Marlin Lodge Bazaruto Islands Mozambique

Situated on Benguerra Island, offshore from Vilanculos and part of the Bazaruto Archipelago. The lodge is constructed from Mozambican hardwoods, reed and cement cladded brick walls and thatched roofs. Elevated wooden walkways connect the seventeen chalets to the main area, preserving local plant life.

Generator power supplies electricity for lighting, air conditioners and overhead fans.

The beaches in front of the lodge are not private and all residence of the island has access to the beach. The island is approximately 11km in length and 5,5km wide and lays 14km offshore from the mainland and the town of Vilanculos.

email: book@go.mozbookings.com

Cuisine
Marlin Lodge cuisine is a colourful and exotic delight with venues varying from semi-formal in the open air dining room to the exquisite beach for a once in a life time "dining under the stars". Crisp salads, spicy poultry and limitless flavours of seafood create a blend of Afro-Asia and Portuguese cuisine. The center-piece is a living-dining area where one can retreat from the African sun, sip on a Marlin Lodge cocktail or lazily catch up on some reading.

Activities
Scale the highest dunes during a round-the-island tour or enjoy a catered picnic on a deserted isle. Slip across translucent shallows on a sailboard, or fly a haul on one of Marlin' catamarans. Seek the deserted islands in the Archipelago on a exquisite motorized yacht. And when the day turns, watch the sun set over the ocean while softly sailing along on a dhow sundowner cruise. Diving (resident PADI qualified diving instructor), fishing, picnics and beauty treatments can be booked.

What to bring
The dress code for dinner is smart casual. When embarking and disembarking the boats for transfers to and from the Island, you will wade through water. We advise wearing short pants for this journey. In summer the beach and walkways are very hot, so keep a pair of slip-on shoes handy for when arriving on the Island.

Accommodation
Marlin Classic Chalets
All the chalets have a roof fan and new mosquito netting with en-suite bathroom. The roof is thatch and the walls are clad with Mozambican reed and are all west facing towards the sunset. Each chalet has its own balcony with deck chairs as well as direct access to the beach in front of the room. The chalet accommodates a maximum of 2 guests and selected classic chalets share a balcony.

Luxury Beach Chalets
These chalets are newly renovated and the rooms have 4-poster beds, soft bedding, beautiful furniture, roof fan as well as air-conditioning. The roof is thatch and clad with canvas to give a tented feel; the walls are a combination of washed plaster on brickwork and Mozambique reed. All the chalets are west facing towards the sunset and the bathrooms in these chalets are open plan including the shower and toilet facility’s. 4 of these luxury chalets are in a family unit where 2 chalets share a common balcony and are a walk away to the beach. A maximum of 2 guests per chalet.

Luxury Suite
Featuring its own relaxing lounge area with a private bar as well as a separate casual lounge area the suite has direct access to the beach and a spacious balcony. The bathroom in this chalet is open plan, this includes the shower and toilet facilities. The Luxury Suite is ideally suited for guests seeking a space, privacy, style and luxury. It has a roof fan as well as air-conditioning. A maximum of 2 guests in the Luxury Suite.

Executive Beach Chalet
The chalets are about 100 square meters including the en-suite bathroom, each suite features 2 lounges, a built in mini bar, 2 basin areas, vanity area, inside and outside showers. They all feature a king size 4 poster bed, with air-conditioning, and a roof fan. The patios have a hammock, sitting area, and private walkway to the beach. These suites are the pride of Marlin Lodge, and aimed at the more up market traveller. Maximum of 2 guests in a suite.

Facilities
Marlin Lodge has a fully equipped Dive and Tackle Centre, with a PADI dive instructor and a Water Sports Manager.
A well stocked curio shop is available on site, where mementos, sun lotion and other goods are available.

History
Hundreds of thousands of years ago, mass sand deposits from the Limpopo river formed the Bazaruto Archipelago, which comprises four main islands - Magaruque, Bazaruto, Santa Carolina and Benguerua. Originally named "Sao Antonio" by Portuguese explorers, Benguerua Island was later renamed after a local tribal chief and declared part of a National Park in 1971.

Malaria and First Aid
As Mozambique is a Malaria area, the use malaria prophylaxis is advised - please consult your doctor or pharmacist. Citronella mosquito repellent is provided in Suites and bar areas. Stronger options are available at the curio shop. First aid kits are available from reception.

Communication
Cellular phone reception is available, but only with international roaming on you mobile. Complimentary Internet access is available in our business centre.

Travel Information
Guests need to take out their own travel insurance. Marlin Lodge provides personal liability insurance only. No visa requirements for South African guests, only a valid passport. Non-South African guests require a visa to enter Mozambique. This can be purchased upon arrival at Vilanculos International Airport. Airport Frontier tax per person is payable on arrival. National Parks Levy

Currency and Payments
We accept Visa & Mastercard credit cards only. Debit cards can only be processed if our electronic credit card machine has a link to the bank. Cash payments in: USD, GBP, EUROS, SA RAND & MZM (Mozambican Meticas). We accept traveller’s cheques.