Azura is the area’s first luxury eco-boutique retreat. Built entirely by hand in partnership with the local community, it has just 20 villas, each with their own private pool stretching out to the Indian Ocean beyond, and designed for the ultimate undiscovered getaway. With wonderful cuisine, friendly Mozambican service and a vast range of activities and experiences, including a unique African spa, it’s the perfect island escape.
With Azura Benguerra Island featured in our newest sample experience, South Africa & Island Wildlife, we wanted to share some things to see and do to make the most of your visit to this incredible resort.
On Land
Benguerra Island offers a range of activities and experiences to enjoy. Take a beach ride on the coastal area with our beach bicycles or take a Land Rover tour of the island, and experience the local culture for which Mozambique is rightly famous, as well as visiting the school which was built with donations to Azura’s Rainbow Fund.
Climb the dunes, some of which are scattered with the remnants of ancient Arab pottery. Visit the island’s lakes and spot a crocodile or two. Discover the local fauna and flora. Take a long walk and we will meet you with a picnic. Or join one of our star gazing events and lie back and listen to the ancient African stories that chart the cosmos.
The whole of Africa is soccer mad. Benguerra Island has an Island League made up of teams from the hotels and local island teams. This is a really important event amongst the local community and great pride is at stake. Come and support Azura’s soccer team at one of their matches on the weekend.
On Water
With the Indian Ocean at its doorstep, many activities and experiences are focused around it. Snorkel or scuba dive, saltwater fly fish or big game fish, watch the sunset as you sail on our dhow, picnic in splendid isolation, explore the waters with paddleboards or cruise to deserted beaches to look for pansy shells.
Gaze at the dolphins, often spotted from our boats, or track down humpback whales on their seasonal migration past our shores. The offshore reefs are some of the most pristine on the coast of East Africa, and a joy to behold, with a plethora of marine life and amazing coral gardens.
Snorkelling
Snorkel at the spectacular Two Mile reef where there are hundreds of species of tropical fish, coral, rays, invertebrates as well as the possibility of seeing one of the various species of turtle that inhabit the national park. Humpback whales are often seen in season (May-Oct) as they pass on their annual migration. When out on the boats sightings of dolphin are common and if you are lucky, the highly endangered gentle giants of the area, the dugong may make an appearance too.
Scuba Diving
Learn to dive at the Padi 5 Star dive center with all Scubapro equipment. A full range of instructional courses from discover scuba upwards (Padi MSDT Instructor) is available and Azura has a dedicated watersports center with a dive training pool. The archipelago offers varied and interesting reefs with several species of turtle, dolphins, shark, pelagics, moray eels, eagle rays and a wonderful array of reef fish and corals.
Big Game Fishing and Salt Water Fly Fishing
Try your hand at fishing, the waters off Azura offer a variety of reef and big game fish for beginners and advanced alike. Some of the world’s best fishing for marlin, sailfish and tuna is done here and Giant Trevally (GT) up to 50kg is a speciality year round. Azura has a fully equipped fishing boat, with a tag and release policy.
Beach Picnics
Beach picnics are one of the signature activities at Azura. Deserted sand banks that can only be accessed at low tide or North Point, a remote location on the tip of a sand spit off the top of Benguerra Island are the kind of locations Azura guests can enjoy. Idyllic locations, with bleached white sand that is coated with Pansy shells or sand dollars, and is surrounded by crystal blue turquoise waters.
Dhow Sailing
A time-honored tradition in African waters, set sail in a traditional Mozambican Dhow sailboat, and watch the sunset as you drift along on the ocean breezes.
Paddle Boards
Go on a self-guided adventure! Take a paddle board and explore the pristine waters off the Bazaruto Archipelago and ride along with the dhows. This is the best way to have fun while around the island.
Spa
Azura’s spa signature treatments are based on local ingredients and traditions, and offer a wonderfully relaxing and pampering experience. The treatments take their inspiration from the very heart of Africa. Try a ‘Butter me up’ wrap using a unique blend of African body butters and oils, including the highly prized Mongongo Nut Oil. Follow that up with a relaxing massage using the new beauty miracle, Marula Oil. Or try something different with our Tribal Traditions massage, where olive and shea butter is poured all over the body, and massage strokes mimic the beating of African drums.
Dining
Azura’s plentiful dining options mean you don’t have to eat in the same place twice. Dining is all part of the experience, from breakfast at the water’s edge, to a picnic on a remote sand island, to dining on a candle lit beach beneath the stars and romantic private dinners at your villa. Mozambique hosts take huge pride in their innovative dining set-ups, and little touches to make your stay special.
Azura even boasts a fabulous wine cellar for special wine tasting events and themed dinners, and even offer a selection of the owner’s wines, especially flown in from their Chateau in the Loire Valley, France.
Menus are based on what is fresh and available, with a focus on light meals, simple ingredients, and lots of fresh fish and seafood. It’s a simple understated affair. You’ll always have a choice of dishes, and the chef will happily try to accommodate any personal requests that you may have.
Want to visit Azura Benguerra Island, or have questions about booking? Reach out to us!
Written by Salome Kgoale at Azura Retreats.