I visited Mozambique a few years ago and fell in love with the endless white beaches. And of course the cocktails on tap!! So when talking about honeymoon destinations, Mozambique featured high on the list.
There are three main regions in Mozambique. The Bazaruto Archipelago (also known as Vilanculos), the Pemba region and the Inhambane region.
The most popular is the Bazaruto Archipelago. With daily, 2 hour, flights from Johannesburg and twice weekly flights from the Kruger National Park, Bazaruto (or Vilanculos which is the name of the town) is easy to get to.
This beautiful region has the pre-requisite deserted beaches and turquoise waters. There are a number of excellent lodges to choose from, and most of them cater exclusively to the honeymoon and romantic traveler markets.
The Pemba region is fast starting to compete with the Bazaruto Archipelago with daily flights from Johannesburg. It is however a 5 hour effort, but once you are there, all is forgotten. With very few lodges to choose from, and a couple of private island retreats, Pemba is the place to go if you want to get away from other tourists and really spoil yourselves
Inhambane caters mainly to the local South African market. There are no flights in, so you have to drive – which is a bumpy and longwinded affair. The lodges tend to be more 3 to 4 star, but you still get the unspoilt beaches and warm waters. For the more adventurous and budget conscious, Inhambane can be a great option
Mozambique is not Mauritius. The lodges don’t offer hundreds of activities, disco’s, water skiing and such like. This is a more relaxing and dignified destination. In Mozambique you relax on the beach, take long walks into the sunset, snorkel, fish and dive. And of course, end off every day with a couple of cocktails as the sun disappears between the palm trees.
For the exclusive honeymooner, there are really two lodges that stand out for me:
Azura is a brand new lodge in the Bazaruto Archipelago on Benguerra Island. It is possibly the most romantic lodge in Africa. All rooms have private pools stretching down to the beach. You laze in your pool while gazing at the ocean. You have a butler to make sure that you have everything you need, a spa facility for relaxation and romantic meals on the beach. If your budget is high, this is the place for you.
In the Pemba region, Matemo Private Island is the place. Situated on a remote private island, Matemo only has 13 rooms, so you are guaranteed of personal service and exclusivity. And to top it off, Matemo offers, what many people believe to be the best diving in the world.
For the honeymooner with pretty deep pockets, but not quite unlimited funds, there are some other great options:
Marlin Lodge is a 4 star resort in the Bazaruto Archipelago. It has just been completely renovated this year and now offers very luxurious accommodation – and no kids under 12 years, which is a bonus! The beach at Marlin is stunning and activities such as snorkeling, diving and kayaking.
If you are more of a budget honeymooner, then I would highly recommend that you ditch the idea of Mozambique and instead visit the north coast of South Africa. The north coast of KwaZulu Natal offers very similar conditions to Mozambique, but much cheaper prices. Thonga Beach Lodge is a superb lodge, situated right on the beach and offers the same activities as the Mozambique lodges
