Slowly Slowly in Mafia Island

Once you have passed security and paid your marine park fee ($24 per day) you will be met by your driver and privately transferred to Pole Pole. The scenic journey takes around 20 minutes, arriving just in time for lunch.

A relaxed, luxurious eco-retreat, Pole Pole ('slowly slowly' in Swahili) blends seamlessly into the surrounding environment. From taking a stroll through swaying coconut palms to listening to the gentle lapping of waves along the beach, it's easy to switch off, slow down and settle in to island life here. Once you've checked in, head to the beachside restaurant for a delicious lunch and spend the day at leisure. You will be spending the next 10 nights here.

Relaxation is the order of the day. Shake off any strains with an alfresco spa treatment, take a leisurely stroll along the dazzling white beaches and embrace your inner sun lizard dozing along the shore.

In the late afternoon, set out on a sunset dhow cruise and watch the sky turn from turquoise to pink and ember.

Pole Pole is located on the doorstep of Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania's first marine park and home to some of the most biodiverse reefs in East Africa (think: over 42 coral species and over 400 fish species). The diving here is tidal, taking place either inside or outside the bay, and while inside the bay is open to all divers, outside the bay is only open to advanced as most of the sites are wall dives with deeper depths.

Enjoy your surface interval marooned on a deserted sandbank before heading back under the waves to explore. In the evening, recount the day's diving as you feast on a fresh fish supper.

Setting out by 4x4, head inland through great swathes of tropical rainforest, passing small villages and spotting wildlife before arriving at the hidden Chuwia beach in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring this hidden cove before heading back to Pole Pole in time for sundowners.

Visit between October and March and head out with the local fishermen to find whale sharks as they feed on plankton just a few hundred yards from the beach. There is nothing quite like being dwarfed by these gentle giants as you swim alongside them.

Discover a plethora of technicolour nudibranch straight from the shores of the aptly named Nudi City site, swim with two giant (and we mean giant) potato groupers, turtles, rays and more inside the bay at Kinasi Pass, and head outside of the bay to spot larger pelagics along deep walls, fringing reefs, caves, caverns… you get the gist.

When not diving, go island hopping, swim in mirror-topped lagoons and stroll down deserted sandbanks. Chole Island is definitely worth a visit to explore the eerie ruins of buildings occupied by the Germans in the First World War (look out for Comoro bats). Or for ruins worthy of an Indiana Jones film, head to Juani Island to see the ancient city of Kua enveloped in rainforest.

Look out for dolphins as you sail south to one of the archipelago's most beautiful coral reefs, where you can snorkel to spot any marine life you might have missed while diving (or take a final look at your favourites) - including massive rays. Lunch is served on a deserted sandbank before sailing back to Pole Pole in time for sundowners.

Indulge in a massage at The Alasiri Spa or take a final dip in the sea before you are transferred to the airstrip for your flight to Dar es Salaam.

Once you have arrived in Dar es Salaam board your international flight to London Heathrow. The flight will transition through East Africa or Europe en route, taking around 12 hours.