Scheduled to open in summer 2020, Kisawa Sanctuary is a new standard in luxury hospitality weaving cultural celebration with environmental conservation on Benguerra Island in Mozambique. Kisawa brings wilderness and service together, carefully and comfortably. A combination of 12 one, two and three-bedroom bungalows, plus the ‘Kisawa Residence’ are positioned within a 750 acre stretch of forest, beach and sand dunes at Kisawa Sanctuary. Each bungalow is individually housed within its own one-acre plot, offering maximum privacy, minimum disturbance and optimum appreciation for the natural environment.
Each of the uniquely furnished bungalows has its own beachfront, private swimming pool, shaded day area with an outdoor kitchen, a massage hut and a pantry stocked to guest preferences. With a 24/7 personal service team, dedicated vehicles and a colorful fleet of electric buggies, the experience can be intuitive and self-directed. In addition to private dwellings, guests also choose between multiple dining venues across the Sanctuary, including two beach clubs, a lagoon-style swimming pool, Baracca beach bar, a library and a lounge at the main terrace. A stand-alone spa specializes in traditional Chinese medicine and ayurvedic offerings with striking architecture inspired by the island’s thatched houses and community buildings.
At Kisawa there is no set schedule; as guests decide their own agendas. Everything from dining hours, treatments and access to activities are customized to the needs of an individual.
When introducing development to the island, the team’s core purpose has been to respect the natural existence. Kisawa’s founder, Nina Flohr was introduced to Africa at a young age with frequent travel across the continent. This inspired her to protect and celebrate the culture, the community and the environment of Mozambique, by pushing the boundaries of innovation, investment and collaboration.
“My mission for Kisawa is to create a level of hospitality and design that to my knowledge, does not exist today, a place that inspires feelings of freedom and luxury born from nature, space and true privacy. We have used design as a tool, not as a style, to ensure Kisawa is integrated, both culturally and environmentally into Mozambique,” said Kisawa’s founder, Nina Flohr. Nina is also responsible for the creative direction of the property, assembling an in-house team alongside global experts to execute this long-term vision. Kisawa’s intention is to be a light touch on the land, but a deep engagement with culture and nature.
Kisawa redefines "luxury." At its heart, it is a handmade island resort taking a conscious design approach employing local artisans and materials, to preserve the environment and the local culture. With this in mind, Kisawa has created more than 1,000 jobs for the surrounding communities.
At Kisawa architecture, tradition meets innovation, with construction that incorporates groundbreaking and patented 3D sand-printing technology, commissioned specifically for this project. This revolutionary building material is used throughout the construction and merged with Mozambican weaving, thatching, carpentry and textile skills, involving artisans from Benguerra and neighboring islands. In addition to the construction of the sanctuary, a 3D printer will also be deployed on the other end of the island for printing sand coral reefs and marine habitats for Kisawa’s nonprofit sister organization, the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS).
