Vamizi Island Lodge | Quirimbas Archipelago Luxury Mozambique Beach Lodge

From Pemba, we’re transferred to a small plane that takes us over the emerald islands of Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago. As we descend, we look out over the clear waters, unspoiled beaches and lush tropical vegetation of Vamizi Island lodge, waving to the excited village children that watch us land. Our personal chauffeur is there to meet us, and we bump along a sandy road to the lodge, passing fragrant flowers and scores of butterflies. We arrive at a stunning beach, kicking off our shoes to feel the soft caress of the powdery-soft sand between our toes. The lodge is set along this stretch; two open-sided, palm-thatched structures that make up the dining room and bar, with three villas sprawled on either side, each completely separate and ever-so exclusive. After meeting our private butler, Adamo, we’re guided to Vamizi Tartaruga (our villa, meaning ‘Vamizi turtle’ in Portuguese), which has a private pool and beach set within lush tropical forest. We’re so enchanted with this beautiful place that we have to take a moment to breathe it all in.

Adamo asks us if we’d like him to show us around the villa, but we prefer discovering it ourselves. A steep thatched roof and coral limestone walls keep it cool inside while providing a loft-like sense of spaciousness. Its shuttered doors lead onto a vast deck with a freshwater swimming pool, which flows down landscaped gardens towards the ocean. We fling open each door of the first three bedrooms, which open onto a private deck, feeling like we’re on a treasure hunt. We find vast beds within muslin canopies, en-suites that feature beautifully carved windows open to the outdoors and a spacious seating area. It’s great fun choosing a room, and in the end we take the master, which has an extra adjoining room. A journey of discovery outside reveals two treehouses in the forest canopy, with further two bedrooms, linked by a stargazing deck. Adamo has already promised to set up a king-sized bed so we can sleep here tomorrow night! From our heightened viewpoint, we can see him busily setting up lunch in our shaded sala. We decide to change into more beach-appropriate attire before heading over for the first of what we’re sure will be many delicious meals.

Set on the gorgeous Quirimbas Archipelago, Vamizi has kilometres of deserted coastline and an incredible marine sanctuary to explore. There are plenty of options to choose from; while my partner loved scuba diving on the reefs, I was most thrilled that I got to see green turtles hatching (this is in season only, as staff can only do so much magic!). Speaking of the staff, Vamizi has all the bells and whistles of a house manager, chef and private butler to make your stay as luxurious as possible. Each of the villas are private and secluded, with a mobile phone in each so you can reach staff at any time. It really is the perfect place to unwind and relax. Whether you want to go kayaking, visit the local school, dine at your villa or on a remote beach, everything revolves around you.

• Intimate island lodge with six individually-designed luxury villas (four with five rooms and two with six) each with their own pool and stretch of private beach.
• Exclusive island location, private butler, personal chef, personal chauffeur and flexible schedules.
• Scuba diving, snorkelling, whale watching (seasonal), paddle boarding, kayaking, dhow cruises, sailing, spear fishing, deep-sea fishing, fly fishing, castaway sandbar picnics, nature walks, birding, turtle nesting and hatching excursions (seasonal), in-room yoga (additional cost), spa treatments (additional cost), bicycling and community visits.
• Children welcome with babysitting available. Triples can be arranged for children under 16 years.

• Not only do African safari lodge prices shift with the seasons, they also change based on your length of stay, room type, travel party composition, special offers, if your trip involves stays at sister lodges – and for more reasons besides.
• It’s worth noting that depending on your itinerary, your lodge cost will make up about 75–85% of your total safari trip cost.
• Our safaris are tailor-made to match your personal safari dream, we’d be delighted if you’d allow us to create a bespoke proposal for you.  Simply enquire now – our quotes are complimentary and obligation-free.
• However, to help you get an idea of safari lodge prices we’ve created three safari-lodge categories with various price ranges, to find out more click here.