Bazaruto Lodge

Declared a natural reserve for its valuable marine depths, coral reefs and the variety of tropical fishes that inhabits them, Bazaruto Island is known as “the Pearl of the Indian Ocean”. European tourists, especially Portuguese, consider Bazaruto an exotic and paradisiacal destination where you can forget about the world and embark on a happy honeymoon.

Bazaruto, an archipelago that is part of Mozambique, offers two options for accommodations, both of which have an area as big as Andalusia. One of those areas corresponds to a resort, property of the Portuguese hotel group Pestana. The Pestana Bazaruto Lodge Hotel offers long lines of bungalows facing the sea, which are mainly surrounded by tropical gardens. But getting to them is no easy task.

If traveling by plane, the flight requires seven distinct stopovers from Maputo, capital of Mozambique, to Bazaruto. But waiting at the airports – which are hangars in the middle of the jungle – becomes a different experience thanks to the friendly welcome of the locals, the refreshments at the small bars, and of course, the craft sales as an excuse to start a beautiful friendship.

The last of these flights is aboard a four-seater plane, which makes a stop at the second hotel on the island. After arriving, an all-terrain vehicle will take your luggage and transport you through a brief tour of some ten minutes before arriving at the mystical door of this remarkable African lodge.

You will be welcomed with fruit delights. Ecological and respectful to the local traditions, the bungalows wait for their tenants with their circumspect facades facing the ocean. Their striking A-formed roofs of wood and straw rise a short distance from the sand on which the huts are installed. The interiors welcome you with a cozy and well-maintained decor inspired by the African culture, with no structural complications but full of personality, offering an uncommon comfort in these southern latitudes. 

Beds with mosquito nets, a pair of lamps, wooden furniture… minimalism à la Africana, not exempt of certain design. You will be obliged to enjoy the full benefits. Three daily meals are served in the Flamingo Restaurant, where you can eat the freshly caught seafood while enjoying the rhythm of the African drums. The installations are complemented with a craft store, a convention center and a pool surrounded by loungers and thatched umbrellas.

The hotel organizes a variety of activities to present the island and their surroundings, from water sports and medium- and long-distance diving excursions to the Santa Carolina Island, Benguerra Island, the lake of the crocodiles, the mango grove, Vilankulo, and more; all of them are recommended.