good for you

It's hard to imagine a more idyllic spot: empty white sand beaches, monkeys in the trees, crabs scuttling at your feet, dhow sailing boats gliding across the crystal waters - this island resort is part of the Quirimbis Archipelago, with its 32 tropical coral islands stretching 100 kilometres along Mozambique's northern coast. Vamizi Island is part of 'Maluane', the name given to both the protected area that comprises three islands and a strip of mainland safari wilderness, as well as the project that manages conservation and development of the area.

The spectacularly luxurious eco-lodge, which opened in 2005, is made up of ten low-impact beach houses, built in contemporary Mozambican style, with thatched roofs, large verandahs and chic dŽcor.

While Vamizi is a secluded beach resort perfect for relaxing and doing next to nothing, there is no shortage of things to do. Eight kilometres of pristine white powder sand beach at your doorstep and five other perfect swimming beaches to explore; traditional fishing villages to visit; bird watching trails; a monkey-filled forest and plenty of water sports are all there for you to enjoy. The hotel will pack you a picnic lunch you can head out for a sunbathe, or to get to know the abundant wildlife, which includes over 132 bird species, two kinds of majestic sea turtle, as well as the samango monkeys and the coconut crabs they like to eat. There's also scuba diving, snorkelling and world-class blue water and fly fishing.

good for mozambique

The Maluane Project that is responsible for conservation and development in the area is involved in various projects designed to make responsible tourism the vehicle for both protecting the environment and leveraging it for economic benefits that flow to the local communities. Sea turtle breeding areas have been protected, the lodge provides a boat for islanders to patrol the waters for illegal fishing, and steps are being taken to manage the elephant population so that human and pachyderm can coexist. While Vamizi's low-impact beach houses are yet to go totally green, solar cells and rainwater catchments are part of the resort's future plans. Guests can get involved by helping with conservation surveys during their stay.

Rooms

Food

With the pristine sea at its doorstep, the Vamizi kitchen specialises in delicious fresh seafood. Fresh fish, prawns, calamari, lobster, crab, and crayfish are cooked to perfection by a team of five-star cordon bleu chefs, who incorporate local flavours into the menu, which features a range of international dishes.

The weather makes al fresco dining a real pleasure, and picnics can be packed for guests heading out on excursions. You can also ask to be served meals in private, to be enjoyed on your own deck. Evening meals taken on the beach on a candle lit table are also popular.

Special dietary requirements can be catered for with prior notification before arrival. All meals and drinks are included in the rates.

Features & Facilities

• Full board and drinks included in the rates
• Daily laundry service included in the rates
• Daily guided activities included in the rates
• Vamizi island is a child-friendly resort and high chairs, camping cots and a baby-sitting service can be provided with prior notification.

Here is a full list of the activities available to Vamizi Island guests:

• Diving at over 10 different dive sites
• Certified scuba diving courses (Vamizi is an accredited PADI Gold Resort)
• Snorkelling off shore
• Guided snorkelling trips
• Shore based fishing
• Fly fishing (kingfish, barracuda, mackerel etc)
• Blue water / deep sea fishing / game fishing (marlin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna etc)
• Turtle watching/ monitoring: endangered hawksbill and green turtles nest on the

island's beaches.

• Guided bird watching trails (132 species of bird have been recorded on the island,

including: Western Reef Heron, Forest Weaver, Madagascar Bee-eater, Green

Coucal &, Mangrove Kingfisher)

• Guided forest and Samango monkey trails
• Whale watching (seasonal July to October)
• Sea kayaking
• A leisurely cruise aboard a Dhow sailing boat
• Swimming in the ocean at both high tide and low tide
• Day trip to nearby Rongui Island
• Sundowners at the old Portuguese lighthouse
• Pampering spa treatments
• The following guided activities are included in the rates: -- Shore based snorkelling, shore based fishing, sea kayaking, birding, walking trails, beach picnics, dhow sailing, and turtle & whale watching / monitoring (seasonal).

insider tips

when to visit

During the summer months of October - April the temperatures are 30 degrees +

From May to September daytime temperatures are still hot but a light sweater might be required in the evening.

