On a private beach at the northern tip of Sibu Island, Rimba Island Resort is a true escape to trouble-free island life. Africa meets Asia in this Kenyan village-themed resort where twenty-one thatched chalets are dotted between the beach and the jungle.

The chalets are rustic and constructed to suit the hot Malaysian climate: fresh breezes blow through the rooms, tall trees shade them from behind and you can step right onto the beach from your veranda. Apart from the shaded veranda, each chalet has a dressing room and attached bathroom. The Rimba suite offers additional seclusion and comfort and is a great choice for that special romantic getaway.

The breezy bar, with its cushions spread out on the floor and deck stretching to the water’s edge, is the perfect place to relax with friends or sip a cocktail as the sun sets. The restaurant serves a delicious selection of local and western cuisine and can cater for most dietary preferences with advance notice. Rimba can even host the island wedding that you have always dreamed of.

For the active ones, there are things to keep busy on land and in the water. A jungle trail twists through the forest to the other side of the island or you can play a game of beach volleyball on the shore. Grab a snorkelling mask and fins to explore the coral reef just in front of the resort or venture deeper and go scuba diving.

Rimba Resort is popular with expatriates living in Singapore and Malaysia, looking for a weekend break away from the city.