Perhaps the finest place to explore the waters is in the Bazaruto Archipelago, a chain of five islands which broke from the mainland just 25,000 years ago. On the protected north-west side of the island, Benguerra Lodge is built from local material to merge with its surroundings and is flanked by secluded chalets, raised on stilts, with wooden floors, woven reed walls and thatched roofs overlooking the sea. Meals are fresh from the sea, with delicacies such as crayfish, crab and calamari tantalisingly prepared or exotic Portuguese dishes. Lunches are relaxed affairs served in different settings and always with unsurpassed personal attention. Scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkelling, dinghy sailing and windsurfing are all offered by the lodge. Excursions include dhow trips, boat-rides to nearby Pansy Island, to settle down with a picnic.
from £266 per person per night