1. Dugong Beach Lodge

Dugong Beach Lodge is an award-winning boutique resort uniquely situated inside the 30,000-hectare Vilanculos Coastal & Wildlife Sanctuary. It is highly celebrated for offering a rare dual “eco-wilderness” experience, where a pristine white-sand beach ecosystem directly meets a protected coastal land reserve. Because it is currently the only commercial property operating within this massive sanctuary, guests are guaranteed an exceptionally private and exclusive stay.

Dugong Beach Lodge is a fantastic getaway location for fans of water sports and is found in the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located directly on the southern Mozambican coastline. Visitors are invited to delight in a vacation packed with activities like saltwater fly-fishing, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, ocean safaris, and more by the white beach and the warm Indian Ocean.

2. Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort

Off the coast of Vilanculos in Mozambique, Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa is situated on an island in the idyllic Bazaruto archipelago. Its picture-perfect surroundings and opulent lodging are the ideal complements and photo opportunities for your tropical Indian Ocean trip.

Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort is a premium 5-star escape situated on the southern tip of Bazaruto Island, the largest island within Mozambique’s pristine Bazaruto Archipelago National Park. It is widely recognized as the most fully featured, resort-style property in the archipelago. The resort blends traditional Thai wellness concepts with barefoot African luxury, boasting 44 private oceanfront villas spread out over extensive tropical gardens and rolling white sand dunes.

3. Azura Benguerra Island Lodge

Azura Benguerra Island was Mozambique’s very first true eco-luxury beach retreat. Built entirely by hand in a fair-trade partnership with the local island community, this intimate resort blends high-end sophistication with a soul-stirring “Robinson Crusoe” spirit. It stands out as an established, deeply characterful alternative to the ultra-minimalist luxury alternatives in the Bazaruto Archipelago.

Azura Benguerra Island Lodge is a welcome addition to Bazaruto’s Benguerra Island and contributes significantly to efforts to improve the local area and promote conservation. It is the first “eco-boutique” luxury retreat in Mozambique, and it has won praise for its excellent environmental efforts on a global scale.

4. Sussurro

Sussurro is a boutique hotel on the banks of a warm turquoise lagoon on the Nhamabue Peninsula, north of Vilanculos in Mozambique. Sussurro is designed with care to provide exceptional comfort and a natural flow to the surrounding nature, so that you can enjoy tailor-made experiences in this unique, pristine environment.

Sunset Dhow Cruise for Two is the perfect romantic escape for honeymooners. Or visit the river estuary and the beautiful mangrove forests along the Govhuro River, where secret indigenous communities can be found. Sail to Bartolomeu Dias Point for a peaceful picnic on a sand bar, relax in the shade or snorkel in the crystal clear shallows during low tide. Remote Bazaruto Archipelago offers spectacular deep-sea scuba for the adventurers, gear and transports from Sussurro included. Water sports enthusiasts can spend a day skiing, boarding and tubing in the lagoon area, which is excellent for families and friends. And if you fancy a mix of beach luxury and safari adventure, you can enjoy just that, with the Zivane and Gorongosa national parks nearby.

5. Muzimu Lodge

You’re not just hiring a bed, you’re backing one of Africa’s boldest comebacks, where wildlife has rebounded from a 90% fall during the civil war. Muzimu Lodge is located in the heart of Gorongosa National Park, central Mozambique – where a renowned wildness is being restored from the brink.

This is no ordinary safari resort. It is the star lodging in a national park that, with an investment of millions of dollars each year, is rewriting the rules of conservation. Your stay supports everything from rangers and research to the amazing restoration of an ecosystem previously thought to be a lost cause. Every day is full of life. Game drives take you across wide floodplains where elephant populations are gaining strength year by year, from a mere 200 to nearly 1,000. Walking safaris put your feet in tune with the pulse of the ground and professional guides, many of them local trackers whose families have lived here for generations, tell stories no textbook can teach. See lions take back their area. See researchers follow species. Take nite drives to discover the secret life of nocturnal animals. See Lake Urema become a refuge for waterbirds in the wet season. If a typical safari isn’t enough to stretch your legs, there is also climbing at Mount Gorongosa.

6. Azura Marlin Beach

Mozambique’s hippest island retreat is also its most lavish. Azura Marlin Beach on gorgeous Benguerra Island is a five-star boutique offering that embraces Azura Retreats’ unique ‘eco-chic’ concept, superb personalised service and vibrant local food, all set in a place that is the closest thing to heaven available to us.

Situated in a high elevation, the hotel offers unobstructed views of the turquoise seas of the Indian Ocean and spectacular sunsets. It’s the ideal Mozambique island escape for honeymooners, couples and kids! A short and easy boat journey from the hotel offers guests a broad selection of activities and experiences to enjoy, including snorkelling and diving on a stunning coral, sailing in traditional Dhows, picnics on remote sandbars and, of course, deep-sea tag-and-release fishing.

