VAMIZI ISLAND ANNOUNCES DIVING PACKAGE AT ONE OF WORLD’S BEST DIVE DESTINATIONS

Vamizi Island, an eco-active African island in the Indian Ocean waters of Mozambique, with 15 extraordinary dive sites, announces a vacation for divers that offers beginners, intermediate and advanced divers eight fully-guided dives with a seven-night stay throughout 2013.  Rates start at $4190 per person and go up to $5870 per person depending on the time of year.

The package includes seven nights’ accommodations in an ocean-facing villa; all meals; soft drinks, local beer, wine, basic spirits, bottled water, daily laundry serve and guided activities including shore-based snorkeling, sea kayaking, birding, walking trails, beach picnics, dhow sailing and Hobie Cat sailing.

Opened in 2005 and located in Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago, the Lodge is already known for its diversified dives, especially Neptune’s Arm, voted one of the world’s top ten dive sites.  Many diving experts have deemed it the best dive they have ever experienced.  A short boat ride from the Lodge, this underwater island envelops spectacular scenery with a canyon plunging more than 200m deep with steep cliffs and filled with colorful marine life.

While there are now 15 dive sites, more are being discovered all the time, including sites for all diving abilities.  The island boasts a pristine coral reef, deemed one of the healthiest coral reef eco-systems in the world, abounding with what ecologists call “indicator species” – species so sensitive to changes in the marine climate that they serve as the proverbial “canary in the coal mine.” The reefs – a seascape of mountains, valleys, plateaus and cliffs – teem- with an array of whales, dolphins, turtles and reef sharks to Gregorian corals and giant clams. A survey carried out on the waters of Vamizi identified 46 genera of coral species and more than 400 species of fish. This kaleidescope of colorful sea creatures is a must for any serious diver. But the sheer beauty of Vamizi and its surrounding crystal-clear waters appeals to anyone who loves island living.

Vamizi is located in Mozambique’s Quirimbas Archipelago and is only seven and a half miles long by about a mile wide.  Vamizi Island Resort is the only resort on the island, a conservation project in partnership with WWF and funded through carefully considered low impact, high-end tourism.  Each of the 13 one and two bedroom villas was constructed of local building materials and by the local community to blend into the landscape.  The island has one of the longest turtle conservation operations in East Africa and fishing is sustainable.  The integration of local knowledge and traditions with world-class scientific understanding benefits everyone:  the community, wildlife, and visitors.

For complete itinerary, rates for specific dates and transfers to the island, call +44 1285 762218 or visit:  www.vamizi.com

For reservations:  reservations@vamizi.com

VILLA LIFE AT VAMIZI: PRIVATE VILLA COLLECTION IN MOZAMBIQUE DESIGNED FOR AFRICAN ISLAND LIFESTYLE

Vamizi Island, a singularly beautiful, eco-active African island in the Quirimbas Archipelago of Mozambique, has three villas available for rental, each sleeping up to 12 people.  Villas in Vamizi’s Private Collection are designed to serve as homes away from home for families, friends, business associates or any groups looking for the ultimate in privacy. 

Britain’s Tatler Magazine has compared Vamizi to “a mini-Mustique…a tiny, far-flung isle that’s all barefoot fabulousness and impossibly smart villas.”

Vamizi’s Private Villa Collection has been designed by award-winning South African architects, renowned for their commitment to creative design, sustainable development and responsible tourism, creating a unique style of architecture that draws on the multi-cultural influences of Mozambique.

The designs were chosen in order to integrate with the existing landscape, such as wrapping around the larger trees. Locally sourced, high-quality building materials have been used, and traditional construction methods adopted where possible.

Each villa is uniquely designed in its own elegant style with bespoke floor plans, and includes en-suite bedrooms, spectacular drawing and dining rooms, and peaceful lounging spaces around plunge pools or beach, where the options for eating, drinking or just relaxing are endless.

The private chef and personal hospitality team will ensure that all needs are met, from tailor-made menus to organizing fishing and diving trips, a range of holistic spa treatments and dhow sailing trips.

At seven-and-a-half miles long and a half-mile wide, Vamizi is a small island, but it is located in a felicitous spot – along an immense coral reef pulsing with life and seductive to myriad sea creatures, making it one of the great saltwater diving spots on the planet.  Beyond diving there is deep-sea fishing, kayaking, nature walks and yoga.

Rental rates start at $32,400 for a six-night package based on a minimum of eight people, with additional costs beyond eight.

