Visit Songo Songo Archipelago, Tanzania

The Songo Songo Archipelago is made up of a collection of five tiny islands surrounded by reefs, located to the southwest of the Mafia Islands.

A band of fringe reef protects the islands from the open ocean, stretching approximately 40 kilometres. The islands themselves boast white sandy beaches and palm trees, and are a haven for marine birds. Turtles nest on the beaches here, and can be seen floating gracefully through the turquoise waters. On shore, pale coloured coconut crabs scuttle around the sand. The reefs offer a good variety of corals and marine life to explore, and having the reefs so close allow snorkelling straight off the beach — nearly impossible elsewhere in Tanzania. The islands are wonderfully undeveloped, and only one offers accommodation, adding to the remote, Robinson Crusoe appeal.