Fairmont Zimbali Resort 

An elegant resort with dramatic Indian Ocean views on South Africa’s Dolphin Coast.

This impressive beach resort on the eastern coast is made for relaxation. Set to the backdrop of the Indian Ocean, guests can walk down to Zimbali Beach to watch the waves come in, and though the tide is too strong for swimming, the resort’s facilities are plentiful with five pools to lounge by, an 18-hole golf course at the Zimbali Country Club and the Willow Stream Spa where guests can relax in the steamroom and unwind with a massage in one of the eight treatment rooms.

There are eight restaurants and bars to choose from including OSA which serves Indian cuisine and Bite Pool Bar and Grill for lunches and cocktails by the pool. The resort is just a five-minute drive away from the shops and restaurants of beach town Ballito where the waters are calmer for swimming and there are frequent sightings of bottlenose dolphins.

Rooms and suites are warmly decorated with contemporary African designs and have views of the pools, garden or Indian Ocean. Most rooms and suites are open-plan, featuring king-size beds and sliding doors that lead to an en suite furnished with luxurious Le Labo toiletries.