Santorini Mozambique
Santorini Mozambique Is A Luxury Boutique Hotel On The Mozambique Coastline Just North Of Vilanculos.
Santorini Mozambique is an exclusive luxury lodge about 30 minutes’ drive north of the coastal town of Vilanculos. Originally a private home, the architecture reflects the style of the Greek islands, with crisp white buildings and bright blues. It is set up on a small cliff overlooking Benguerra Island and the Bazaruto Archipelago, and access to the beach is down some steps (so this property does not suit those with mobility issues). The property has a sophisticated feel, with good food and service, and offers a tranquil and quiet base from which to explore Vilanculos and the Bazaruto Archipelago.
Rooms
Within the Main Villa there are five bedrooms each with their own private patio. There are then three further standalone, exclusive-use villas. The one bedroom Villa Na Colina, is set back a little from the Main Villa and has its own private courtyard and heated pool. Guests can dine in the main villa or their private courtyard. To one side of the Main Villa is the four bedroom Villa da Praia with its own private pool and spacious lounge and dining area. Two of the bedrooms lead off the shared lounge, while the third bedroom is on the lower level and the fourth bedroom is on an upper level. All bedrooms are en suite and sea facing. To the other side of the Main Villa is the two bedroomed Chapel, with one master bedroom and a slightly smaller second bedroom, also with its own pool and lounge/dining area. Rooms throughout the property are equipped with air conditioning, en suite bathrooms, room safe, hairdryers and blue-tooth speaker. Tea and coffee are brought to your room in the morning, and the bar in the shared area of the Main Villa is always open, but there are no minibars in the rooms. A beach bag and beach sarongs are provided during your stay.
Central Areas
The Main Villa houses a central living/dining and bar area, as well as a library room. There is a main swimming pool and a rooftop bar which is an ideal place to enjoy a pre- dinner drink at dusk. In addition there is a second smaller pool to the fore of the living area.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming Pool – Yes
Area
The Bazaruto Archipelago lies some 10 to 15 kms offshore of Vilanculos in the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane. It consists of five islands, Santa Carolina (also known as Paradise), Bazaruto (the largest by a long way), Benguerra, Margaruque and Bangue and was gazetted as a Marine National Park in 1971. Some 3500 people, mostly involved in fishing, inhabit the islands (supported by a number of freshwater lakes on each island). Both Bazaruto and Benguerra islands have a number of hotels offering exclusive beach getaways. Diving is very good (both the 2 and 5 mile reefs), as is deep-sea fishing, reef and fly fishing, and snorkelling.
Activities
In terms of activities, Santorini arranges beach picnics (either breakfast or lunch) under their own thatched beach salas and kayaks, SUP boards, snorkelling equipment, beach volleyball, cricket and badminton are all included. It is possible to arrange scuba diving, horse riding, boat trips to include snorkelling, kite surfing, yoga, deep sea fishing, scenic helicopter flights and sunset dhow cruises all at extra cost. If you spend three nights or longer, a boat trip to Magaruque Island is included with a picnic lunch, refreshments and snorkelling. For a supplement, you can choose to go to Bazaruto island instead. It is also possible to visit a local primary school and enjoy a village tour, led by one of the Santorini staff members. There is a spa on site where you can enjoy treatments including massages.
Seasons
The best times to visit Vilanculos and the Bazaruto Archipelago are from mid April through to late May, and then from August through to December. June and July are very pleasant but can be a little cool due to the southern Africa winter (average daytime temperatures around 23/24 degrees), whilst the rainy season technically runs from November through to March, with most rainfall falling in January and February which is also the peak cyclone season.
Children of all ages are welcome when staying in the family villas, which offer private dining, whilst children 12 years and older are welcome in the Main Villa Suites.
Launched in 2021, Santorini Footprints was the natural extension of the property’s vision to become more impactful and sustainable in their interactions with the community and environment of Vilanculos and the surrounding area. 1% of every bednight revenue is donated by Santorini to their Santorini Footprints Projects.
The Vilanculos Beach Clean-Up Project consists of local fishermen and traders who are personally invested in preserving the beaches and wildlife of the area. Santorini Footprints aids the team with caps and t-shirts to be worn during their clean-up sessions. Per quarter, an average of 600kg of waste is removed from beaches as a result of the work of local volunteers.
Santorini Mozambique partnered with ParCo to raise funds for the local Chigamane Primary School to improve the learning environment for its scholars. Monetary donations are allocated to School Access Kits, the Chigamane Feeding Project, the Teacher Housing Project and the schools vegetable garden.
The lodge are members of Pack for a Purpose, whereby guests with space in their luggage can bring specific items in need which are donated to the Vilanculos community.
