Tropical islands are my thing. It’s my goal in life to visit as many as financially possible. I love how far removed they are from my hectic London life and how zen they make me feel. I crave blue skies, palm trees, sunshine, the works – and now I’m off to Zanzibar, a destination I’ve been keen to visit since I discovered that it was an actual place, not just a grimy nightclub in Leicester.

The thing with tropical islands, though, is they’re never easy to get to. Zanzibar is approximately 50km off the coast of mainland Tanzania, and by the time I arrive at what must be the world’s smallest – and most chaotic – airport, it’s around 18 hours since I left Heathrow. After another two hours driving north through small villages, we turn left down an unpaved mud track. It feels like I’m arriving at Hogwarts for the first time: I have no idea what awaits me, but as we drive through the ornate wooden gates of Zuri Zanzibar, I realise all that travelling has been worth it.

The resort is situated on the far north-western shores of Kendwa, a village on the island of Unguja, which, to save confusion, is usually referred to as Zanzibar because it’s the largest and most populated island in the Zanzibar Archipelago. Made up of 55 eco-friendly bungalows, villas and suites, each one is perfectly placed along a sunset-facing cliff. At the bottom lies 300 metres of private beach, the silky white sand and Indian Ocean perfectly juxtaposed against the hotel’s impressive flora. If the sea isn’t your thing, there’s also a 32-metre infinity pool that overlooks the ocean and makes for the perfect #paradise Instagram shot.

Travel inspiration: relax in an eco-friendly paradise on the island of Zanzibar