News
Trends
Celebrities
Interviews
Jet Set Pet
Suite Dreams
Top 5
Weekend Away
Specials
Family Vacation Packages
Romantic & Honeymoon Packages
Spa & Wellness Packages
Destination Weddings
Girls Getaways
Spring Specials
Summer Specials
Winter Specials
Destinations
Articles
Hotels
Hot Hotel Openings
Beach & Island Resorts
5-Star City Hotels
Adventure & Eco Lodges
Boutique City Hotels
Country House Hotels
Family Resorts
Romantic Retreats
Guest Ranches
Safari Camps & Lodges
Golf Resorts & Lodges
Spa Resorts & Wellness Retreats
Ski Resorts & Lodges
Wine Country Getaways
Villas
Beach Villas
Country Villas
Golf Villas
Ski Villas
Villas
Residences
Trips/Cruises
Cruises & Yachting
Rail Journeys
Ultimate Adventures
Private Jet Travel
Safaris
Family Travel
Travel Tips
Business Travel
Airline News
Arts/Culture
Events
Food/Wine
Restaurants
Bars & Nightclubs
Afternoon Tea
Coffee
Culinary Travel
Wine Travel
Spa/Sport
Spa & Wellness Retreats
Yoga & Hiking
Golf Getaways
Ski Vacations
Shop/Style
Gift Guide
Beach and Resortwear
Beauty and Fragrance
Books
Fashion
Home Style
Luggage and Handbags
Luxury Autos
Men's Style
Travel Essentials
Watches & Jewelry
Wine and Spirits
World's Most Expensive
Home Page
News
A Far-flung Getaway on Mozambique's Exotic Vamizi Island
August 8, 2012
Even though it is one of the largest islands in the Quirimbas Archipelago, Vamizi is just seven and a half miles long and about half a mile wide. Thirteen timber-villas of one or two bedrooms are strung along pure white sand beaches, 230 feet apart, to provide real privacy. It is the only Lodge on the island, enhancing its remoteness. A pristine coral reef, a phenomenon almost unheard of in today's world, keeps the surrounding waters of the island crystal clear.
As a partner of the prestigious WWF, Vamizi Island is a conservation project funded through carefully considered low impact, high-end tourism. Each villa was constructed of local building materials and by the local community to blend into the landscape. Vamizi has one of the longest turtle conservation operations in East Africa and fishing is sustainable. The integration of local knowledge and traditions with world-class scientific understanding benefits everyone: the community, wildlife and visitors.
Opened in 2005, the Lodge is already known for its diversified dives, especially Neptune's Arm, voted one of the world's top ten dive sites. A short boat ride from the Lodge, this underwater island envelops a canyon with steep, deep cliffs, filled with colorful sea life - a “must” for serious divers everywhere. Other activities include exceptional blue water game fishing, humpback whale sightings in season, snorkeling, sailing, lagoon kayaking, nature walks with the resident WWF guide to learn about the conservation program, face and body treatments and yoga. Or one can simply do nothing but drink in views of the sky, sea and beach.
In the spacious villas, billowing white muslins drape enormous beds. Deep sofas, colonial style chairs and day beds accented with cushions provide a homey feel. Each villa is set 98 feet from the beach with a vast deck overlooking the beach and a gazebo on the edge of the beach. Air conditioning is not needed so gentle sea breezes whisper through latticed windows. It's the ultimate Robinson Crusoe house with more comfort.
Vamizi Island Lodge also features three private villas of five bedrooms each, ideal for friends traveling together or families looking for a true barefoot experience. These villas, named for local birds, are even more secluded than the Lodge. Designed by a well-known South African architect, they are stylish and inviting with the smartest of African motif, though still very laid-back. Bliss here is instant beach access, plunge pools and a dedicated hospitality team to tend to every need.
Cuisine at Vamizi Island is deliciously created from Mozambique-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs and surf-fresh seafood, highlighted with premium wines from South Africa. Dinners are lantern lit in the main thatched-roof open dining room or sumptuous grills on the beach. For lunch, guests have a choice of the main dining room or a relaxed buffet in the ‘castaway' restaurant on the south side of the island. Guests may also opt for a ‘shipwrecked' picnic on a remote, secluded beach.
