Thirty kilometres off the coast of southern Mozambique, where rolling sand dunes melt into a clear azure ocean, Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort offers one of the last untouched paradises in the Indian Ocean. This is barefoot luxury at its most remote and most rewarding.
By the Pan-African Voice Travel Desk
Some destinations announce themselves slowly. Ilha de Bazarut, the Island of the Mist, reveals itself as your vessel crosses the water toward it, a vision of pale dunes and turquoise shallows set within the protected waters of Bazaruto National Park. Lying 30 kilometres off the coast of southern Mozambique in the Inhambane province, this is where Anantara has chosen to plant one of its most extraordinary retreats: an island paradise among Mozambique resorts, and a place that still earns the phrase “one of the last untouched paradises.”
Getting here is part of the romance. Guests can arrive by a scenic boat transfer across the archipelago, or elevate the journey with a fifteen-minute helicopter charter from Vilankulos Airport, touching down at the resort’s own private airstrip and helipad. However you cross the water, the message is the same: you are leaving the ordinary world firmly behind.
Where the dunes meet the ocean
The resort is home to 44 luxury villas, each designed to frame the extraordinary setting. Beach Villas open directly onto the sand, while Beach Pool Villas add a private plunge pool and outdoor shower with uninterrupted ocean views — the kind of space where the boundary between indoors and the Indian Ocean simply dissolves. For families or those who like to spread out, the expansive Two-Bedroom Sea View Pool Villas offer generous indoor and poolside lounging with room for the whole party. In all, 22 villas come with their own private plunge pool, so a swim under the stars is never more than a few steps away.
A table for every mood
Dining at Anantara Bazaruto is woven into the rhythm of island life, and a fully-inclusive meal plan means every experience is part of the escape. Golfinho sets the tone for relaxed all-day dining; Tartaruga Restaurant and Grill leans into fresh flavours and open flame; and the Clube Naval Restaurant and Bar is the place to gather as the light softens over the water. For travellers who want to take a little of Mozambique home with them, the resort’s Spice Spoons experience offers a hands-on immersion into the country’s culinary culture.
Wellness, the Anantara way
At the heart of the resort sits the award-winning Anantara Spa, where signature treatments and rejuvenation rituals are designed to slow the pulse and restore the body, the natural counterpoint to days spent on the water. Those keeping to a routine will find a fitness centre with cardio and weight equipment, while two swimming pools and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout ensure comfort is never far away, even in so remote a setting.
Ilha de aventura — the island of adventure
For all its serenity, Bazaruto is also an island of adventure, and the surrounding waters are the real showstopper. This is a place for world-class diving and snorkelling, scuba expeditions and deep-sea fishing, with the celebrated Two Mile Reef waiting to be explored. Guests can swim with dolphins, and between July and September witness the majestic migration of humpback whales passing offshore.
As the day mellows, a traditional dhow sunset cruise the resort’s “Into the Blue” carries you across the lagoon under billowing sails, while sunset dune boarding offers a more exhilarating way to farewell the light. Beyond the home island, excursions reach the neighbouring gems of Paradise Island and Pansy Island, and the intriguing Croc Lake, each a reminder of just how much there is to discover here.
A paradise worth protecting
Part of what makes Bazaruto so special is that it remains pristine, a protected national park where the sea life is abundant and the horizons are empty of everything but beauty. To stay here is to become, however briefly, a custodian of one of the Indian Ocean’s last unspoiled places: a landscape where rolling sand dunes melt into clear azure ocean, and where the invitation is simply to explore beyond the horizon.
Plan your escape
The resort’s all-inclusive stays are currently offered through a range of packages, including a Beach Villa Special, an All-Inclusive Advance Purchase, the Bazaruto Endless Summer coastal experience and an All-Inclusive Stay Longer package.
Discover more and book http://www.anantara.com/en/bazaruto-island