For more information visit: www.vamizi.com

VAMIZI ISLAND: A FAR-FLUNG ISLAND IN UNIQUE MOZAMBIQUE

Miles away from almost everything, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Vamizi Island beckons those who seek the barefoot luxury and adventure that only an African Island can bring.  Even though it is one of the largest islands in the Quirimbas Archipelago, Vamizi is just seven and a half miles long and about half a mile wide.  Thirteen timber-villas of one or two bedrooms are strung along pure white sand beaches, 230 feet apart, to provide real privacy.  It is the only Lodge on the island, enhancing its remoteness.  A pristine coral reef, a phenomenon almost unheard of in today’s world, keeps the surrounding waters of the island crystal clear. 

As a partner of the prestigious WWF, Vamizi Island is a conservation project funded through carefully considered low impact, high-end tourism.  Each villa was constructed of local building materials and by the local community to blend into the landscape.  Vamizi has one of the longest turtle conservation operations in East Africa and fishing is sustainable.  The integration of local knowledge and traditions with world-class scientific understanding benefits everyone:  the community, wildlife and visitors.

Opened in 2005, the Lodge is already known for its diversified dives, especially Neptune’s Arm, voted one of the world’s top ten dive sites.  A short boat ride from the Lodge, this underwater island envelops a canyon with steep, deep cliffs, filled with colorful sea life - a “must” for serious divers everywhere.  Other activities include exceptional blue water game fishing, humpback whale sightings in season, snorkeling, sailing, lagoon kayaking, nature walks with the resident WWF guide to learn about the conservation program, face and body treatments and yoga.  Or one can simply do nothing but drink in views of the sky, sea and beach.

In the spacious villas, billowing white muslins drape enormous beds.  Deep sofas, colonial style chairs and day beds accented with cushions provide a homey feel.  Each villa is set 98 feet from the beach with a vast deck overlooking the beach and a gazebo on the edge of the beach.  Air conditioning is not needed so gentle sea breezes whisper through latticed windows.  It’s the ultimate Robinson Crusoe house with more comfort.

Vamizi Island Lodge also features three private villas of five bedrooms each, ideal for friends traveling together or families looking for a true barefoot experience.  These villas, named for local birds, are even more secluded than the Lodge.  Designed by a well-known South African architect, they are stylish and inviting with the smartest of African motif, though still very laid-back.  Bliss here is instant beach access, plunge pools and a dedicated hospitality team to tend to every need.

Cuisine at Vamizi Island is deliciously created from Mozambique-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs and surf-fresh seafood, highlighted with premium wines from South Africa.  Dinners are lantern lit in the main thatched-roof open dining room or sumptuous grills on the beach.  For lunch, guests have a choice of the main dining room or a relaxed buffet in the ‘castaway’ restaurant on the south side of the island.  Guests may also opt for a ‘shipwrecked’ picnic on a remote, secluded beach.

The whole island of Vamizi could be called a spa, nurturing both above and below the water. Beauty therapies are uniquely Vamizi, using natural recipes from the local ladies as well as a few oceanic inventions - minerals ground from Vamizi roots, local seaweed masks and sea salt scrubs. A full range of massage therapies include bespoke yoga massage, reflexology and heated herbal stone massage as well as Indian head massage, deep tissue, Swedish and aromatherapy massages. Vamizi retreats are held regularly, encompassing professional yoga instruction and sublime food. The next retreats will be November 11 - 17, 2012, and January 20 - 26, 2013.

For an enchanting combination of simplicity and indulgence, the Tusitiri dhow, based at Vamizi can accommodate up to 10 people and is available for overnight safaris. (Dhows are traditional wooden vessels originally used for carrying textile and spices in the Indian Ocean.) Nights are spent under the stars on comfy bedrolls laid out on the deck and delectable meals are taken al fresco. Half and full day excursions are also available. Meticulously restored Tusitiri is one of the finest examples of dhows in East Africa today.

Rates at Vamizi Island Lodge start at $590 per person sharing per night in the Lodge low season and $490 per person sharing per night in the Private Villas low season, based on eight persons sharing for six nights.  Guests going to Vamizi may fly Vamizi’s scheduled plane roundtrip Dar Es Salaam or Pemba, starting at $525 roundtrip from Pemba and $750 roundtrip from Dar Es Salaam. Private charters are also available.

For additional information, visit www.vamizi.com.