Benguerra Lodge Bazaruto Islands Mozambique

Benguerra Island is a perfect Honeymoon destination. The small and intimate Benguerra Lodge offers genuine hospitality, personalised service and an intimate knowledge of the natural environment. Benguerra Lodge has a rich East African/Arabic feel – evidenced in both the décor, and the unique and delectable food.

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The chalets at Benguerra Lodge all merge naturally into the surrounding forest and are only moments from the gorgeous silver-white beach of Benguerra Bay overlookign Bazaruto Island.

Benguerra is passionate about conservation and dedicated to the involvement of the local community in conserving this idyllic corner of the world. This is barefoot luxury at its very best!

Benguerra Lodge consists of an expansive Lounge, Bar and Dining Room which each have large wooden decks and indoor and outdoor seating areas. Benguerra Lodge also has a Swimming Pool and small Spa.

The Bazaruto archipelago comprises Bazaruto, Benguerra and Magaruque Islands, as well as the smaller Island Santa Carolina, (previously known as Paradise Island). The archipelago, declared a National Park in 2000, sustains a diverse range of fauna and flora including forest, savannah and wetland ecosystems.

Indulge yourself in countless hours of relaxation under coconut palms, delight in the diversity of birdlife, visit the historic freshwater lakes (and their crocodiles), sail in a traditional Dhow and search the seas for the legendary dugongs... You can choose to do as much, or as little, as you like while at Benguerra Lodge.

Meals at Benguerra are comprised largely of freshly caught seafood – with delicacies such as prawns, crab and crayfish. Traditional Mozambican cuisine, Portuguese flavours and a variety of delicious dishes make up the daily menus. Breakfast and lunch are buffet affairs, while dinner is a set menu. Benguerra guests with special dietary requirements can be individually catered for. Benguerra island and the lodge provide a variety of settings for lunches and dinners which contribute to the magic and romance of the island experience.

There’s much to discover on and around Benguerra Island. On foot or in open land rovers, the choice of how you explore Benguerra Island is entirely up to you. Benguerra Lodge takes great pride in personal service – and whether you are snorkeling on the Bazaruto Archipelago’s magnificent reefs, or casting a fly from a boat – you will have an experienced guide with you.

Accommodation
There are three different kinds of accommodation at Benguerra – each with their unique characteristics and attractions.

Cabanas
Are built right on the edge of the beach. Romantic and elegant, the suites offer guests the chance to experience the ultimate island getaway. Each Cabana have: king-sized bed, large bathroom with bath, shower and outdoor shower, mosquito net and overhead fan, private deck with jacuzzi/plunge pool and sun loungers, mini-bar, tea & coffee making facilities.

Casitas
Offer a home away from home, where the eco conscious traveller can relax and enjoy the spacious and luxurious comforts to be found in this African Island Paradise. The Casita embraces Benguerra’s unique blend of safari chic and Arabic style. Each Casita has: queen size bed with mosquito net, tastefully appointed lounge area, 100m2 of private timber deck with plunge pool, outdoor dining gazebo for starlit dinners.

Villa
This is the epitome of exclusivity. The luxury furnishings and private facilities make it an ideal place for those wanting unsurpassed comfort and privacy, honeymooners and families. A personal chef prepares all meals at the Villa, although the Benguerra Lodge dining facilities are also available to Villa guests, if desired. The Villa has: two double bedrooms, mosquito nets and overhead fans, en-suite bathrooms with bath and shower, intimate lounge and dining area, fitted with hand carved mahogany furniture, personal chef, private wooden deck with a swimming pool, private garden and beach access.

Snorkelling
Benguerra is a paradise for both experienced and novice snorkellers and scuba divers. To encourage visitors to enjoy the pristine reefs, a fully equipped dive centre with dive master has been set up. There are numerous dive venues available, including the superb Two-Mile Reef. The most striking aspects of scuba diving the reefs around the island is the sheer unspoiled beauty combined with the variety and abundance of marine life.

Many exotic reef fish abound such as schooling banner fish, moorish idols, butterfly fish, blue striped snappers, barred sweetlips, goldies, trigger fish and hosts of others. After snorkelling the reef, go to the deserted Pansy Island, a unique breeding ground for the legendary pansy shell.

Diving
One of the most striking aspects of diving the reefs off Benguerra Island is the sheer unspoilt beauty and the variety and abundance of marine life. While kitting up on the boat, before you even begin your dive, you could see batfish surfacing, a turtle rising to take a breath before diving again, a curious whale shark turning towards the boat (inspiring you to momentarily abandon your dive gear to snorkel with the biggest fish in the ocean).

Once under water exotic reef fish abound – schooling bannerfish, moorish idols, butterfly fish, blue striped snappers, oriental and barred sweetlips, boxfish, goldies, trigger fish and numerous others provide movement among the diverse beautifully coloured corals and sponges. Your dive buddy could be obscured for a few moments by hundreds of fusiliers shoaling through the coral crevices. Or it might take a while for you to recognise a giant moray, due to sheer size. Ribbontail rays try to hide on the sandy bottom; Devil rays glide effortlessly along, swooping down occasionally to rub their undersides on the sand. Schools of kingfish are attracted to the reef's food supply and circle divers bubbles before moving off on their hunt. Turtles can be seen sleeping under a ledge or feeding on a sponge, ignoring divers in favour of indulging in a tasty meal. White-tip, black-tip, gray reef or giant sleeping sharks may be seen in a cave or patrolling the perimeter of the reef. Hearing a whip like crack indicates that a grouper has seen the divers and has made a hasty retreat through the wall of slender sweepers surrounding its hideout. At the safety stop, you may have a batfish keeping you company.

On the surface, a pod of common or humpback dolphins may be seen hunting mullet. The sight of a humpback whale breaching in deeper waters is a sight never forgotten. After the dive a trip to Pansy Island to collect a few rarely seen pansy shells and a discussion of the day’s dive rounds off an unforgettable experience.