Africa boasts some of the gorgeous islands that the world has to offer, including the likes of Madagascar and Seychelles. All around the African continent are there islands that have white sands, clear seas and palm trees, allowing the tourist to sit back and relax without having to burn their pocket.
1. Zanzibar - Tanzania
Situated off of the coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is a very popular island that is known for its warm temperatures all year long. Flanked by its white sandy beaches and clear blue oceans, the island is a gorgeous getaway within the African continent, and always a great suggestion for a holiday.
Zanzibar’s major attraction is Stone Town, with its whitewashed, coral rag houses, charming shops, bazaars, mosques, squares and courtyards.
Zanzibar also has accommodation that ranges from luxury beachfront cottages to exclusive boutique hotels and elegant spa resorts - so the island is both family-friendly and great for honeymoons.
Hideaway resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Picture: Lonely Planet
2. La Digue - Seychelles
La Digue is the third inhabited island of the Seychelles, and boy is it gorgeous. Boasting a population of just over 2300 people, La Digue has managed to escape the somewhat rampant tourist development that affects Mahé and Praslin, and gives off a very laid-back vibe for tourists and visitors to the beautiful island.
While on the island, tourists get to see La Passe on the east of the island, or travel by ferry to neighbouring islands Praslin and Mahé. Whether you prefer the long sweeping arcs of pristine white sand to the south, or the beautiful Anse Source D'Argent, which is framed by massive granite boulders, the beaches of the island are also an attraction not to be missed.
There is also a tour of the island's chocolate factory where tourists can even get a taste of the chocolate that is produced. One aspect to note is that there is no airport on the island, so tourists will have to fly to Victoria, where they will be transported to La Digue via ferry.
The Anse Marron beach in La Digue, Seychelles. Picture: Nikolai Sorokin
Situated on the east of Madagascar, Reunion Island is a sight to behold despite it being a very small island. The island is is home 865 826 people, some of whom live in villages that are inside the old craters from the island's volcano.
The Piton de la Fournaise, on the east side of the island has more than 150 recorded eruptions and is a major tourist attraction.
Apart from the active volcano, the island is also home to some of the best marine life and biodiversity, making it a popular destination for tourists who enjoy hikes.
Reunion Island has some of the prettiest villages in the French community with its French colonial architecture and lush gardens, it could give Singapore a run for its money in terms of being a green, clean and manicured island city. Overall, Reunion Island has a lot to offer tourists, and surprisingly it has not received a large amount of tourists every year, so it's definitely a gem to visit.
The Piton de la Fournaise, Reunion Island. Picture: Supplied
4. Comoros Islands - Comoros
Like their better-known Indian Ocean sisters Mauritius and the Seychelles, the Comoros have tropical charm: the temperature is a blissful 20 to 30°C year-round, palms swing in the breeze, and the water is turquoise.
The Comoros Islands cater to most of the types of the tourists: the adventurer, the cultural explorer, the honeymooner, and the laid-back visitor, there is almost everything for everyone.
For the active at heart and adrenaline junkies there is an opportunity to hike Mount Karthala and the crater of this active volcano.
For the cultural explorer there is Mayotte, a French-administered town that is surrounded by coral reef and boasts excellent beaches and scuba-diving facilities, and the town of Dzaoudzi, which is home to a forested islet named Pamanzi, plunging waterfalls named Dziancoudre and Sulu as well as the remains of an old mosque at Tsingoni.
Dziancoudre waterfalls, Comoros Islands. Picture: Supplied