Island hopping is the perfect mix of romance and adventure. Each island feels like a brand-new postcard, with its own pace, people, and flavours. While places like the Greek Isles or the Maldives get most of the hype, some of the world’s most unforgettable island chains are right here in Africa.
Africa’s best-kept secrets: Archipelagos off the radar
Bazaruto Island/Tom Corser/Wikimedia Commons
Bazaruto Archipelago – Mozambique
A string of six islands off southern Mozambique, Bazaruto offers turquoise waters, shifting dunes, and vibrant coral reefs. Dugongs glide through the shallows while dhows—traditional wooden boats—float between islands like ghosts of a slower world. Stay in eco-luxury lodges and spend your days snorkelling, sailing, or simply soaking in a sea that looks like a painting.
Bijagós Islands – Guinea-Bissau
Ilhas Bijagos/Mailson Ribeiro/Wikimedia Commons
Made up of more than 80 islands, this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve feels like a world apart. Its isolation has preserved not only its wildlife—manatees, sea turtles, and hippos—but also its unique matriarchal culture and sacred traditions. Village rituals, animist beliefs, and a rhythm dictated by the tides make this an anthropologist’s dream and an off-grid traveller’s paradise.
Quirimbas Archipelago – Mozambique
Quirimbas fisherman on dhow safari/Travel Local/Wikimedia Commons
Further north than Bazaruto, the Quirimbas chain offers an even more remote experience. Coral atolls, mangrove forests, and World Heritage-worthy Ibo Island (with its crumbling colonial architecture and silversmithing traditions) paint a picture of time suspended. Here, diving is world-class, and the ocean’s palette turns from aquamarine to ink at dusk.
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Comoros Islands
Comoros/Dimitri Dim/Pexels
Floating in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and the mainland, the Comoros is often dubbed the “perfume islands” for its ylang-ylang and vanilla-scented breezes. Volcanic peaks rise dramatically from emerald waters, while mosques, medinas, and markets reflect a rich Afro-Arab heritage. With fewer tourists than Zanzibar, it offers a cultural immersion with an adventurous edge.
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe/João Ferreira/Unsplash
This lush, twin-island nation off the coast of Central Africa is a time capsule of Portuguese colonial architecture, cacao plantations, and untouched rainforest. The biodiversity rivals Madagascar, the chocolate is world-class, and the hiking trails through volcanic ridges offer jungle-meets-ocean panoramas with barely another traveller in sight.
Idyllic international counterparts
Crete/Eleni Afiontzi/Unsplash
- Greek Isles, Greece – Island-hopping perfected, from whitewashed Santorini to myth-drenched Crete.
- The Philippines – A maze of 7,000+ islands, each a cocktail of coral, coconut, and cultural mashups.
- French Polynesia – Postcard-perfect lagoons and overwater bungalows with a price tag to match.
- The Caribbean Lesser Antilles – Each island has its own flavour, from spicy Grenada to jazzy Saint Lucia.
- The Maldives – Ideal for luxury and romance
What Africa offers that others don’t
While international island chains often deliver comfort, they can feel over-curated, engineered for mass appeal. Africa’s island chains, in contrast, still pulse with local culture and natural unpredictability. You might stumble into a village festival, share fried fish with a fisherman, or snorkel alone over a coral reef without another boat in sight.
How to island-hop like a local
When to go:
Bazaruto/Quirimbas: May to November (dry season)
São Tomé: June–September for hiking
Bijagós: November–May (wildlife + ceremonies)
Comoros: May to November
Getting around:
Dhows for short hops (Bazaruto, Quirimbas)
Small planes (São Tomé, Comoros)
Ferries or charter boats (Bijagós)
What to pack:
Lightweight clothes, good walking shoes, reef-safe sunscreen, cash in local currency, and patience for slow island time.
Travel sustainably:
Respect cultural norms and sacred spaces.
Stay in eco-conscious lodges.
Avoid plastic waste and don’t touch coral.
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