5 African beach paradises you never knew existed

For many of us, paradise equals sunshine, sand, and surf. Cocktails and sunsets are an added bonus. Sun seekers typically head to the Caribbean or Southeast Asia for such pleasures, but if you really want a sublime beachside experiences, and especially one where you’re likely to have the beach to yourself, you need to consider Africa. Madagascar alone has more than 4,000 km of coastline; and South Africa has beaches stretching along both the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean.

Baraza, Zanzibar

Conde Nast has rated Zanzibar’s Bwejuu – Paje Beach as one of the 30 best beaches in the world. So isn’t it time you went? You can walk from the beach out onto the reef wearing special reef shoes which wont damage the coral, snorkel beneath the waves to spot the marine life, and sail, kayak, or surf along the coast to fully appreciate its unspoilt beauty. The Baraza Resort is inspired by Zanzibar’s mixed cultural heritage: it’s a fusion of Arabic, Swahili, and…