Azura at Quilalea

On a private island in the beautiful Quirimbas Archipelago.

There are just nine villas, making a total of just eighteen guests on the entire island. The feel of the lodge is castaway-chic, with airy, open-plan rooms, decorated in natural woods, cotton and stone, with sundecks to relax on - and you're only a few steps away from the beach. The signature Villa Quilalea has a private plunge pool, vast four-poster bed and its own ladder down into the ocean.

Your private butler makes dinner a surprise, laying the table in a different location each day. With miles of ocean all around, there’s an emphasis on fresh fish and seafood, including crayfish and mangrove crabs, and there's also a wine cellar stocked with wine from Azura’s own vineyards. For some pampering, head to the scenic African spa, perched on the edge of the cliff, or for something more active, there's a watersports centre.

As well as the inviting pool, the diving and snorkelling at Quilalea has always been excellent, and it’s one of the few places in this area with great snorkelling right from the beach. The colourful marine life includes humpback whales, dolphins and turtles. Go kayaking through the mangroves on nearby Sencar Island, enjoy a boat trip in a traditional Mozambican dhow, or simply relax in a hammock beneath the shade of the baobab trees. In the evening, take in the sunset, preferably accompanied with a cocktail.