Vamizi Island Quilalea Mozambique

Vamizi Island is located in the far north of the Quirimbas Archipelago, not too far from the Tanzanian border. The island itself is very narrow and long – you can walk to the opposite side in only 45 minutes. It's also very photogenic. There are a few small fishing villages away from the lodge, but these aren't close and the lodge feels very remote. The lodge on Vamizi Island (sometimes called Vamizi Island Resort – but it doesn't feel like a 'resort' to us!) has been built with a great amount of style and design, and its construction used some of the local villagers and many local materials.

Exclusivity is one of Vamizi Island's greatest assets and, as the only lodge on the island, it has the space to spread wide, so each villa amply commands its own part of the beach. Thirteen villas - one or two bedroomed - are right on the shoreline, all with to-die-for views of the ocean.
Both airy and generous - with over 170 square metres of timbered floor to pad about on, they have plenty of space for spreading beds, sofas, a marble shower and vanity area and outside, a sun deck.

Vamizi Island is not about the ordinary five star stuff, so don't expect TVs or air conditioning - it's all about barefoot relaxation and rooms as open as they can be, to catch the natural breezes.
That said, if you can't drag yourself away from your villa, there's a mini-bar and the means for a deluxe cup of tea or coffee – as well as private dinners in the room on request. Beyond that, we just leave you alone, in the peace of your own private paradise.

Accommodation at Vamizi Island

The private villas at Vamizi are widely spaced up the beach, with about 70m space between adjacent villas. Set back slightly into the greenery, each covers a vast 165m², which includes a bedroom, the en-suite bathroom and a private outside deck.
In keeping with the main areas, they make great use of neutral colours, wood and thatch. There is no glass in the rooms: the windows are wooden or grass lattice and the doors are woven grass.

Because the rooms are set back off the beach, you can open the doors fully and retain quite a lot of privacy. African art is dotted around the rooms, but being large they remain uncluttered, and the result is an almost minimalist colonial feel.
The rooms have large comfortable beds, plenty of hanging space for clothes, a vanity table where you will find a hair dryer and a safe.

There are two large fans in each room: one above the bed, and another in the lounge. There is no air-conditioning, but the open nature of the rooms makes the most of any natural breezes.
At the back of the bedroom is the open-plan shower area; the shower itself is built out of a large piece of marble. The marble twin sinks are set in front of the shower and you will also find a selection of lovely complimentary toiletries.

To one side of the bedroom, through a pair of French doors is the outside lounge area. There is a large cane sofa and comfortable colonial-style 'planters' chairs; this is a great place to relax in the evenings.
There are also two sun-loungers, where you can sunbathe, and a further two for each villa on the beach itself – which is about a hundred paces in front of the room. Each villa is provided with a small selection of complimentary drinks.

Two of the villas are designed for families. Each of these have two bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. These two bedrooms share a large common lounge area – where there's ample space for four people.
The designs have been chosen to keep the footprint to a minimum and to avoid existing trees and natural features, thus ensuring maximum privacy within two acres of private grounds, and each situated with exclusive beach front access to take full advantage of the spectacular sunsets and sea views.

Sleeping up to 12 people the villas are perfect for larger family groups, friends travelling together or for individuals wanting their own private hide-away.
The villas have five en-suite bedrooms each with private deck and beach access, and the spectacular drawing room, dining room and hardwood decks surrounding the salt water plunge pool offer a variety of options for eating, drinking and just being "Vamizi style."

Features of Vamizi Island

Attractions / Activities At and Nearby To Vamizi Island

Where is Vamizi Island?
Vamizi Island is located in the far north of the Quirimbas Archipelago, not too far from the Tanzanian border. The island itself is very narrow and long – you can walk to the opposite side in only 45 minutes.

How To Get To Vamizi Island
Affectionately known as Vamizi Jet, the aircraft that brings you direct to the island is not actually a "jet", it’s a rugged, powerful 12-seater turbo-prop Cessna Caravan.
The schedules provide regular flights between our private airstrip on Vamizi Island and either Pemba, Mozambique - a small hub for the whole of the Quirimbas Archipelago, set amidst the single storey thatched shacks of Pemba town, in northern Mozambique – or Dar es Salaam, the steamy main administrative centre of Tanzania.

Wherever you’re coming from, our aircraft ground staff will steer you through the unfamiliar rituals of getting into the African skies.
Two and a quarter hours out of Dar es Salaam, you’ll have to make a stop at Mocimboa de Praia to pass through customs and immigration into Mozambique; it’s a uniquely Mozambican airstrip, with officers whose thorough approach to bureaucracy may involve a little more time than you’re used to.

After an average half hour of formalities, it's just ten minutes across the sparkling Indian Ocean to the island, so you can reasonably expect the whole journey to take no longer than three hours altogether.
If you’re coming from Pemba, you’ll be airborne for about an hour, as you fly northwards up the Mozambique coast, before touching down on the Vamizi airstrip.

Email Vamizi Island enquiries and reservations bookmozambique@madbookings.com