7. White Pearl Ponta Mamoli Resort

White Pearl Ponta Mamoli Resort is set among casuarina trees on a secluded bay on Mozambique’s verdant Lagoon Coast, and is a lovely place to escape along a desolate stretch of 2km beach with only the ocean, sand and limitless greenery for company.

The rich marine life, beautiful coral reefs and warm, clear waters give various activities for eager fishermen, divers and kayakers in this undeveloped part of Mozambique. Ride along the beach, see the seasonal turtles and get calm massages in the seclusion of your own apartment. Swim up to the Pool Bar for cocktails during the day and cigars at nite or recline on the four-poster day beds at the Pool Deck.

8. Santorini Mozambique

You know you’ve arrived at Santorini Mozambique when you walk down the stairs of your white-walled Villa to a private length of white sand beach. Mozambique is packed with stunning seaside getaways, but this place, with views across the vast Vilanculos Bay from its leafy, hilltop perch, is a hard act to follow.

Inspired by the blue waters it shares with the Greek Isles, the expansive complex of multi-level Grecian villas has all-white, domed homes with superb beach access just north of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Located in the midst of thick woodland and the Indian Ocean, guests are not only treated with maximum seclusion but also given the gift of an underwater wonderland and a plethora of water and land sports to keep them busy.

9. Massinga Beach

Tucked away from the madding crowd, Massinga Beach sits smugly above tempting views of seemingly infinite and unknown coastline, yet is easily located 90km’s up the coast from Inhambane Airport in Mozambique.

The lodge, framed by palm palms and tropical foliage, runs straight out to the finely-sanded shores of the Indian ocean. The tropical seas are an invitation to dive in, but the lodge’s range of water-based recreational activities like kayaking, snorkelling and scuba-diving ensure all guests will be. Land-based activities include beach games, picnics, stargazing and day-visits to the vibrant Inhambane or the adjacent village of Massinga.

10. Machangulo Beach Lodge

The Mozambique coast to the south is famous for its wild and unspoiled nature. At Hell’s Gate, the estuaries of Maputo Bay and Indian Ocean fight an odd struggle, which visitors can witness. The Machangulo Beach Lodge is located in the middle of 5 nature reserves, between the Inhaca Island and the dunes of the Santa Maria Peninsula.

The lodge overlooks infinite white beaches, clean and undisturbed dune woods, estuaries teeming with life and the wide open ocean, all merging into a symphony of energy. The most popular activities include scuba diving, offshore fishing, dhow sailing safaris, picnics on Inhaca Island and village excursions with many more diversions on offer. This holiday will accommodate for all demands.

11. Ibo Island Lodge

Watch the flaming orange sky as the sun sinks below the horizon from your private verandah overlooking the ocean, and know that you have landed at one of the most romantic spots in Africa. Ibo Island Lodge, in the Quirimbas Archipelago of northern Mozambique, redefines the tropical luxury hideaway with gorgeous beaches and numerous historical treasures.

Ibo Island is one of the most unique and enchanting islands in Africa, secluded and still mostly unaffected by commercial developments. Labelled a World Heritage Site. The island is home to century-old architectural ruins, beautifully restored houses and excitement galore in the shape of sailing, diving, snorkelling, cultural tours and island-hopping kayak safaris.

12. Coral Lodge 15.41

Coral Lodge 15.41 is one of the unspoiled and eco-friendly destinations to discover this side of the country, Mozambique is known for its powder white beaches and turquoise oceans. Set in a private natural reserve and on top of a series of sand dunes, this is your opportunity to experience Mozambique in its purest form.

Just 10 minutes from Ilha de Moçambique (the country’s sole UNESCO World Heritage site), Coral Lodge 15.41 has plenty of activity picnic options for guests to select from: go canoeing or kite-surfing, or hop aboard a dhow for a day of thrilling game-fishing. The shoreline is littered with shipwrecks and reefs of coral, making this a particularly ideal place for snorkelling and scuba diving.

13. Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel

At Bahia Mar Boutique Hotel, the mild waters of the Indian Ocean whisper the soft, sandy beaches of Vilanculos, so that as soon as you step out the door your toes are in the sea. You can combine many different activities and varied housing options to suit your group and preferences but cruises of the Bazaruto Archipelago are available to provide you a tailored experience and the most out of the surroundings.

Activities include marine safaris, diving, dhow and canoe rides, wakeboarding, horse riding, tuk-tuk tours and many more. The Mayara is a luxury powerboat that sleeps four and includes a tender boat for exploration or a rubber-duck for water sports while sailing. The wellness center includes a gym and treatment rooms.

14. Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort & Spa

The palm-frond strewn shores of the kilometre-long and 500m-wide islet that forms part of Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago are gently lapped by the sparkling seas of the Indian Ocean. There are just 12 elegantly furnished villas to be found on the whole island. Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort & Spa reveals the hidden island hideaway of your dreams.

Medjumbe Island is one of 12 islands in the archipelago that form the 750,000ha Quirimbas National Park. Its mild waters and isolated islets safeguard coastal forests, mangroves and reefs of coral. Here, visitors to this tropical treasure trove will find a great array of water-based activities to enjoy including snorkelling, diving, fishing, water-skiing, Hobie cat sailing, sea kayaking, wakeboarding, tubing and stand-up paddle-boarding.