Turtle Season: July - April

Whale Season: July - October

what to bring

Lightweight cotton shirts / t-shirts

Swimwear & Kikoy (Sarong)

Smart casual for evening wear

Beach shoes / Sandals / Rubber Shoes

Hat

Sunglasses

Strong sun block

Long sleeved shirts for fly fisherman

Binoculars for birdwatchers

Dive licence and log book for scuba divers.

visas

Visas are currently required by all nationalities except South Africans

It is advisable to pre-arrange visas before departure. However visas can be issued on arrival in Pemba, Maputo or Mocimboa da Praia

health

Vamizi is malaria free but it is recommended that anti malarial drugs be taken for travel in Mozambique and surrounding areas

All guests are advised to check with their doctor or travel clinic for advice in good time before their date of travel

All guests are required to have their own medical & evacuation insurance

Local Info & Activities

Here is a full list of the activities available to Vamizi Island guests:

• Diving at over 10 different dive sites
• Certified scuba diving courses (Vamizi is an accredited PADI Gold Resort)
• Snorkelling off shore
• Guided snorkelling trips
• Shore based fishing
• Fly fishing (kingfish, barracuda, mackerel etc)
• Blue water / deep sea fishing / game fishing (marlin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna etc)
• Turtle watching/ monitoring: endangered hawksbill and green turtles nest on the

island's beaches.

• Guided bird watching trails (132 species of bird have been recorded on the island,

including: Western Reef Heron, Forest Weaver, Madagascar Bee-eater, Green

Coucal &, Mangrove Kingfisher)

• Guided forest and Samango monkey trails
• Whale watching (seasonal July to October)
• Sea kayaking
• A leisurely cruise aboard a Dhow sailing boat
• Swimming in the ocean at both high tide and low tide
• Day trip to nearby Rongui Island
• Sundowners at the old Portuguese lighthouse
• Pampering spa treatments

The following guided activities are included in the rates: -- Shore based snorkelling, shore based fishing, sea kayaking, birding, walking trails, beach picnics, dhow sailing, and turtle & whale watching / monitoring (seasonal).

vamizi island

Vamizi island is part of an area known as Maluane, which covers a vast area comprising three islands, a 35-kilometre long coastal strip and a 33,000-hectare inland safari area.

Vamizi is a twelve-kilometre finger of land - just off the coast south of Palma in the far north of Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique. Surrounded by coral gardens and abundant seas, its interior hosts a wealth of bird life in pristine coastal habitat - all of which is never more than a kilometre from the beach.

• For centuries the people of Vamizi wove cloth and dyed it blue with indigo from the island. With time and the success of their trade, the islands themselves came to be known by the name of the cloth - Maluane.
• Vamizi's lighthouse dates from the nineteenth century. It lit the way for commercial dhows and later steam ships as they plied the trade routes around the Indian Ocean.
• The residents of Vamizi's fishing village help provide the Lodge with fresh fish every day; other islanders are being trained to act as lodge staff.

rongui island

Separated from larger Vamizi by a deepwater channel in which marlin, sailfish, wahoo and yellowfin tuna abound, Rongui is an uninhabited coral island. Rongui's mangrove-fringed lagoon will delight all guests to the islands.

• In 1800 slavers from Madagascar raided the Maluane islands. The raiders arrived in formidable war canoes with outriggers like those in Tahiti and the Marquesas. The Portuguese finally routed the Malagasy in 1820, but the raiders left a lasting legacy: today, uniquely in Cabo Delgado. The fishermen around Rongui and the archipelago's other islands continue to mount outriggers on their dugouts.
• A recent coral survey undertaken in conjunction with the Zoological Society of London by marine biologists from the Great Barrier Reef, the UK and the University of Maputo, concluded that the coral reefs surrounding both Vamizi and Rongui were of exceptional diversity and pristine condition.

macaloe island

Macaloe is only 15 minutes' boat-ride from the mainland at Paqueve but its 400 hectare harbour is a unique ecosystem of its own.

