Jessicaddc

Can anyone give us feedback on Indigo Bay, Bengurra, Vamizi Island, Matemo Lodge & Medjumbe?
We've decided to pass on Mauritius(the Oberoi) because of the Chikungunya Fever outbreak but now we don't know where to stay in Mozambique!
We're looking for something luxurious and romantic (it's our honeymoon) and even "exotic" but we still want good food and plenty of activities (my fiance and I are both certified divers).

Also, we were originally staying in Mauritius for 4 nights because of its distance from Jo'Burg to be followed by 3 nights in Singita. Is 4 days too many to spend in Mozambique (i.e. should we try to change our itinerary to 3 nights in Mozambique and 4 nights at Singita)?

Thanks so much!!!

mkhonzo

A friend of mine stayed at medjumbe last year and was blown away by the lodge. I gather that it is an intimate property of around 13 suites.

And from what I can understand the diving there is out of this world. Since Mozambique has been a troubled land for the last two decades few of the reefs have been dived and are quite pristine. Those that have seen them argue that they compete with the best in the world.

Since this is your honeymoon I would venture to say the 4 days is probably to few!

Roccco

Medjumbe seems like an excellent option. It is definitely on my list of properties to visit, as is Rani Resorts first safari lodge, Lugenda, located in northern Mozambique and opening in August:

http://www.raniresorts.com/resorts/lugenda.php

Lugenda is supposed to have quite a few elephants and wild dogs in the area, plus an excellent diversity of other wildlife.

One other option of interest in Mozambique may be Quilalea.
Quilalea is on a small private island and features only nine private villas:

http://www.classicretreats.com/Prope...id_Property=12

Congratulations.

Alejandra

The most luxury lodge according to someone who has visited most of them is called Vamizi Island lodge. It just seems a pain to get there.

Txtrav1

Having done my wedding at Mateya in Madikwe Reserve, South Africa which has been compared to being even nicer than Singita, we did our beach portion in Mozambique at Marlin Lodge on Benguerua Island - would rate 4 star. Much easier to get to from Joberg with only a 2 hr flight on Pelican air + 20 min boat ride to the island. Marlin Lodge is really nice for beach resort. Has a rustic, yet high end feel to it. Service & food was very good (lots of fresh seafood) IMHO, nicer than Benguerua Resort. You'll be pleased. Just don't expect Singita or anything 5 star. No such thing on any of the Mozambique islands. If you are going to any of the northern Mozambique islands, just know that they are much harder to get to than Benguerua. Diving, water & island are spectacular. I can't dive, but we snorkled and I must say it was better than places we have been in Carribean or Belize. If you like to deep sea fish, it's is outstanding and you can be lines in the water 15 min from the island. My wife caught a huge sailfish 5 min after we dropped anchor. 4 beach nights is just about right. Only other thing I could say about Marlin Lodge is that they really caters to honeymooner's. Only 20 rooms or so, so you are treated special and no worries.. most on their honeymoon Only other place I would suggest would be Mnemba Island off Zanzibar. That is suposed to be the ultimate, but you'll have to really travel to get there. If you are restricted on time, I would spend a little more on safari and less on beach. We did 5 nights safari and 4 nights beach + layover night in JoBerg at Fairlawns Hotel between safari/beach and the rest on a plane and it was perfect....except we wanted another month there. Do safari 1st, then beach if you can for most relaxing experience. Our goal was to maximize our time actually spent on the ground vs. traveling. Sorry for the length, but you won't find much on the board about Mozambique islands and we were there last June. Hope this helps

Txtrav1

Now I feel like an idiot. If you check her her other messages, she has already been to Africa & back, so I hope my late reply to her can assist others who are looking into Mozambique for beach or S. Africa for a safari suggestion. Guess I was a little too late...

Georgie2007

My husband and I are going on safari for two weeks in Botswana and Zimbabwe and then to Quilalea Island Northern Mozambique for 9 nights diving in May/June 2007. We wanted a small intimate resort and it came down to Vamizi or Quilalea. Vamizi looks gorgeous, is expensive and diving was extra. Quilalea can inlcude diving at a reasonable rate and they have a special at the moment, the first person pays full rate and the second is half price. I am not sure how long this special is going but we got it an are at Quilalea Island from 15th June for 9 nights. The only problem is that it will take a day to get there and flights are not every day. We are flying from Johannesburg to Pemba (Moz) via Maputo and then taking a helicopter out to the island. Quilalea won't allow us to dive if we are taking Larium so we will probably take Malarone whilst in Botswana etc which is very expensive but hey our health is more important than a few dollars. See thread on Malarone expense. Quilalea is Malaria free. When are you going? We can compare notes and I would love to hear about Vamizi if you go there.

cruisinred

As an FYI to anyone considering northern Mozambique, SAA is introducing 2 nonstop flights per week to Pemba, so now there is another option besides Mozambiaues LAM airline.

Georgie2007

Do you know what days SAA are going to fly Johannesburg to Pemba and the other way. We are flying to Pemba on a Friday and back on a Sunday. It would be great to fly direct with SAA. When are these flights going to start.

cruisinred

It looks like the SAA flights to Pemba will start at the end of March, twice weekly on Saturday and Tuesday:
http://www.flyairlink.com/pemba_flightschedules.html

YvonneM

I have been to Indigo Bay and absolutely loved it. Its not as rustic or as small and intimate as some of the other resorts but it does have a nice pool, nice rooms (recently upgraded) fantastic food... and I mean fantastic, lovely horses a beautiful setting ( I guess they all do ) In short I can't wait to go back... Yvonne

Georgie2007

The SAA flights to Pemba don't match my dates and it is too late and to much bother to change the last bit of our itinerary to accomodate these flights. I would have preferred SAA only because they are a larger airline. Has anyone flown LAM and what is it like???

elinehalborg

I have to share my enthusiasm with you in case you are planning to go back to Mozambique! We just returned from the most amazing holiday in Mozambique at Nyati Beach Lodge (see http://www.nyati-beach-mozambique.co.za/)

The food and service was superbe and the activities were so exciting! My husband caught both a huge kingfish and tuna on his game fishing trip and I had the most fantastic diving trips, seeing both a whale shark, a number of rays and even sea turtles! The area is really unspoiled, so you get that private feeling which is so special.

spassvogel

Medjumbe: small intimate and not much to do except diving/relaxation
Matemo - much bigger and more activities besides diving
Indigo Bay - much bigger and lots of activities
All rani resorts: http://www.raniresorts.com/

Luganda/Niassa Reserve is open between May and Nov only and wildlife is rather scarce and not so accustomed to visitors but for the enthusiasts who has seen already a lot perfectly fine. Searching for animals is the activity there.
Landscape awesome!

For honeymoon i would recommend Vamizi - solely Vamizi. It's a nomad property and easily reachable via Pemba.

http://www.nomad-tanzania.com/camps/vamizi_island.html

It's about 700 US$pppd but worthwhile for that experience. Diving is also excellent!

4 nights sounds wonderful and perfectly doable! Check with the airlines and their frequencies so you might have to adjust your itinerary to these!

Cheers!

SV

bushmad

Vamizi is definatley the most exclusive lodge. The honeymoon suite is located on its own stretch of beach. The food, sevice and rooms are outstanding. There are many other great lodges in Mozambique as mentioned in this discussion. But for a honeymoon I would highly recommend Vamizi.