Azura

Azura

Full Description Activities & Facilites Rates Free Quote

Benguerra Island, Mozambique

EcoRating :

Stars : 5

Capacity : 28

Price : R5560

Full Description

NEWS UPDATE:

Azura Mozambique suffered a fire on the 1st December 2008. All is on track for Azura to re-open on 20th July 2009, plus a changes were made to enhance your experience!

Brand New Watersports Centre:
A brand new Watersports Centre which is now much closer to the main Front of House, where
American, Matt Koerner, our new Watersports Manager, will be on hand to help guests make the most out of our beautiful marine environment. We keep our PADI Gold Palm status, with top of the range Scubapro equipment for divers and the full range of PADI courses on offer. We also have all the gear needed for catching a fish or two! Matt, an Ocean Master, joins us from managing and skippering Super Yachts for the world’s rich and famous in the Caribbean, along with his new UK/South African wife, Morag, who will be heading up Guest Relations. Morag has worked at some of the world’s best hotels, including Fregate Island Private. We will be
putting together some attractive ‘learn to dive’ packages in due course so watch this space.

The Accommodation updates: 

• The 15 Villas will re open, which includes the new Presidential Villa, and Villa Amizade (see more details on these exciting new villas below).
• We are reducing the number of Infinity Beach Villas to 10, which leaves the 3
  Luxury Beach Villas. Therse are the entry level villas at Azura, previously there wasn’t sufficient differentiation from the Infinity Beach Villas and as a result Azura will be reducing the size of their bathroom slightly, and replacing the baths with a wonderful glass bricked shower (just like the ones at Soneva Gili in the Maldives).
• Presidential Villa.... has been significantly enhanced and upgraded, and is now one of the most luxurious private residences to be found anywhere in the Indian Ocean. With 425 m2 under roof it features complete privacy with its own beachfront location and amazing views towards Bazaruto Dune.
• Villa Amizade.... New for Azura’s re-opening is Villa Amizade, which means friendship villa in our native Portuguese. This 2 bedroom en-suite villa is located at the western end of the property, and offers more than 185 m2 under roof. It is perfect for families or a couple requiring more of a private residence feel, and represents excellent value
  when occupied by 4 people.

 
Resort description:  Each of the 15 villas have their own infinity pool  designed for both pampering and barefoot escapism. With superb Mozambican cuisine and friendly service and a vast range of activities and experiences - including scuba diving, deep sea fishing, stargazing and a unique African Spa, you have the perfect undiscovered island getaway.

The handbuilt villas blend with a modern chic and with all that is traditional in Mozambique. Each secluded villa is only footsteps from the beach nestled amidst indigenous gardens, creating your own sanctuary.

Azura has 3 Luxury Beach Villas, furnished in contemporary style each with the following facilities:

• More than 100m2 under roof, 650m2 private area
• Beachfront location and views
• Private plunge pool (2m x 3m x 1.2m deep)
• Air-conditioning and fans
• King size bed with oversize mosquito net
• Indoor/outdoor his and hers showers
• Large bathroom with panoramic bath and separate toilet
• Mozambican host service
• Mini bar and tea/coffee making facilities
• Large private undercover deck with daybed and dining facilities
• Sundeck
• Beachside sala

Then there are the further 11 Infinity Beach Villas with furnishings of a contemporary style and look out over a stunning infinity pool towards the beach and sea beyond. They have the best beachfront locations. Each has the following facilities:

• 110m2 under roof, 650m2 private area
• Beachfront location and views
• Private 5 metre infinity pool (5m x 2.5m x 1.4m deep)
• Large private undercover deck with daybed and dining facilities
• Air-conditioning and fans
• King size bed with oversize mosquito net
• Indoor/outdoor his and hers showers
• Large bathroom with panoramic bath and separate toilet
• Mozambican host service
• Mini bar and tea/coffee making facilities
• Sundeck
• Beachside sala

The public areas are open to the beach and sea with amazing vistas across blue waters to the Indian Ocean . Furnished with cool cottons and textures of Africa, these areas are open to the breezes in comfortable, simple, spacious chic style. Find a quiet corner to read a book, or a place to share your African Chapters from the day with others. Sip champagne on the beach with your feet in the sand, or snack on fresh sushi in the Star Bar, which showcases the magnificence of the skies above you. Learn more about the environment you are in or just browse the collection of handcrafted artefacts, designer clothing and jewellery (Azura have their own range by world famous designer David Shilling) at the Trading Store.

