TRAVELTRAVEL ++ LEISURE LEISURE / JANUARY 2017 / JANUARY 2017 9391
D
ID you think the Maldives alone had
piercing blue waters, blazing white
sands and paradisal private island
resorts? Anantara Bazaruto Island
Resort & Spa is no masterpiece of
photoshop chicanery. It exists. On a
private island off the Mozambique Coast.
Besides the luxuries Maldives off ers you’ve
something the Maldives hasn’t—horses
to ride on infi nite stretches of beach with
sands as white as the clouds and as soft
to the feet. Besides, Mozambique has
inimitable African hospitality.
Whilst private island resorts like Anantara
are a rare luxury still in Mozambique,
big brands like & Beyond have just set up
camp with the Benguerra Island Resort
and further glamorised the destination.
They’ll fl y you in on a chopper if you like
that. And you’ll certainly need a chopper to
Azura Quilalea, the second luxury Indian
Ocean retreat from Azura Retreats- it’s a
hidden gem, a private, wholly uninhabited
island haven surrounded by the pristine
waters of the Quirimbas Archipelago
marine sanctuary. Azura’s trademark
African-chic style is stamped on it.
The marine life amazes but romantics
still prefer Azura Benguerra Island,
Mozambique’s fi rst eco luxury boutique
resort hand-built by the locals.
It’s more private than a private island
with only 20 gorgeous villas each with
an infi nity pool, thatched roofs like a long
shaggy wig and private butlers. It also
seems to have an in-house genie that
fulfi ls your every wish- be it excursions
on or in the ocean or a fantasy supper
under sparkling skies.Mozambique
There are several flights daily from
Johannesburg to Maputo, operated
by South African Airways (SAA) and
the Mozambican flag-carrier Linhas
Aereas de Moçambique (LAM).
mozambiquetourism.co.zaHOW TO GET THERE
ROMANTIC MOZAMBIQUE
SECLUDED BEACHES Over 2,500 kilometres of beaches in Mozambique are un-spoilt and preserved as
they were thousands of years ago. The Quirimbas Archipelago is a string of gorgeous islands with
marine ecosystems, miles of sandbar beaches and stunning coral reefs.PRISTINE DIVE SITES Mozambique has some of the most pristine dive sites in the world. The reefs of
the Bazaruto Archipelago are home to over 1,200 species of marine creatures including the rare
Dugong—a medium-sized marine mammal that looks like a seal.FRESH SEAFOOD The country has some of the best seafood in the world. The Portuguese influence is
felt in dishes such as the fiery Peri Peri chicken. A local dish without any Portuguese influence is
Matata which is a seafood stew, usually made using clams in a peanut sauce.ARTWORK The sculptures produced by the Makondo people in Northern Mozambique display
craftsmanship at its best while depicting traditional beliefs, the struggle for independence
and the civil war.GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK Revenue from the tourism is aimed at making Gorongosa a self-sustaining
African park. Some of the activities that you can look forward to here are hike to waterfall, guided
game drive at dusk, trip to Vinho Community, sundowner at Bué Maria. (gorongosa.org)TOM RICHARDSON AFRICA/ALAMY(1); COURTESY OF MOZAMBIQUE(2)
ANANTARA BAZARUTO
ISLAND RESORT & SPA
Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa is no
masterpiece of photoshop chicanery. It exists.
On a private island off the Mozambique Coast.
Besides the luxuries Maldives offers, here you
have something the Maldives hasn’t—horses to
ride on infi nite stretches of beach with sands as
white as the clouds and as soft to the feet.