Premier Destination
Imagine an unspoilt island within a National Park, deserted beaches of pure white sand, sparkling turquoise seas, swaying palms, sunny days and star studded nights…and you have Azura on Benguerra Island, Mozambique.
Built and operated in partnership with the local community, it has just 15 villas, each with their own infinity pool and designed for the ultimate in pampering and privacy.
Azura's 15 villas blend modern chic with all that is traditional in Mozambique. The creature comforts you would expect from a luxury boutique resort are there, set off by beautifully carved beams and traditional artwork beneath a local thatched jekka roof.
Tan in private beneath the swaying palms in your garden and cool off in your own sparkling plunge pool.
Each villa is just footsteps from the beach, yet designed with seclusion in mind. Nestled amidst the indigenous trees and bush, Azura have painstakingly created your own private sanctuary; haven of rest and relaxation where you can feel at one with the environment; fusion of indoor and outdoor space where time becomes your own.
The lodge's public areas are open to the beach and sea with amazing vistas across calm blue waters to the Indian Ocean beyond. Furnished with cool contemporary cottons and the textures of Africa, they are open to the breezes, in harmony with nature; comfortable, simple, spacious and chic.
Indulge your desires with Azura's fine dining experience. Fresh local Mozambican produce, much of it home caught or home grown is put together with contemporary style and flair. Azura's top international chef's signature dishes will not disappoint, and nor will their extensive wine cellar, which includes fine wines flown direct from their owner's chateau in France's Loire Valley.
Where to eat is as much of a decision as what to eat. Azura will pack a picnic of your choosing and whisk you off to a secluded spot on your own; the main restaurant has magnificent uninterrupted views; snack on fresh sushi in the Star Bar, which showcases the magnificence of the skies above you; or the Gecko Deck offers informal dining with your feet in the sand. Or nothing beats dining by candlelight on the beach beneath the stars.
A kaleidoscope of colour greets you above and below the ocean. Magnificent reefs are home to the turtles that nest nearby. Whales, dolphins, and the elusive and protected dugong can also be seen. On land, towering sand dunes give way to indigenous bush abundant with local flora and fauna. And you are welcomed by a warm and friendly people, rich in culture, for which Mozambique is rightly famous.
Water based activities include snorkelling, diving, salt water fly fishing or big game fishing, kayaking and sailing.
You can go out with Azura's Dugong protection team and search for the shy endangered mammal, or help them to protect and release the turtles from their nests on their shores. Swim with the dolphins, which are regular visitors to Azura's beach, or track down humpback whales on their migration past their shores.
Sail on a traditional dhow, or cruise to deserted beaches to look for pansy shells.
There is also a unique African spa at Azura. This is a spa like no other - nestled into the dunes, at one with the environment. Signature treatments are based on local ingredients and traditions. Be rubbed down with ground coconut shells and natural spices, covered head to toe with tamarind and aloe, and gently massaged with warm marula oil.
Learn more about the environment you are in at the Ocean Seas Museum, or browse Azura's collection of handcrafted artefacts and jewellery at their Trading Store. The mod cons are there too if you need them, with TV and internet discreetly tucked away in their library.
Azura is located on Benguerra Island within the Bazaruto National Park. Benguerra Island lies 14km north east of Vilanculos, the nearest town and site of the international airport. An inter-island light aircraft connects with arrivals into Vilanculos to the Benguerra grass strip adjacent to the resort, with a flying time of 10 minutes. Alternatively you can transfer from Vilanculos by speedboat in 20-30 minutes.