Welcome to Rio Azul Lodge
Quietly waiting on the shores of Mozambique, is Rio Azul, an untouched paradise meaning “Blue River.” The Lodge offers the perfect haven to rest, and restore one’s soul while soaking in the breathtakingly beautiful views of the endlessly blue estuary.
Rio Azul Lodge is situated on the Northern end of the Bazaruto Archipelago at the mouth of the pristine Govuro River which enters the sea at Bartholomew Dias. Guests enjoy a scenic 2 hour road transfer from Vilancoulos before reaching this private beach haven.
The lodge faces west and enjoys spectacular sunsets in a quiet and peaceful setting of your own personal paradise. The setting is ideal for honeymoons, romantic holidays, family holidays, fishing holidays and of course beach holidays. Excellent fishing and bird watching opportunities wait, as well as kayaking, snorkelling and boating to name a few of the lodge beach holiday activities. Each group has access to their own boat to explore the estuary, allowing for endless hours exploring this pristine environment. Part of the experience is the excellent fine dining experience, with freshly caught cuisine to tantalise your senses.
Rio Azul offers luxury lodge accommodation including six twin chalets and two luxury villas which sleep six adults and six children. Each villa has its own swimming pool and is situated along pristine beach shores.
Info
- Rio Azul lodge offers six beachfront chalets consisting of 3 twin chalets with 2 ¾ bed and 3 double chalets with a king sized bed, as well as 2 luxury beachfront villas which can sleep 6 adults and 4 children or 8 adults only.
- The main lodge area consists of a lounge, dining room and bar area with a big wooden deck in front and a plunge pool.
- The lodge runs on solar (with a back up generator for emergencies) and plug points for charging camera batteries etc.
- Each room has a digital safe to store passports and other valuables
Rio Azul is located on the banks of the Govuro River in Mozambique, overlooking the estuary and is about 2km from the river mouth. The Govuro River runs north from Vilanculos and past Inhassoro and enters the sea at Bartholomew Diaz point.
Rio Azul is one of the few venues along the Mozambique coast where one can access deep water with strong currents close to the beach. The point at the river mouth has deep water right at the edge and big game fish move into easy casting distance of the shore to feed. The estuary offers many species of fish for light tackle fishing.
There is abundant birdlife in this mangrove region as well as beautiful, unspoilt beaches to be explored.
Pool Area and Wooden Deck
There are daily flights to Vilanculos with LAM, and flights 5 days a week with Airlink. On arrival in Vilanculos you will be met & transferred by air-conditioned vehicle to Rio Azul. The resort is approx. 130 km north of Vilanculos and the road transfer takes approx. 2 hours.
Self Drive: 1600km from JHB on EN1 – approx. 10 hours north of Maputo
Mozambique is a Malaria area. While there is no malaria in the immediate area, Rio Azul makes every effort to reduce the risk to guests by regularly spraying the lodge environs with mosquito poison and by supplying adequate mosquito nets. Guests should consult a physician with regards to precautionary medication before travelling. Bring along your own supply of insect repellent.
- Situated on a pristine estuary which is a breeding site for the rare dugong.
- Both boat and shore fishing.
- Experienced fishing guides & good boats
- Each room has unlimited use of the estuary boats (excl. petrol)
- Unspoilt beaches
- BD island is nearby for fishing or beach picnics
- Great birdlife in the area
- Sea kayaks available to explore the mangrove channels
- Snorkeling (offered at an additional cost that takes place during an excursion that we offer to Paradise Island. Please contact us for rates and details)
This is a wonderful fishing venue from deep sea fishing to shore fishing, estuary fishing to salt water fly fishing.
The area offers some great bird watching with specials such as mangrove kingfishers and crab plovers.
Activities include beach walks, kayaking, sundowner cruise on a local Dhow, trips to BD Island and snorkeling.
Excursions to Santa Carolina (Paradise Island) offer excellent snorkeling opportunities, and can be combined with picnic lunches.
Rio Azul is in the unique position to provide excellent fishing opportunities to fisherman of all skill levels – from beginner fisherman to the most experienced fisherman. The lodge offers excellent quality estuary fishing.
Rio Azul is ideal for fishermen who enjoy a variety of fishing techniques from fly fishing, to light tackle lure fishing, surf fishing and deep-sea fishing. The policy at
Estuary Fishing
Govuro River Estuary
Rio Azul’s location on the Guvuro river mouth provide great quality estuary fishing which is easily accessed in our 12 foot aluminium boats. The estuary is extensive and offers diverse fishing from trolling lures, to casting baits, lures and flies. Fishing the deep main channels is good for grunter, kingfish, barracuda and rock cod.