The modern conveniences are there if you need them, with TV and internet discreetly tucked away in our library. Azura staff are always on hand to look after your every need.

This is a haven of rest and relaxation while you wander down to the pristine white beach and welcoming azure sea beyond. Lounge around on plump cushions on your daybed, or tan in private and cool off in your sparkling plunge pool. Dine on your deck, or sip sundowners in your beachside Sala as the sun goes down. Lie in your bath and gaze at the view, or shower beneath the stars. Do whatever you want to do.. these villas are a welcoming place to stay.

You’ll have a dedicated Mozambican host to look after you during your stay and they’ll take care of all your needs, including serving your meals, arranging activities and joining you on excursions . They are part of Azura’s commitment to the community and upliftment of the country’s people. Many of them have very little in the way of formal education, but they have a genuine warmth and friendliness, and will delight in looking after you.


African Spa (opened in 2008)

Azura’s spa has 2 double treatment rooms located right on the beach and open to the breezes so that you feel at one with nature. Our signature treatments are based on local ingredients and traditions. Be rubbed down with ground coconut and natural spices, covered head to toe with tamarind and aloe, and gently massaged with warm marula oil. Relax, lie back and be pampered in your villa if you choose (and until the new spa opens). Take in the aromas and sounds that surround you. The treatment list includes: Rubs, Wraps, Massages.

Dining:

Dining is simple and the top chef, combines local ingredients with contemporary style and flair. There is always a choice of dishes and the chef will happily try to accommodate any personal requests that you may have.
Breakfast is to order in the restaurant, including a special of the day or your choice of full english. On Sundays enjoy a wonderful champagne brunch and then afternoon tea in the lounge. Lunch may be a picnic if you are out enjoying an activity, or informal dining at the Star Bar, or at the Gekko Deck with your feet in the sand.
Dinner is always a special event, eaten on the beach by candlelight beneath the stars whenever we can. There’s a choice of main course, with the emphasis on local seafood, and snacks are offered in the Star Bar before dinner, including fresh sushi when fishermen have been lucky in their catch. A 7 course tasting menu showcasing the chef’s favourite creations is a highlight of the week, along with the unique  ‘Fruits de Mer’ platter.

There is a variety of special dining options too, including secluded beach picnics or romantic private beach dinners at your villa. Azura asks that younger children are to eat supper early or in their villa, and the chef will happily make a range of children’s meals on discussion with you on your arrival.

Activities:

Outdoor Guest Activities offered include a range of outdoor guest activities, by boat or landrover, with light refreshments and drinks provided. A number of these are guided activities where you can have a real chance to learn about the wonderful environment at Azura. Guided activities are accompanied by the Environmental Guide or Marine Biologist/Specialist as appropriate. Activity duration & departure times listed are used only as a guideline, & can be specially tailored to suit your schedule or interests. All Activities are subject to Weather, Boat/Land Rover availability and Tide Conditions.

Getting there:

There are daily flights from Johannesburg International airport (OR Tambo) to Vilanculos International Airport which connect well with the major international flights to Europe. The flying time from Johannesburg is 2 hours on a 42 seat ATR aircraft. On Tuesdays and Fridays these flights collect passengers from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, with an onward flying time of just 1 hour. This facilitates an effortless beach and bush experience.
There are also regular flights on Travelmax from Lanseria northern Johannesburg, LAM from OR Tambo, Lanseria and Maputo, and on Swazi Airlines connecting with Matsapha and Durban. Visas are available on arrival (currently US$31 but note this is subject to frequent change). Airport taxes are charged at the airport, US Dollars, South African Rands and Meticals are accepted. Currently US$3 on arrival and US$ 30 on departure.

Transferring to Benguerra Island - Azura operates a state of the art 6 seater Eurocopter helicopter for the transfers from Vilanculos to Benguerra Island. The flying time is approx 10 minutes, and will connect with your arriving/departing flight. This should be booked at the same time as your accommodation.

For those with an aversion to air travel, Azura will transfer you by speedboat on request and subject to availability. Transfer time is 15 minutes by minibus to the port, then 25-45 minutes by boat depending on sea conditions. Guests choosing to transfer by boat should be prepared for a knee deep walk through the sea.

Benguerra Island does have a short grass strip which can accommodate smaller private aircraft. You should check suitability and conditions in advance as the runway lies in a wetland area and conditions are not always suitable for take off and landing.

