Mozambique beach accommodation

The lodge was built entirely by using materials bought locally by 100% local work force, with even the furniture made by carpenters on site, with only one container being brought in from South Africa with equipment not found locally, such as dive gear. The maximum amount of both capital and operation expenditure is continued to be kept within the region with all local supply roots are continually being developed upon. Our foundation has already helped the surrounding community to set up 4 craft groups which are continually growing and an additional soap-making group to start soon.

The design of lodge is to reflect and develop on local architecture. We are just upgrading our accommodation with all the building materials obtained from within just a couple of km from the site except for energy and effluence which uses intermediate technology including recycled materials. The walls are made of mud and straw blocks with a lime and sand render. The floors are tiles made by old women in the local community. The roofs are traditional palm thatching. The electricity provided by wind power. 

Through our foundation, we are currently working in 3 main areas with projects implemented by our 2 resident marine biologists (who also run the PADI dive centre): humpback whale research (in our 2nd season, guests fund the research on trips by paying to assist the biologists collect photographic and genetic data), reef survey (specifically looking at impact of marine protected areas) and working with local fishing communities to manage their resources more sustainably. We are also planning to pilot a carbon off-setting project with local farmers next year.

Throughout construction and operation of the lodge we have maximised every possible benefit to the local area to the best of our capabilities. All building materials were sourced locally with a 100% local work force which was followed through into operation where produce is sourced. The founders of the lodge set up the lodge as its commercial arm and a UK registered charity, our foundation, as its charitable arm. The foundation receives 5% of the lodge’s revenue and is the department that implements projects. All our projects are community driven and managed. Social projects include health (malaria, HIV, hygiene and sanitation), water (training water committees, repairing water points and drilling new ones) and education (secondary school scholarships, primary school feeding programme and building new primary schools).