15. Chicari Camp

This is not another Safari Camp. Chicari Camp is located in the remote eastern parts of Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park, overlooking a seasonal pan that attracts species from all over the recovering wilderness. You are not simply booking a bed, but a stay at one of Africa’s most ambitious rewilding initiatives, where wildlife numbers have swelled from 10,000 to more than 110,000. Every morning you wake up to the sound of a landscape screaming back to life, knowing that your stay directly supports the 1,800 people — rangers, researchers and community members – that are pulling this ecosystem back from the brink.

16. Nuarro Lodge

Nuarro Lodge is a gem in Mozambique’s crown of luxury lodges, offering stunning vistas and a commitment to eco-friendly principles. All the structures at the lodges are designed to maximise the benefit of the sea breeze so there is no need for environmentally damaging air-conditioning. The main beach is approximately 2km long, lots of space to lay down a mat and snooze the day away!

It has its own well equipped dive center and facilities to offer PADI dive courses, so whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newbie this resort has the diving for you. The seas are packed with spectacular fish and brilliant corals. The reefs surrounding here are also pretty much limited to Nuarro Lodge use so they are not crowded and are in excellent shape.

17. Polana Serena Hotel

Polana Serena Hotel is one of the exclusive class of luxury hotels that are a perfect blend of pure luxury with polished refinement. Maputo’s ‘Grande Dame’, the five-star hotel is situated on the beautiful boulevards of one of the city’s most renowned streets.

Delagoa Restaurant Enjoy fine-dining under the chandeliers, sampling a combination of French and Mozambican cuisine matched with the finest wines of both the ancient and new world. Enjoy a taste of sample sushi delicacies at the Aquarius Bar overlooking Maputo Bay or indulge in classic afternoon tea at the Varanda Restaurant. The “Maisha” Mind, Body and Spirit Health Club and Spa facility offers revitalising treatments as well as a state-of-the-art gym, aerobics studio, indoor pool area and sauna. The 18 m manicured pool is nestled in the extensive tropical gardens and has a sun-deck and juice-bar.

18. Pestana Rovuma

Pestana Rovuma is right in the center of Maputo, under the shadow of the old white cathedral’s tower. This four star hotel mixes comfort with an African flair, providing a comfortable base from which to explore the vibrant Mozambican city.

On the main floor there is a modest shopping center where tourists will find all the essentials from banking services to a pharmacy, beauty salon and shoe store. Monomotapa Restaurant serves local and international food, either a la carte or buffet-style. Eating there is a treat. The Snack Bar & Cocktail Lounge offers smaller snacks and pastries to enjoy on the patio or poolside. Water enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, scuba diving and boat rides in the enticing seas of the Indian Ocean, just a short drive away.

19. Pestana Bazaruto Lodge

Pestana Bazaruto Lodge is located on the northern tip of Bazaruto Island, one of the islands in the Bazaruto Archipelago of Mozambique, a chain of islands formed by the Save River depositing sand. Nestled among beaches of eggshell colour and the Indian Ocean, the lodge embraces the tranquil rhythm of island life, providing guests stress-busting accommodation and unparalleled vistas.

Diving and snorkelling the island’s vast and unspoiled reefs of coral, wakeboarding across the sparkling waters for an adrenaline hit, and the excitement of hooking into enormous trevally, sailfish and marlin on a deep-sea fishing trip. Go on an island trip and get to know the tropics and its residents. Indulge in one of the spa’s therapeutic treatments, or relax by the outdoor pool, beneath the palm trees.

20. Casa Rex

The lively, buzzing town of Vilanculos has long been popular with travellers – partly because of its superb location opposite the Bazaruto Archipelago, but also because of its markets, friendly people, inviting beaches and array of bars and restaurants, all reflecting the Arab, African and Portuguese influences found throughout the town. In the opulent Casa Rex, visitors find themselves at the doorstep of this bustling seaside community.

Diving with dugongs and a dhow voyage to the archipelago. You can stroll through the markets, join a cultural tour or have a horse ride along the beach and kayak behind the breakers. Vilanculos is a good place for kite-surfing, diving and sailing. Visitors may also enjoy snorkelling, whale and dolphin watching or just relax at the variety of beach bars and restaurants.

21. AVANI Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa

Trade island-hopping throughout the Quirimbas archipelago, admire the African architecture steeped with Arabic influence, a genuine reflection of Pemba’s past, and while away the days on beaches and in local communities before retiring to the luxury of AVANI Pemba Beach Hotel & Spa. This resort offers an intimate luxury experience and is the perfect island hideaway following a safari in the Niassa National Reserve.

Pemba highlights the Indian Ocean island and its magnificent beaches, with a rich cultural and colonial legacy. Go on a dhow cruise to other tiny islands in the archipelago, spend a day at the spa and browse local market booths for souvenirs to take back home. Otherwise, enjoy a choice of water orientated sports such as diving or surfing and soak up the sun on a myriad of beaches.