Azura`s dedication to conservation and the community lies at the heart of everything they do and are one of only a handful of resorts, where the community are major contributors and stakeholders.

ECO TOURISM EFFORTS

Azura`s dedication to conservation and the community lies at the heart of everything they do and are one of only a handful of resorts, where the community are major contributors and stakeholders.

Being a luxury resort with all mod cons we are not ‘eco’ in the traditional sense of the word, but have defined our own ‘eco’ in terms of our focus on the community and the preservation of the pristine environment that we find ourselves in. Gabriel and his family, after whom the site is named, first established a tourism business here several years ago. They are major stakeholders in the resort, and continue to be involved on a daily basis.

Building Azura

Rather than bring in outside contractors with no benefit to the local community, we trained the local islanders in vital building skills which will enable them to find new employment in the booming construction industry going forwards. They built Azura by hand. We used just one cement mixer and 1 truck in the construction, with everything other than sand for the building coming in by fleets of local dhows to help the community. The wood that was used was from sustainable sources, the window frames and doors made locally, our jekka sourced from local women who we established in their own business to supply us, and some of our huge supporting beams were from trees that were downed in the recent cyclone. Many of the furnishings were handmade by the local community, and as you look around Azura a number of the things you see will have been made by disadvantaged communities across Southern Africa.

We put an environmental and community specialist on the ground at Azura before even making the first brick (we made our own), as we wanted their advice on having a minimal environmental footprint whilst not compromising on the luxury elements that our clients require. We used sustainable building materials where possible, installed solar powered showers for guests and eco-detergents in our laundry, small steps but important ones. We also have a state of the art sewerage treatment plant and recycle our grey water for the gardens to prevent environmental seepage.

Ethical sustainable tourism

Azura is seen by the Mozambican authorities as a model for ethical sustainable community based tourism. With a firm policy in place for the upliftment at Azura - all the butlers, housekeeping staff, gardeners and so on are Mozambican. Typically they have grown up in disadvantaged communities with poor education, and are being trained by Azura. By staying with at Azura you are helping them to advance their skills.

At the highest level this includes Gabriel’s son Zito who is currently undertaking a 3 year Diploma in Hospitality at the International Hotel School in Durban, South Africa. Zito finished his formal education at the age of 8, like many of the local islanders we employ, and is a source of inspiration for them. When staying with us please remember they are welcoming you to their home, a country which until recently was amongst the poorest in the world. In return, with your help, we do our best to make their home a better place for them and their families.

Carbon-Neutral Status

Azura has just been approved by the Carbon Neutral Company in the UK as Mozambique’s first carbon-neutral resort. To achieve this status, Azura underwent a rigorous assessment of its total carbon emissions, which were calculated as 773 tonnes per year. We are currently selecting projects from which to purchase carbon credits to offset all of our emissions.

Rainbow Fund Our Rainbow Fund supports a variety of social and environmental projects large and small. From building a new school (which was unfortunately destroyed in the cyclone but will be re-built with your donations), to sponsoring the local football team. We work alongside the National Park and local communities wherever we can and have a dedicated environmentalist and community officer at Azura.

Some of our community initiatives include running health/hygiene and AIDS awareness campaigns on the island, and basic literacy training which included English lessons for the Parks Board rangers. We are still working on a number of environmental initiatives, including our quest to be Mozambique’s first carbon neutral resort by 2010.

Azura will add $10 a night to your stay towards their Rainbow Fund. It’s not compulsory, but we hope that you will want to be part of helping preserve what you will have discovered during your stay at Azura.

*** CHILDREN WELCOME! ***

Children and teens at Azura will be spoilt for choice when it comes to spending time here with us. Whilst we don’t have the traditional kids and activity clubs you find in larger hotels, we offer a host of activities for kiddies to participate in, and many of these can be done without the guidance of parents, as they will be supervised by Azura’s Guides, Dive-Instructor, or Spa
Therapists.
Our focus is on the amazing pristine environment here at Azura. There is so much to experience and learn about. Children can enjoy seeing interesting marine life above and below the water, search for pansy shells on an island that appears at low tide, experience cultural encounters, climb dunes, look for crocodiles, taste the island’s fruits and perhaps learn a new skill or
two. Plus miles of deserted beach...its paradise here for families too!
All activities may be booked through our Reception, speak to your Butler-Host, or the Activity Co-ordinators at the Bar in the evenings for confirmation of the next day’s activity.