The whole island of Vamizi could be called a spa, nurturing both above and below the water. Beauty therapies are uniquely Vamizi, using natural recipes from the local ladies as well as a few oceanic inventions – minerals ground from Vamizi roots, local seaweed masks and sea salt scrubs. A full range of massage therapies include bespoke yoga massage, reflexology and heated herbal stone massage as well as Indian head massage, deep tissue, Swedish and aromatherapy massages. Vamizi retreats are held regularly, encompassing professional yoga instruction and sublime food. The next retreats will be November 11 – 17, 2012, and January 20 – 26, 2013.
For an enchanting combination of simplicity and indulgence, the Tusitiri dhow, based at Vamizi can accommodate up to 10 people and is available for overnight safaris. (Dhows are traditional wooden vessels originally used for carrying textile and spices in the Indian Ocean.) Nights are spent under the stars on comfy bedrolls laid out on the deck and delectable meals are taken al fresco. Half and full day excursions are also available. Meticulously restored Tusitiri is one of the finest examples of dhows in East Africa today.
Rates at Vamizi Island Lodge start at $590 per person sharing per night in the Lodge low season and $490 per person sharing per night in the Private Villas low season, based on eight persons sharing for six nights. Guests going to Vamizi may fly Vamizi's scheduled plane roundtrip Dar Es Salaam or Pemba, starting at $525 roundtrip from Pemba and $750 roundtrip from Dar Es Salaam. Private charters are also available.
For additional information, visit www.vamizi.com.
About:
Vamizi Island
Like Us
Facebook
Follow Us
Twitter
Follow us
Instagram
Sign-up for Our Email Newsletter
FIND A LUXURY HOTEL & BOOK WITH EXCLUSIVE PERKS!
Andorra
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bhutan
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
England
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji Islands
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Galapagos
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Martinique
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Oman
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Russia
Scotland
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
St Vincent & the Grenadines
St. Barthelemy
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Martin
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Turkey
Turks & Caicos
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Wales
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Beach
City
Coastal
Countryside
Desert
Golf Course
Island
Jungle
Lakeside
Mountains
Remote
Waterfront
Wilderness
Adventure/Eco/Nature
Culture
Business Meeting
Casino/Gambling
Food & Wine
Family Vacation
Golf Getaway
Pet Friendly
Romantic Getaway
Safari
Scuba Diving
Shopping & Fashion
Ski Vacation
Spa & Wellness
Villas
Wedding
Wineries / Wine Tasting
Luxury Partners
Villa Lala — Romantic Boutique Hotel in Puerto Vallarta
Cabo Platinum - Cabo San Lucas Luxury Villas, Yachts & Concierge Services
Villa Firenze - Costa Rica Luxury Villa Rental
JUP - Personal Service for Buying and Selling Real Estate in Jupiter, Florida
Polaris Slingshot - A three-wheeled sensation that re-ignites your love for driving
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa - Rancho Santa Fe, California - One of the West’s most sought-after five star resorts
Tuscan Dream - Immerse Yourself in the Tuscan Villa Vacation Experience
Grand Hotel Portovenere - Cinque Terre - Discover this beautiful region of Italy!
Dude Ranchers Association - An all-inclusive vacation experience like no other
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel - Santa Barbara, California - Experience timeless Californian glamor.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa - Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii - Beachfront Resort
Culture, Spirituality, and Wellness in Japan's Tochigi Prefecture
Blue Waters Resort & Spa - Antigua - A hidden gem nestled in a private bay on Antigua's northwestern coast with sunset views
A.M.A Selections - Luxury Villa Rentals throughout Europe
Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun, Mexico - Adults Only, All Inclusive
Argentario Golf & Wellness Resort - Porto Ercole, Tuscany, Italy
Porto Zante Villas & Spa - Zakynthos, Greece - The leading villa resort in Europe