Vamizi Island (closed)

The lodge comprises ten separate beach villas, each with its own large living room, spectacular bathroom and breezy veranda; two villas can accommodate four guests, the rest of the villas take just two guests. The villas are all secluded from each other and look out to sea from the shade of the forest that forms the centre of the island. Samango monkeys play in the trees and prowl the glades, hunting the land crabs that live there. 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, and there is a large paddle fan above the bed and one in the central area. There is no air conditioning.

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. The burnt orange curtains are a fine muslin fabric, which billows softly in the wind and complements the indigo and natural colours in the room.

The private lounges lead off from the bedrooms like giant verandas, with deep cane couches and colonial-style planters chairs. Masses of cushions bring colour and texture to the rooms and encourage you to sink deep into them, put your feet up and relax into the lazy comfort of your surroundings.

All furniture in the rooms, the dining room, and the central lounge/bar area has been 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.

There is constant 220v power to the rooms from a generator, and a room safe, hairdryer and a selection of drinks are available in the rooms. High chairs, camping cots and a baby-sitting service can be arranged with prior notification.

The lodge restaurant offers contemporary international cuisine, with a variety of dishes with emphasis on fresh seafood including lobster, prawns, calamari, crab and assorted fish. Special dietary requirements can be catered for with prior notification.

Marine activities include world-class blue water fishing and fly fishing, as well as scuba diving and snorkeling in some of the most pristine coral reefs of the Indian Ocean. Vamizi is rated as one of the world’s top 10 dive sites. Guided snorkelling trips are offered, as well as Sea kayaking, Dhow sailing, Beach picnics / private dining and Guided bird watching / walking trails.

Tropical vegetation is abundant on the island with over 40 species of tree recorded, including 5 different species of Mangrove and 132 species of bird including: Western Reef Heron, Forest Weaver, Madagascar Bee-eater, Green Coucal &, Mangrove Kingfisher.

The island is home to an endemic species of Dwarf python, Samango Monkeys and Coconut Crabs, as well as two different species of turtle (Hawksbill and Green) that nest on the island’s beaches. 300 nest sites have been protected to date.

Turtle Season: July – April

Whale Season: July – October

• Blue water / deep sea fishing in 33ft custom built boat
• Fly fishing (10 & 12 weight rods available)
• Shore based fishing

Sub-equatorial

Temperatures:

Warmest months October – April (monthly average 27 – 30 º + C)
Coldest months June – August (monthly average 21 – 25 º C)

Rainy Season:

January – March. However, Vamizi being a low lying off-shore island will often not get the rain that hits the mainland

Winds:

Predominance of SW, S & SE winds in April – November Predominance of NE & E winds in December – March

Water Temperature:

Max January – March: 26 – 28 º C
Min July – September: 21 – 25 º C

Flights offered from OR Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport to Pemba, with Airlink (direct flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays), or with LAM, the Mozambique Airline (daily flights from Joburg to Pemba, via Maputo).

On arrival in Pemba a Vamizi representative will meet and assist you with your private charter flight to Vamizi (1 hour 10 minutes).

Vamizi is malaria free but it is recommended that anti malarial prophylactics be taken for travel in Mozambique and surrounding areas

All guests are advised to check with their doctor or travel clinic for advice in good time before their date of travel

All guests are required to have their own medical & evacuation insurance

Rates incude all meals, soft drinks, local beer, house wines & bottled water, daily laundry, watersports and guided activities. (Shore based snorkeling, shore based fishing, sea kayaking, beach picnics, dhow sailing and turtle & whale watching, etc.)

Vamizi is a perfect honeymooners retreat; with Villas 1 & 10 being the most suitable.

Please contact us for special honeymoon packages.