Doors in the island capital of Stone Town still boast brass studs for repelling war elephants – by merchants who sought to protect themselves from "combat" elephants that were historically deployed in India and Persia – but large mammals no longer dwell on the Spice Islands.

What the archipelago does have, however, is astonishing marine life, with dolphins and technicolour sea creatures galore. There's also a healthy population of endangered red colobus monkeys and giant Aldabra tortoises.

This highly affordable four-day tour package zips between land and sea, with snorkelling trips to the magnificent coral reefs of uninhabited Chumbe Island and walks through two forest reserves, one primate-laden and the other home to rare antelopes.

There's also a trip to Prison Island, where land tortoises creep along the beach, and a stop to watch bottlenose and humpback dolphins frolicking in the waves.