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MOZAMBIQUE: Vamizi Island, Northern Mozambique

A vast conservation area in Northern Mozambique, Maluane aims to combine luxurious adventure tourism on land and at sea with the development of local communities and the protection of exceptional natural resources. It is a unique combination of virgin inland safari area and untouched coral-ringed islands. Maluane comprises three Indian Ocean islands (Vamizi, Rongui and Macaloe), and 30 kilometres of beach that in turn gives onto a 33,000-hectare wildlife safari area - the Messalo Wildlife Area. Few places can offer such variety, privacy, beauty and security.

The first of the Maluane lodges, Vamizi Island Lodge was opened in December 2005. The spectacular 24-bed lodge is built on the northern side of the island and looks towards Rongui from the end of a long powder-sand beach. 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. Marine activities include world-class blue water fishing as well as scuba diving and snorkelling in some of the most pristine coral reefs of the Indian Ocean.

Day 1: From Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)  to Pemba connecting to Vamizi Island for 7 nights

Days 2-7:Enjoy the peace of the island, enjoy snorkelling, diving, sailing and walks. 

Day 8: Transfer to Pemba for your flight back to Dar es Salaam

Prices from: £2725 excluding flights

Includes: local flights and transfers; 7 nights accommodation; all meals; non-motorised sports

Notes: UK passport holders require a visa to enter Mozambique, currently GB£40 from the Mozambique High Commission in London or US$25 at the border.

Vamizi:

Individual 'houses' are all secluded from each other and look out to sea from the shade of the forest that forms the centre of the island. The décor of the Vamizi lodge incorporates as much of the traditional design of the region as possible: the roofs of the lodge are makuti (palm) thatch, based on the Mozambican style, and the emphasis is on space and openness, so the rooms are large, with high ceilings. The bathrooms have a solid slab of marble forming the wall of the shower, and hand-carved screens which provide the privacy and aesthetic detail of a Zanzibar palace. The bedrooms have king-size beds – four-posters – with free-standing frames draped in beautiful natural muslin mosquito nets. All furniture in the lodge has been chosen, designed and mostly custom-made, incorporating traditional carvings reflecting the Arabic influence in the area. The outside decks and private beaches have a selection of loungers, swinging beds and local 'Swahili day beds' to chose from, to encourage guests to relax wherever they wish.

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