&Beyond Benguerra Island is the honeymoon lodge most couples have in mind when they picture Mozambique. It sits on Benguerra, the second-largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, with just 14 units spread along the shore. Every one has a private plunge pool, an indoor and outdoor shower and a large tub. In front of you are shallow channels that turn from jade to deep blue with the tide, with sandbars that appear and disappear twice a day.
The style is barefoot luxury. Floors are sandy, rooms open to the breeze and meals are served in an open-sided lounge or on the beach. The water does most of the entertaining: snorkeling, diving, dhow sails, sandbar picnics and, if you are lucky, a glimpse of a dugong in the seagrass.
It suits couples who want a small, relaxed island lodge with polished service and who like to be in or on the water every day. It is a natural add-on after a safari in South Africa. It is expensive and the island is remote, so this is a place for four or five nights rather than a quick stop.
Highlights at a glance
- Only 14 units, each with a private plunge pool
- Beachfront Cabanas on Benguerra Island
- Inside the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park
- Snorkeling and diving at Two Mile Reef
- Sandbar picnics and dhow sails
Why Couples Love &Beyond Benguerra Island
The setting is extraordinary. Benguerra is a sand island with forest, freshwater lakes and dunes and the whole archipelago has been a protected national park since 1971. There is no town on the island, only a handful of lodges and fishing villages, so it feels quiet and unhurried.
The lodge is small enough that you rarely see more than a few other couples. Staff learn your names quickly and set up surprises: a private dinner on the sand, a sundowner on a dhow, a picnic on a sandbar that only exists at low tide.
The marine life is the other draw. The waters around the archipelago are home to turtles, dolphins and one of the last viable dugong populations in the western Indian Ocean. From July to September, humpback whales pass offshore. One partner can dive while the other snorkels and you both meet back on the beach.
Casinhas and Cabanas to Book
There are 14 units in three styles, all with the same level of comfort and a private plunge pool.
- Casinhas are the smaller suites, set slightly back among the trees. They are a good choice if you want privacy and shade.
- Cabanas sit on the beachfront with the sea in front of your deck. For most honeymooners, these are worth the premium.
- Casa Familia is a three-bedroom unit designed for families.
All units have a minibar, a coffee station and an en suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers and a big tub. Ask for a Cabana facing the sunset if you can. The lodge is on the western side of the island, so evenings over the mainland channel can be spectacular. Mention your honeymoon when booking; &Beyond is good at small touches.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Meals are relaxed and built around the sea. Expect fresh fish, prawns, crab and the calamari that guests often single out. Breakfast and lunch are served in the open-sided lounge overlooking the gardens. Dinners move around: one night on the beach, another in the lounge, sometimes a private table in a spot only the two of you know about.
The beachfront bar is the place for a sundowner and the lodge has a small swimming pool and a library for hot afternoons.
The spa offers massages, including treatments on the beach under a shade cloth with the sound of the water. Book one after a morning of diving or snorkeling. The spa is small, so reserve treatments early if you want a specific time.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
The water is the main event. Snorkel or dive Two Mile Reef, one of the best sites in the archipelago, with coral, reef fish and turtles. Go kayaking in the channels, try catch-and-release deep-sea fishing or take a sunset cruise on a traditional dhow.
At low tide, the lodge sets up picnics on sandbars in the middle of the channel. It is one of the most memorable things you can do here and it is easy to arrange.
On land, horse riding along the beach and island walks are possible. Helicopter flights over the archipelago show the sandbars and channels from above and are worth the extra cost if your budget stretches. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest; the sun is fierce. Malaria is present in Mozambique, so speak to a travel health clinic before you go.
Getting There
Most couples fly to Vilankulo (VNX) via Johannesburg, where connecting flights operate. From Vilankulo, the lodge can be reached by helicopter in about 15 minutes, which gives you an aerial view of the islands as you arrive. Boat transfers are also possible and take longer.
Luggage limits on light aircraft and helicopters are strict, often around 20 kilograms in soft bags, so pack light.
Benguerra pairs well with a safari. A common route is four nights in the Sabi Sand or Kruger area, then a flight via Johannesburg to Vilankulo and five nights on the island. Travel days can be long, so build in a buffer if your international flight is tight.
Is It Worth It?
If you want a small, polished island lodge with plunge pools and outstanding marine life, yes. &Beyond Benguerra Island gives you seclusion, warm service and a setting that feels far from anywhere. It is one of the best beach finishes to an African safari.
The trade-off is cost and access. Rates are high and getting here takes at least a day of connections. Diving, fishing and helicopter flights add to the bill. Couples who want a bigger resort with more facilities might prefer Anantara Bazaruto. Those who want huge private residences and a design-led stay should look at Kisawa Sanctuary, also on Benguerra. If the idea of a plunge pool, a sandbar picnic and very few other people sounds right, this is the one.
Insider tips
- Book a beachfront Cabana and ask for one with a sunset view.
- Arrive by helicopter for an aerial view of the sandbars.
- Plan a sandbar picnic around the tides; ask staff on arrival.
- Pack soft bags within light-aircraft weight limits.
