VAMIZIISLANDLODGE, VAMIZIISLANDVamizi Island is a little slice of paradise with a soft white sandy beach littered with shells. Turtlesnest on the beach from December to May andhumpback whales pass by in July and August.Vamizi Island Lodge is the most luxurious lodge in Mozambique and has 13 large villas. Each has a bedroom with ocean views and a living roomwith sofas, books and wooden chests full of colddrinks. Fresh buckets of crabs are bought fromthe local fishermen and prepared for dinner which is served on the beach and lit by lanterns.The days can be spent swimming, snorkelling,diving and exploring other islands.IBOISLANDLODGE, IBOISLANDThis quirky lodge is made from two refurbishedmansions each over a century old, with highceilings, wide verandas and heavy wooden doors.They are furnished with mahogany day beds andantiques and soft African fabrics, all produced byskilled local craftsmen. The fourteen rooms areindividually designed and have en suite facilitiesand there is a pool in the pretty garden. Thelodge makes good use of its waterfront location,with meals served up on the rooftop overlookingthe sea. The menu features home grown organicvegetables as well as tiger prawns, game fish andcrab. When staying on Ibo, you can explore theisland's town, with its crumbling colonialarchitecture, or can take trips to nearbysandbanks for snorkelling and picnics. www.audleytravel.com/mozambique ?01993 838 560 ?Mozambique69GULUDOBEACHLODGE,MOZAMBIQUEMAINLANDFacing the Quirimba Archipelago, Guludo Beach Lodge is located on a 12 kilometre beach on the mainland. Its owners Amy and Neal have created a sustainable lodge that directly benefits the local communities. The lodgeis simple but beautiful, all the staff are from thelocal villages and many community projects areunderway as a result of money generated fromthe lodge. Accommodation is in reed and thatchbandas and dining is under thatch or on thebeach. There is a wide variety of activitiesincluding diving, snorkelling, village walks, and boat trips to Rolas Island.Ibo Island LodgeAccess to the islands is by light aircraftView from Guludo Beach LodgeIbo Island streetQuirimba girlA villa at VamiziThe beach at Vamizi Island

70the most exciting places to visit in this region isthe Ilha de Moçambique. Once the capital of thecountry, it is now a UNESCO World HeritageSite. Reached by a long bridge, this tiny island istwo miles long and 500 metres wide and has acity of narrow streets, beautiful churches, tradinghouses and a hospital. Many of the buildings arenow being carefully restored. South of Ilha deMoçambique, La Varanda is a private naturereserve that encompasses mangrove forests,dunes and white beaches and has one smalllodge. North of Nampula, the remote NananthaBay is crescent shaped and backed by baobabtrees. Fishing villages are dotted along the shoreand dhows are a common sight. The one smalllodge here is an ideal base from which to explore.NUARROLODGE, NANANTHABAYNuarro Lodge is built on the point at the end ofNanatha Bay, where the beach stretches forseveral miles and is backed by bush and baobabforest. The lodge is run on strong ethical principlesand the community is active in building thebusiness. Nuarro has twelve chalets tucked intothe dune vegetation, each with a hammock on the veranda. There are a number of family chaletswhich have a mezzanine level for children. PADIdiving instructors are on hand to take you ondives whilst non-divers can enjoy snorkelling,dhow sailing, fishing and whale watching, in season.On land there are eco trails to enjoy by bike oron foot as well as village visits and trips to Ilha de Moçambique.CORALLODGE1541, LAVARANDANATURERESERVEThis lodge is situated at the tip of a peninsula witha lagoon on one side and the Indian Ocean onthe other. The lagoon is sheltered and clear andits coral reefs make it ideal for swimming andsnorkelling. There are ten villas at Coral Lodge,built on top of the dunes to maximise the viewsof the sea and to enable circulation of the seabreeze. Cuisine is a highlight, with only localingredients used - fresh fish and shellfish boughtfrom local fishermen each day. After a big mealthere are plenty of land and water based activitiesto help you work off your lunch!The Nacala RegionOn the mainland, Nacala and the surroundingarea have until recently been too remote for anyother than the hardiest of backpackers to reach.There is only one tarmac road leading toNampula, where a small airport is located. Offthis, rutted sandy tracks lead to villages where theMacua people live from subsistence farming. Thecoast is unspoilt, with endless beaches backed bymangroves and subtropical bush. Offshore thereare un-dived reefs and shipwrecks underneath thewaves. Humpback whales pass through on theirannual migration from July to September. One ofA chalet at NuarroIlha de MoçambiqueBeach at Nanantha Bay