Amaan Bungalows is as far as the shuttle bus goes. This vantage position and the wide variety of rooms and prices make it a popular place. Most guests are between 25 and 35 years of age and in their first or second job. There’s a broad spectrum of nationalities. They come for the sun, which is conspicuously absent in July and August, and content themselves with the superb dives, which are truly spectacular and can be arranged by the Dive Shop of Amaan Bungalows. .

We had a self-contained room, with hot water. The room itself is sparsely furnished: two double beds with mosquito nets, one table and a chair, a wardrobe, which can be locked, and a fan. It’s an airy room. This means two windows opposite each other, no glass panes, so that fresh air can blow through. It was a bit too fresh for me, and I was glad I had packed big plastic bin liners and sticky tape with which I blocked the windows.

Breakfast is served on the terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean, but in July and August, it is a windy affair. By 11am, the clouds have partially dispersed but the strong trade wind remains most of the day.

Several times the power was cut off. Apparently the Zanzibar government is notorious for not paying their electricity bill to Tanzanian electricity board.

There is internet access at Tsh 1500 per half hour (1.50 euro). Undoubtedly, this is a special tourist price as the going rate in Stonetown is Tsh 500 for one hour.

The rooms are cleaned only when you give the key to the cleaning ladies in the morning.

The hotel is owned by a Zanzibar colonel who died a few years ago. His widow and sons are in charge, but it is run by a Kenyan manager in a most efficient way. I only hope that the money earned finds its way into the Zanzibar economy and is not invested or spent in neighbouring countries or the first world.