then Bawe Island is the perfect place to stay. There are 15 private cottages scattered along the beach front, all with breath-taking panoramic views of the ocean, and all tastefully decorated in soft colours to enhance the relaxed pace of life.

 The beach is excellent at low tide, with unusual stone formations, and is some good snorkelling to be had on the Island’s reef,