Hello Fashion Monthly - March 2019

120 HELLOFASHION.COM

STAYUnlike Zanzibar’s

mainland, this under-the-radar

archipelago has remained

one of Africa’s hidden gems,

untouched by mass tourism.

The Constance Aiyana, one of

only three main hotels on

Pemba, just about ticks every

fantasy retreat box: otherworldly

views; private island-style luxury

and exceptional staff. A 90-

minute drive from Pemba

airport past palm-lined villages

takes you through the dramatic

Ngezi forest – we’re told to keep

our eyes peeled for flying foxes

and bush babies. On arrival,

you’re greeted by smiley staff

then whisked off to a spacious

beach villa, complete with a

terrace facing the vast swathes of

Indian Ocean and private

garden with an open-air shower.

Colourful paintings pop

against white walls, while

wooden sculptures and masks

painted pillar-box red are

dotted around the fragrant

tropical gardens that frame the

resort. Blissful solitude reigns

supreme here, so don’t be

surprised to have the infinity

pool, or even the beach,

entirely to yourself.

DOMassages with mango scrubs

and coconut-infused oils at the

Maji Spa are good enough to eat

(literally – the ingredients are so

pure) and produced by local

women-run businesses. Soak up

the culture on a bike ride

through the nearby villages, or

take a lesson in Swahili fashion.

Adventure lovers can admire the

Amazonian-like fauna while

kayaking through the

mangroves, then set sail for the

top dive spots – bustling marine

life and untouched corals are a

major draw. After dark, prepare

for heavenly star-filled

nightscapes with a romantic

lantern-lit dinner on the beach.

EATAt breakfast you’ll be plied

with just-picked exotic fruits and

pancakes – the homemade jams

and honey are delicious. The

dining menu changes daily, with

an abundance of fresh catch –

steamed red snapper, tuna and

slipper lobster are favourites. And

don’t leave without trying the

traditional Swahili fish curries

and stews, flavoured using the

island’s fresh spices.

PRICESFour nights in a

Constance Aiyana beach villa

(constancehotels.com), all-

inclusive, plus a night on arrival

at the Park Hyatt Zanzibar, from

£2,255 per person, including

flights; turquoiseholidays.co.uk.

FROM TOP

A tranquil beach

picnic on Pemba

Island; spices laid out

for a Swahili fish

stew; boat excursion

to explore the

sandbanks and

sealife; a prestige

villa’s bathroom

DREAM DESTINATION

FROMTOP

The bedroom

of a senior suite;

a bird’s eye view

of the resort; HFM’s

Elle hard at work;

candlelit beach

dinners and

ocean views

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: ELLE SIXSMITH

hfmTRAVEL

Deserted powder-white beaches,

lush landscapes and all-year-round heat

discover Tanzania’s secret paradise

PEMBA ISLAND