Kigoma Hilltop Hotel

Set on the edge of a peninsula-like point and encircled by mature, well-tended gardens, the hotel's meandering communal spaces incorporate the thatched, open-deck Sangara Restaurant, with hands-down the best views around. Enjoy cocktails on the deck and a plate of fresh-caught fish. Explore the gardens and see a few surprising creatures – zebra (not naturally occurring here) and monkeys, plus colourful birds and chameleons. Fancy a swim? There's a large pool surrounded by deckchairs and, of course, the gigantic lake.

Thirty separate cottage-style dwellings (ranging from twin-bedded rooms to a deluxe suite) on the hotel's sprawling grounds are accessed via paved walkways. They're spacious and breezy with quality hardwood furniture (including four-poster beds), tropical decor, aircon (vital), solar-powered lights and hot-water geysers, and private shaded porches overlooking the gardens or lake. For something special, book the Deluxe Suite, set on the edge of the cliff, with views to the blue horizon.

There's an inexhaustible list of options for action lovers: kayaking, jet-skiing, waterskiing, fishing, snorkelling, swimming, or cruising in a dhow, tennis or gym. Simply sitting poolside is also perfectly permissible. Take a cultural excursion to the nearby home of the Ha people, and head to Kigoma to experience the locals' lake-centred way of life, and browse the markets. Soak up the historical significance of the place at the spot where Henry Morton Stanley met fellow colonial explorer David Livingstone.