• Macaloe's 18th century fort was built to protect its residents from the ferocious people of the coast. It fell out of use in the 19th century after the islanders and the mainlanders intermarried and made peace with each other. The fort and its unique fresh water cistern may well become an integral part of the lodge.
• The lodge at Macaloe is destined to be a great favourite for game fishing, being just opposite the Lazarus Bank.

messalo wildlife area

Maluane's inland safari area - named after the Messalo River that borders the north of the concession - comprises 33,000 hectares of unspoiled bush where lion, leopard and elephant live in completely pristine surroundings. Maluane has coastal forest, miombo woodland, acacia and palm savannah, lake and river, so visitors will see wildlife including sable antelope, wild dog and elephant, with the added excitement of discovering new endemic species. The area's variety of birds is already recognised as being outstanding. Tourism has never impinged on the area before and Maluane will maintain the highest ecological standards.

Visitors will be guided by highly qualified wildlife guides - many from the local area, armed with the special knowledge that that brings.

• Carefully planned, winding bush trails will link safari camps, so that visitors will be able to walk in the forests and enjoy the exceptional bird life or drive across the floodplains and woodlands with highly trained guides.
• On the mainland, 33,000 hectares of untouched bush boasts elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog and rare sable antelope, as well as reedbuck, greater kudu, bushbuck and other species. At sea there is yet more diversity - many rare species of marine life and unrivalled coral gardens surround the islands.
• The Coastal Area harbours a rich diversity of coral and reef fish as well as larger marine animals - five species of turtle, humpback whales, at least three species of dolphin, whale sharks, and the highly endangered dugong.
• Marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tuna, kingfish, wahoo, jacks, barracuda and giant trevallys abound in the deep waters off the islands; just off the beaches there is a huge diversity of reef fish - grouper, Napoleon wrasse, parrot and trigger fish, emperors and sweetlips swarm in the rich waters that embrace the coral reefs.

wildlife

David Livingstone visited Maluane's inland safari area in the late 19th century but the islands and mainland above Pemba were almost entirely forgotten by their Mozambican colonial masters.

• The Project's 33,000 hectares of untouched bush boasts elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog and rare sable antelope. At sea there is yet more diversity - many rare species and unrivalled coral gardens surround the islands.
• There are hippos and crocodiles in Lake Macungue and the Messalo river, beach-loving elephants of Paqueve on the coastal strip and exciting birdlife throughout the area.
• The Coastal Area harbours a rich diversity of coral and reef fish as well as larger marine animals - five species of turtle, humpback whales and whale sharks, as well as the endangered dugong.
• Marlin, sailfish and broadbill abound in the deep waters off the islands; just off the beaches there is a huge diversity of reef fish - Napoleon wrasse, parrot and trigger fish swarm in the rich waters that embrace the coral reefs.

activities

• The Maulane dive teams are constantly surveying the coral gardens and sea grass beds that surround the islands to identify both sites suitable for divers of all levels and the abundant and diverse marine life. Already - in conjunction with Mozambican scientists and with researchers from the Zoological Society of London - they have discovered five species of turtle, calving hump-back whales, basking whale sharks, and a variety of oceanic wildlife unrivalled on the East African coast.
• The deepwater channel that separates Rongui from Vamizi attracts migrating marlin and has never been sport-fished before. All fishing is on a tag and release basis.
• Vamizi and Rongui have spectacular coral gardens very close to their shores: the snorkelling around the islands is therefore excellent, and the scuba diving is world class.
• Maluane's fly-fishing is excellent - trevally, Spanish mackerel and other coastal game fish abound - and the unexplored sand-flats among the islands and wider archipelago hold significant potential.
• As Maluane develops its trails in the Messalo Wildlife Area, guests on the islands will be able to transfer there for game drives and walking safaris, and stay in the tented camps which are now under design.

Sustainability

Vamizi Island lodge has been designed to complement the environment and to cause as little damage to it as possible. The construction uses almost entirely local materials - timber, thatch and stone all come from the mainland or the islands themselves - thus providing help to the local economy. The villas are set lightly on the sand, without heavy foundations, imposing only a light environmental footprint. Ceiling fans replace air conditioning, and solar panels and rainwater collection are part of the lodge's future plans.

