Mozambique luxury beach lodge

country:

Mozambique

location:

Benguerra Island, Southern Mozambique

price:

From US $381 - US $575 per person per night, depending on accommodation. Price includes meals, sales tax, water sports but excludes transfer fees

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Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

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introduction to Mozambique luxury beach lodge

Mozambique luxury beach lodge
This luxury beach lodge is situated on the southwest shore of Benguerra Island, just off the intricate coast of southern Mozambique. The second largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, Benguerra, named after the local chief, is approximately 11km in length and only 5.5km wide, and lies fourteen kilometers offshore from the tumbledown harbour town of Vilanculos. This unspoilt island idyll offers spectacular scuba diving, sunkissed sandy beaches and some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world.

Firmly routed on the slave, ivory and spice trade routes, Portuguese carracks laden with provisions for long voyages and hand-carved trading dhows once plied the surrounding turquoise waters, bringing people, exotic fare and legends of the Queen of Sheba. Today, this sea-faring tradition remains with local fishermen poling their beautiful dhows from the beach to catch the wind. Their marine quarry often making its way to guest tables as tasty suppers.

All the rooms at this Mozambique luxury beach lodge are connected by elevated walkways from the back and each has a wooden walkway leading down to the beach. The accommodation also has a large, new swimming pool, beautiful recreation area and friendly atmosphere. Activities are plentiful and guests can choose to be as involved or sedentary as they wish.

Then at the end of the day, experienced chefs prepare delicious dinners, characteristic of the seafood and spice fusion cuisine of Mozambique. Rich in Asian and Portuguese influence, these local specialties are available in the open dining room, prepared and served fireside on the beach or at romantic terrace tables under the stars.

special things to do and see at this Mozambique luxury beach lodge

Private picnics, windsurfing, cat sailing, island drives.

With water temperatures around 25°C, a pristine marine environment and PADI dive centre, scuba diving and snorkelling are fabulous for underwater novices and professionals alike, especially when combined with a picnic lunch on one of the many sand bar beaches. Alternatively, ocean-ski paddling, windsurfing, hobiecat sailing and island drives are guaranteed to keep interests high. The Bazaruto Archipelago is hailed as one of the greatest game fishing sites in the Indian Ocean, and we pride ourself on our angling bots and tackle. Experienced skippers are adept at tracking sailfish, marlin and king fish in the deep seas, and day excursions are always possible. Of for some indulgent relaxation, lazy afternoon siestas, seaside strolls or a trip to the heavenly beauty & wellness centre are guaranteed to help soothe sun-basked bodies and clear the mind.

rooms, food and facilities

Luxury chalet, Mozambique luxury beach lodge

The lodge has seventeen thatched cottages: fourteen private Luxury Chalets and 3 Executive Suites. Each of the spacious, sea-view beach chalets is set just above the white sands of Flamingo bay beach and has private access to the water from their verandas. Decorated inside with fresh white and turquoise fabrics, sponged ochre walls, cool tiles and recycled dhow riggers as tables, the rooms are cool and comfortable and perfect for shady relaxation. Stylish en-suite bathrooms and outdoor showers, fans and air-conditioning, four-poster beds with mosquito netting, a private lounge and well stocked mini-bar ensure every holiday need is met.

All the rooms are connected by elevated walkways from the back and each has a wooden walkway leading down to the beach. The accommodation also has a large, new swimming pool, beautiful recreation area and friendly atmosphere.

how to find this Mozambique luxury beach lodge

Daily flights from Johannesburg (2 hour flight) to Vilanculos, and bi-weekly flights (1 hour flight) from Kruger national park to vilanculos, from Vilanculos a 5 min road transfer and then a 20min scenic boat transfer to the romantic island.

how this holiday makes a difference

The Mozambique luxury beach lodge is involved with the community on Benguerra Island. They assisted with housing, shelter and food over the cyclone period. They employ all their local staff from the island and surrounding area, they have trained them up from being dhow sailors, to builders, waiters and boat skippers. Guests staying at the lodge are encouraged to do an island drive where guests get to see how the locals live in their traditional villages. The locals brew palms to make a beer which guests can sample while on an island drive.

We have started many projects over the years and we would like to continue with these to assist the island residents. When visiting the Island, a $10 National Parks Levy is paid by each guest, of which $8 goes to the Bazaruto National Parks fund for the conservation of the National Park and $2 goes to Khani Kwedo, the local community fund. At the Mozambique luxury beach lodge we presently support the islanders by:

Hiring Dhows for guest cruises.

Using their dhows for transport of goods to and from the Lodge.

Buying fish from the local fisherman for our staff and guests.

Creating jobs and teaching skills such as carpentry, cooking and bricklaying.

Providing an in house clinic where islanders are welcome to ask for free medical assistance and medicines.

We have recently started our own “Soup Kitchen” for the children. Using the excess food from the lodge, a nutritious soup is prepared two to three times a week. We also provide dessert once a week. As vegetables and fruit are not grown on the island presently, this enables the children to receive a regular nutritious meal.

If you would like to assist the community you may bring items with you or purchase them while you are here. Examples of donations would be:

Items such as pens, pencils and exercise books as schoolchildren are required to provide their own materials.

Second hand clothes and shoes for both adults and children are always greatly appreciated.

A deflated soccer ball, boots, shorts and shirts for the soccer mad islanders would be welcome.

Alternatively, if you would like to contribute to one of the larger projects, lodge personnel can discuss this with you. Ongoing projects include:

Establishing a vegetable garden to provide fresh produce.

Purchasing desks for the school children.

The supply of blankets for the winter months.

Upgrading the school with items such as educational posters, blackboards and stationery requirements

Providing new clothing for small children and infants.

We are situated in a National marine park within a heritage site, known as Benguerua Island in the Bazaruto archipelago, the WWF also has a base station/office on our Island. The lodge works on a silent generator system. We use well water for all lodge purposes. The water is purified and used for the guests – it is fantastic and incredibly clean and pure. We have showers and half flush toilets. Used water is used in the gardens. There is also a soak away system which fertilizes the plants. Guests are asked to spare water as much as possible, sheets are changed when guests require new linen and towels. There are compost gardens at the back.

We buy fish & seafood from fisherman who fish in and around the Islands. Fruit is bought from Vilanculos or grown on the Island. Should supplies be low – we by from local producers in South Africa. We use all local companies for our thatch. We support Khane Kwedo which is a trust for the people of the island and we run various projects eg raising money to buy school desks, will be establishing a vegetable garden in autumn, donation of school supplies to the children.

We have guinea fowls and other bird species around the Mozambique luxury beach lodge, eg crowned hornbills, green pigeon. We have a bird bath and put out food for the birds and leave the garden for natural flowers and grasses to grow wild. We compost organic and garden waste which we use in our flower beds around the lodge. We recycle waste paper within in the lodge for scrap paper.

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.

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