Children Activities Available:

• Marine Life Walk
• Learn to Snorkel
• Learn to Dive
• Fishing
• Soccer - Children all over Africa usually start kicking a football around with great enthusiasm as soon as they can walk. Football is a passion for them, often barefoot, on uneven playing fields. Azura’s staff play soccer against one of the 3 other teams on the
  Island just about every Sunday, and guests and older children are welcome to join in, or just come along and watch and support our team. Its a great afternoon out for the family. We provide the drinks and snacks, you provide the energy and enthusiasm!
  Duration: Dependent Cost: Free Offered: Most Sundays, Dependent on Guide & Vehicle Availability.
• Azura School Project Visit
• Junior Star Gazing and Astronomy
• Dhow Picnic
• Kite Flying
• Cookies in the Kitchen
• Azura African Spa - special packages

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Activities and Facilities

• Air Conditioning
• Diving
• Bar
• Boat Cruises
• Boma Dinners
• Children
• En-suite Bathroom
• Fans
• Fishing
• Hair Dryer
• Hammocks
• Honeymoon Suite
• Jacuzzi
• Laundry Service
• Non motorized water sports
• Plug Adapter
• Pool
• Room Service
• Landing Strip
• Safe
• Sauna
• Spa
• Water Sports
• Honeymoon Suite

NOTE : Some of the activities and facilities are not covered by the rate quoted and may be surchargeable.

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Rates

Luxury Beach Villa`s

• Validity 11 January  to 15July 2011/ 1 Dec to 19 Dec 2010 - USD695 per person sharing.
• Validity 1September to 30 Nov 2011 - USD735 (high season)
• Validity 16July to 31 August 2011 - USD 795 (peak season)

For the Infinity Beach Villa rates please request with our reservations team on 011 545 6100.

Rates include:

• Accommodation
• All meals including main beach dinners and special menu events
• Local beers and spirits , housewines, soft drinks, tea and coffee , water
• Sunset cocktail of the day served to Sala
• Mozambican Butler/Host Service
• 15 minute refresher back and neck massage on arrival (subject to availability)
• A Land Rover Island Drive (2 hours)
• Sunset Dhow cruise
• Use of snorkelling /fishing equipment
• Scuba diving  session at the main pool
• Various Honeymoon special treats (discuss with guest services)
• EVAC Medical Insurance
• Laundry Service

Rates exclude:

• US$10 per person per stay Bazaruto National Park levy
• Visas if required (available on arrival) & Arrivals Tax
• Premium spirits, cocktails, wines and champagnes
• Specialist guided activities, day trips, deep sea fishing, boat hire
  Reef snorkeling, Island hopping, Scuba diving and Scuba courses
• Optional $10 per villa per night Rainbow Fund contribution
• 17% government tax is charged on all extras locally.

Children`s rates:

• Children are welcome at Azura, but guest privacy must be respected
• Villa Amizade & Presidential Villa: These villas particularly suit families
• When booked by more than 2 adults ‘entire villa’ rate applies
  Presidential Villa max 6 people including children
• Villa Amizade max 4 people including children
• Infinity Beach Villas & Luxury beach Villas:
  Children 14 years and over = full price
  Children 5-14 years sharing bedroom with 2 adults pay 50% adult rate
  Children under 5 years sharing bedroom with 2 adults pay 25% adult rate
  (max 1 extra child sharing with 2 adults per room in all cases)

AZURA HONEYMOON PACKAGE - All newlyweds staying at Azura Mozambique will receive the following:

• Stay 5 nights or more and bride pays 50% of rack rate (valid for stays until 30 June 2010)
• Stay 5 nights or more and bride receives a 25% discount on Rack Rate (valid for stays 1 July – 31 Dec 2010)
• Valid for all Villas (based on 2 person rate for Villa Amizade and Presidential Villa).
• In Addition: * Complimentary 1/2 hour couple’s massage (subject to availability, cannot be exchanged for another activity/ treatment, if only used by 1 person ½ hour
  limit still applies, replaces any other spa offer) . * Bottle of chilled sparkling wine in villa on arrival * Private dinner and special honeymoon turndown on one evening *  Sunset Dhow cruise *  LandRover Red Dune Community Island Drive * Room upgrade on arrival from Luxury Villa to Infinity Villa if available 
• All activities subject to availability , proof of marriage required.

 

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