Turquoise waters and white sand beach at Nungwi, Zanzibar

Standing in the warm shallows at Nungwi with traditional dhows moored behind

Infinity pool with rattan loungers, thatched beach umbrellas and turquoise Indian Ocean

Thatched beach bar with a bartender preparing drinks, electric blue ocean framed beyond

Freddie Mercury photo card on a beach bar in Zanzibar, his birthplace

Silhouette of a lone figure walking on the beach at dusk, dhow boats on the horizon, Zanzibar

Path lined with vivid magenta bougainvillea leading down to the infinity pool and ocean

Local with a huge smile and reflective sunglasses, beach and turquoise sea reflected in the lenses

Chalk drawing of a fish on wood with the word 'Samaki' — fish in Swahili

Hotel lit up at night, Moorish archways reflected in the illuminated pool

Wild turquoise ocean framed by lush vegetation and white sand, Zanzibar

Lizard basking on terracotta steps in the hotel gardens

Long shadow of a photographer cast across white sand, dhow boats moored in the turquoise channel

Coaster from the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa, Zanzibar — the hotel's original name

Tip

Birthplace of Freddie Mercury. Turquoise Indian Ocean. Two nights that felt like a week.

Photo · Dave

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/Zanzibar

Hotel Riu Palace Zanzibar

No visit to Zanzibar is complete without acknowledging the island's most famous son. Farrokh Bulsara was born in Stone Town in 1946 — he became Freddie Mercury, and the place knows it. You'll see his face on menus, on walls, in bars. Our beach bar had a little Freddie card propped up by the bottles. Felt right.

Some of the best two nights of any trip I can remember. Lock it down and just go.

How to get here Zanzibar

The move Lock it down and just go

Website thehideaway-zanzibar.com

Tip byDave