From Valerie Post of the Council on Foreign Relations, June 2007
Where I went: Mozambique, specifically to Benguerra Island.
Why I went: Vacation.
Who was on the trip: My husband, Joel, and I.
When: February 2006.
Who organized it: I did, with the assistance of a travel agent, my spouse and some friends.
Where we stayed: Benguerra Lodge.
What I’d go back for: The people, the sights, the sounds, the food, swimming, diving, fishing, and sleeping.
What I wish I knew in advance: That I should have planned to stay longer.
What to skip: Nothing.
What not to miss: Everything.
What we loved: Being dropped off under a colorful tent on a deserted sand bar with a trunk full of wine, cheese and seafood and not a soul in sight.
For additional photos and to see the picture above larger, click on it.
Editor’s Note: (NB: The lodge was damaged by the typhoon (Flavio) in February 2007. They have been rebuilding and will reopen this December.)
The Island: Part of the Bazaruto Archipelago, just off the eastern shore of Mozambique about eight-and-a-half miles off the coast of southern Mozambique, Benguerra Island, whose dizzyingly colorful coral reefs complement stark white beaches, was declared a national park in 1971. A magnet for naturephiles, Benguerra has some of the world’s most spectacular diving and snorkeling sites—no doubt due to its large array of rare and often endangered exotic and colorful fish species. The lodge specialize in saltwater fishing (and has a strict catch and release policy). Every island visitor is subject to a $10 “park levy,” the proceeds of which help fund the local primary school, local orphans, a community trust and the park.
Benguerra Lodge: When Benguerra Lodge reopens it will offer eight suites and one villa with its own personal chef. And lest you forget where you are—those decorative awnings you see in the pictures are actually mosquito nets.
Booking: For peak season, suites start at $970 and the villa at $1,975.
Getting There: All commercial flights to the island depart from Vilanculos, a small town on the coast of Mozambique. (There are regular flights to Vilanculos from Johannesburg International Airport, Kruger Mpumalanga International and Durban International.) Upon your Vilanculos arrival, a Benguerra Lodge representative will greet you and ensure that the island transfers run smoothly. To avoid this additional stop though, chartered flights from neighboring African countries can also be arranged.