Mangrove Channels Fishing
The mangrove channels are excellent for fishing for river snapper, perch, estuary cod, grunter and small kingfish. The best form of fishing in the estuary is casting lures with light tackle from the drifting boat towards the mangroves or fly fishing the same way. Some big fish are caught trolling lures in the main channels and also drifting in the main channels with live bait.
Complementary Estuary Fishing Boat:
The boats that each room is supplied with are ideal for estuary fishing. They are Aluminium boats fitted with a single 15 horse power Yamaha outboard motor, an electric creeper motor, a two-way marine radio and a cooler box. Guests will be given a course on how to operate the boat as well as the electronic equipment on board when they arrive. Guests will have the choice of hiring a local skipper for their stay should they wish to.
Offshore Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing Boats
The lodge boats are skippered by experienced and qualified fishing guides, who know the area intimately. We have two 31 foot fishing boats which are reliable, safe and comfortable to fish from.
Launching from the estuary is safe, with no surf to negotiate. The boats have access to some exceptionally productive reefs that receive very little fishing pressure. Guests have the choice of trolling, plugging, jigging, fly-fishing or drift bait fishing for the game fish that occur in the ocean off Bartholomew Diaz.
Boats fish up to 6 clients at a time. The nearest reefs are a ten-minute run from the lodge, and reefs right up to 25 mile reef north of Bazaruto Island are accessible to the lodge’s boats.
Fishing Tackles and Lures
Tackle for offshore fishing is available at a nominal fee. Lures will be charged for at market related prices.
Complementary Fishing Bait
Bait will be available from the lodge at no extra charge to guests and will consist of: prawns, squid and fish (depending on availability). The lodge will endeavor to supply live bait whenever possible.
Please contact us for boat hire costs.
| Recommended packing list | |
| Cap or wide Brimmed hat | Sunglasses (preferably polarized) |
| Windbreaker/Waterproof | Sun block |
| Fishing shirts | Lip-Ice |
| Fishing shorts | Camera |
| Tracksuit pants | Torch |
| Strops | Personal toiletries |
Returned for our third visit to Rio Azul Lodge, and once again, it exceeded all our expectations. This family-friendly lodge, set on an estuary near Inhassoro, Mozambique, is the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. From the stunning location to the exceptional service, Rio Azul is always a memorable experience.
Mark, the General Manager, continues to shine as the face of the lodge. As always, he went above and beyond to make our stay as comfortable as possible. His attention to detail and willingness to assist with anything makes all the difference in ensuring a great time. The staff at Rio Azul are simply fantastic. Bruno, the driver, was always punctual and accommodating, ensuring our transport was smooth and effortless. Carlos and Jeremai, the waiters, were friendly, attentive, and always made us feel special with their warm service. The housekeeping team was efficient, ensuring our rooms were always spotless and comfortable. And the boat staff were top-notch, assisting with everything from setting up fishing gear to ensuring our boat trips went off without a hitch.
The fishing was outstanding, and we cannot thank Skipper Stuart enough. He is an expert at what he does and always knew the best spots to catch fish. Each outing was filled with excitement and success, making this a highlight of our stay. Fishing in the estuary on the lodge’s estuary boats was equally rewarding. The boats are comfortable, and we had great success catching fish right there in the estuary. On one of our days, the lodge even packed us lunch so we could spend the entire day fishing without having to leave the water—such thoughtful service!
The food at Rio Azul was consistently amazing. Chef James outdid himself with each meal, especially the fresh crayfish, prawns, and fish. The seafood pasta is a must-try. Freshly baked goods (cinnamon buns, chocolate chip cookies and pastel de nata’s) for tea was a highlight. For Christmas Eve, the beach braai was a standout experience, with delicious sushi and crayfish served in an incredible setting. The combination of fresh ingredients and James’ culinary expertise made every meal a treat.
A boat trip to Paradise Island is an absolute must! The excursion included lunch on the island and snorkelling in the reserve, which was an unforgettable experience. The pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters offered the perfect setting for a day of relaxation, exploration, and fun. The snorkelling in the reserve was particularly special, with vibrant marine life and coral reefs to admire.
Rio Azul Lodge remains a top destination for anyone looking for a laid-back yet thrilling vacation in Mozambique. The combination of world-class fishing, exceptional food, and outstanding service keeps us coming back year after year. We are already looking forward to our next visit!
– Lisa (travelled January 2025)