The Maluane Project for management and development of the area, including the Vamizi Island resort, is undertaking projects and developing policies to endure that it remains that way through a combination of scientifically-based conservation projects and sustainable, low-impact tourism.

Maluane comprises three Indian Ocean islands, and 30 kilometres of beach that, in turn, gives onto a 33,000-hectare wildlife safari area - the Messalo Wildlife Area. Maluane's community-based and scientifically-sound conservation work began in 2001 and the organization continues to make significant discoveries. Maluane has a large elephant population, a wide diversity of antelope species, a growing number of predators and unrivalled marine life, which includes many endangered species.

Vamizi Island, the first of the Project's lodges, opened in December 2005 and preliminary work has started on the two other island lodges, on Rongui and Macaloe Islands. Plans are also being laid for a luxury tented camp in the wildlife area.

Maluane has worked with local leadership structures on the mainland to monitor conflict between human and elephant populations and to help educate agricultural communities in good environmental practice. On the islands equal care has been taken, firstly, to conserve and, secondly, to enhance the eco-system.

projects

Inland, Maluane has helped farmers to protect their crops and villages against marauding elephants by encouraging the cultivation of buffer protective crops like red hot peppers, which have proven very effective. The scrupulous reporting of elephant destruction incidents is helping those concerned to comprehend the origins of human/elephant conflict in the area.

Maluane is working with the local community to conduct wildlife surveys and to protect natural resources against illegal use. All this is being achieved with the direct input of local communities rather than by importing foreign expertise.

community

Maluane is supporting proposals to establish a permanent government presence in the Project islands to protect against illegal fishing and smuggling.

• A full-time community liaison team is in place to foster a good relationship between Maluane and local communities in all its area.
• Maluane has already built a dispensary and supported a nurse from the local community on Vamizi. The Project has also helped fund a school building in the area, and provided skills training during the construction of the Vamizi Island lodge.
• Maluane is working with other institutions to help local people to set up small businesses and to develop larger-scale forming schemes.

Getting There

Vamizi is part of 'Mulane', a group of Islands in Cabo Delgado - Mozambique's most northern province.

The best way to get to Vamizi is to avail of the Lodge's regular boat charters from the mainland.

Charters are for a minimum of 2 persons.

Pemba - Vamizi US$240 p/person (1hr 10mins)

Mocimboa da Praia US$120 p/person (20mins)

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

Mid - 10 Jan - 31 Mar

US$560 p/person

High - 1 Apr - 9 Dec

US$670

Peak - 10 Dec - 9 Jan, 1 Aug-31 Aug

US$740 p/person

• Rates are based on two people sharing. Singles are charged at 50% extra.
• Accommodation in luxury beach houses
• All meals, soft drinks, local beer, house wine and bottled water
• Daily laundry service
• Guided activities - Shore based Snorkelling, shore based fishing, sea kayaking, birding, walking trails, beach picnics, dhow sailing, turtle & whale watching / monitoring (seasonal)

• US$10 per person per stay conservation levy
• Transfers to and from the Island (please see costs below)
• Champagnes, cocktails, premium wines and spirits
• Use of boat for deep sea (blue water) & fly fishing
• Scuba diving and scuba diving courses
• 17% government tax on all extras charged on the Island

child policy

12 yrs and above = full price

5 yrs - 11 yrs = 50% of the rate

Up to 4 yrs = 25% of the rate

Cots, high chairs and baby sitting / child minding can be arranged with prior notification

booking & cancellation policy

• A deposit of 50% of total cost of stay is required to secure a booking. The balance is payable no less than 4 weeks before arrival date.
• Cancellations made with less than 1 week notice will be charged at 100% of total
• Cancellations made with less than 4 weeks notice will be charged at 60%
• Cancellations made with less than 8 weeks notice will be charged at 30%.
• Cancellations made with over 8 weeks notice will be charged at 10%

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.