Vamizi is a twelve-kilometre finger of
land - just off the coast of Palma in the most Northern
corner of the Quirimbas. Surrounded by coral gardens
and abundant seas, its interior hosts a wealth of animal
and bird life-all of which is never more than
a kilometre from the beach. The island is dotted with
many tiny coves and bays calling out to be explored.
For
centuries the people of Vamizi wove cloth and dyed
it blue with indigo cultivated on the island. With
time and the success of their trade, the islands themselves
came to be known by the name of the cloth-Maluane.
The lighthouse on the Island dates from the nineteenth
century. It lit the way for commercial dhows and later
steamships as they plied the trade routes around the
Indian Ocean.
A small handful of guests can step out of
beautifully appointed beach villas into a world of
powder white sands, virgin reefs and secret coves. |
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How to get there?
Guests can fly to Pemba Airport in Mozambique from Johannesburg
and Dar es Salaam. There are also daily connections from
Maputo. This is followed by a scenic 55 minites flight to
Olumbi airstrip, a 10 minute road transfer to the boat station
and a 45-minute boat trip to the Island.
| Accommodation |
| Vamizi Island
Lodge |
Vamizi is designed to complement the
environment. This luxurious eco-lodge is built at the
end of a twelve-kilometre beach. Just twelve, huge open-plan
villas giving onto pristine Indian Ocean beach provide
exceptional comfort and access to this unparalleled
conservation area. Each cottage has a spacious living
room, a spectacular bathroom, and a breezy veranda.
The villas are spaced a good distance (70m) apart, offer
plenty of privacy. In the large bedrooms, a king-size
4 poster bed with billowing muslin mosquito nets and
Egyptian cotton sheets welcomes one; whilst an assortment
of sunloungers, planters chairs, peponi beds and Swahili
swing beds make relaxing outside a pleasure. The shower
gushes from a monolith of local marble, open to the
bush.
Vamizi is a wild and remote haven created for travellers
looking for the ultimate beach escape.
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What to see
Wildlife
The island is home to an endemic species of Dwarf python,
Samango Monkeys and Coconut Crabs.
Birds
85 species of bird including Western Reef Herons, Forest
Weavers, Madagascar Bee-eater, Green Coucal, Mangrove Kingfisher
are found on the Island.
Turtles
Hawksbill and Green Turtles nest on the island's beaches.
Village
On the western side of the island there is a traditional
fishing village with 300 residents.
Vegetation
Tropical vegetation is abundant on the island with over
40 species of tree recorded, including 5 different species
of Mangrove
What to do
Diving & Snorkelling
The diving and snorkelling is out of this world, with a
number of dive sites close to the island. Already 350 species
of reef fish and 30 different genera of coral have been
recorded. The waters are crystal clear and the reef completely
untouched by the usual ravages of human interference. The
walls start at 10m and drop off to an average of 36m to
merge out on a sandy bottom. Loads of caves and little coves
to explore and that is, what makes this the Napoleon Wrasse,
Stingrays, Grouper and the occasional Shark frequent these
waters.Whale watching
Humpback Whales hang out here in the calving season and
can often be seen before the dives and heard under water
whilst diving.Deep-sea game fishing & fly-fishing
Fishing is a pleasure. The sea teems with game fish including
sailfish, marlin, tuna, barracuda and wahoo. For fly-fishers,
bonefish are regularly caught.
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