The Lodge  This spectacular private lodge, opened in December 2005, is built on the northern side of the tropical island and looks towards Rongui Island from the end of a long powder-sand beach. The lodge is situated in the innovative Maluane Conservancy. The lodge has ten separate beach houses, each with its own large living room, spectacular bathroom and veranda built to catch the cooling sea breezes. Two of the houses can accommodate four people so are ideal for a family (all children must be over 16yrs though) or couples travelling together. The houses are all nicely secluded from one another and look out to sea from the shade of the forest that forms the centre of the island. Samango monkeys play in the trees and prowl the glades, hunting the land crabs that live there. The dιcor of the Vamizi lodge incorporates as much of the traditional design of the region as possible. The roofs of the lodge are makuti (palm) thatch and the emphasis is on space and openness, so the rooms are large, with high ceilings. The bathrooms have a solid slab of marble forming the wall of the shower, and hand-carved screens which provide the privacy and aesthetic detail of a Zanzibar palace. The bedrooms have king-size beds – four-posters – with free-standing frames draped in beautiful natural muslin mosquito nets.The private lounges lead off from the bedrooms like giant verandas, with deep cane couches and colonial-style planters chairs. Masses of cushions bring colour and texture to the rooms. The outside decks and private beaches have a selection of loungers, swinging beds and local 'Swahili day beds' . The Maluane Conservancy is made up of three islands, a coastal strip and an inland safari area in Cabo Delgado - Mozambique's most northern province. There are two parts to Maluane.   In the north are two islands - Vamizi and Rongui;  to the south is the inland safari area, the coastal strip and Macaloe Island just off the coast. Maluane comprises one of the last unspoilt and unexploited wilderness areas along the East African coast; it includes coral reefs, mangroves, beaches and islands, together with large areas of forest and savannah inland. Wild Life • The Maluane Project's 33,000 hectares of untouched bush has elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog and rare sable antelope. At sea there is yet more diversity - many rare species and unrivalled coral gardens surround the islands. • There are hippos and crocodiles in Lake Macungue and the Messalo river, beach-loving elephants of Paqueve on the coastal strip and exciting birdlife throughout the area. • The Coastal Area harbours a rich diversity of coral and reef fish as well as larger marine animals - five species of turtle, humpback whales and whale sharks, as well as the endangered dugong. • Marlin, sailfish and broadbill abound in the deep waters off the islands; just off the beaches there is a huge diversity of reef fish - Napoleon wrasse, parrot and trigger fish swarm in the rich waters that embrace the coral reefs. Activities • The conservancies dive teams are constantly surveying the coral gardens and sea grass beds that surround the islands to identify both sites suitable for divers of all levels and the abundant and diverse marine life. Already - in conjunction with Mozambican scientists and with researchers from the Zoological Society of London - they have discovered five species of  turtle, calving hump-back whales, basking whale sharks, and a variety of oceanic wildlife unrivalled on the East African coast. • The deepwater channel that separates Rongui from Vamizi attracts migrating marlin and has never been sport-fished before. All fishing is on a tag and release basis. • Vamizi and Rongui have spectacular coral gardens very close to their shores: the snorkelling around the islands is therefore excellent, and the snorkeling and scuba diving are world class. • The indications are that Maluane's fly-fishing is excellent - trevally, Spanish mackerel and other coastal game fish abound - and the unexplored sand-flats among the islands and wider archipelago hold significant potential. • As Maluane develops its trails in the Messalo Wildlife Area, guests on the islands will be able to transfer there for game drives and walking safaris, and stay in the tented camps which are nearing completion (Jan 2007)under design. Style Luxury private beach lodge Air/Con No Dining Yes Children Over 16 only No. of Bedrooms 10 sea-facing beach villas Pool No Activities Diving, fishing, deep sea and sight fly, snorkelling, sailing, game viewing walking on adjacent Maluane Conservancy. Price Range From about £305 per person sharing, per night, depending on season. Full board, including all meals and local drinks, daily laundry service, guided lodge activities, shore-based snorkelling and conservation fees Find Similar Properties