:: Sample Holidays - suggestions to whet your appetite

TROPICAL SPICE on Zanzibar and in northern Mozambique combining magical, mystical, historical Ibo Island in the Quirimbas Archipelago with a bush and beach luxury retreat

	Fly overnight from London via Nairobi to Zanzibar. By road to Stone Town. Zanzibar Serena Inn for 2 nights. Fly via Dar es Salaam and Pemba to Ibo Island in Northern Mozambique. Ibo Island Lodge for 3 nights. Fly back to Pemba, then by road and boat across the bay to Londo Lodge for 5 nights. Return to Pemba and fly via Nairobi overnight to London. From £3,787 pp sharing for 12 nights
Request Your Itinerary

After an overnight flight to Nairobi and a short onward flight you will soon be enjoying the glorious view over the turquoise sea from the ZANZIBAR Serena Inn. Conveniently located on the edge of historical STONE TOWN, within easy walking distance of the markets, spice shops and restaurants, you will have plenty to occupy you should you have the urge to explore or else you can just relax by the hotel’s beautiful pool or at its exclusive beach club.

After lunch on your third day you will fly to Dar es Salaam and then south and over the border to Pemba in Mozambique. Another short hop will land you on IBO ISLAND, known locally as Ilha do Ibo. When Kevin and Fiona Record arrived from Zimbabwe it appeared that time had stood still in a place undisturbed for centuries. Not too much has changed now except for the delightful lodge they have created from three magnificent mansions. The nine rooms of Ibo Island Lodge are simple but elegantly furnished and you will revel in the delicious cuisine and fine wines served in their roof top restaurant, crab with fragrant soft, fluffy rice being one of the specialities. Vegetables, herbs and fruit are all grown locally.

Kevin and his guides bring the history of the island to life and, as you walk together through the town, you will be made welcome by the hospitable islanders. Wander into the old Portuguese fort and watch the silversmiths creating beautiful pieces of jewellery with designs that draw on both the African and Arabic cultures. Back at the lodge, treat yourself to a massage, relax by the pool or avail yourself of the watersports on offer.

During the short flight from Ibo to PEMBA you can’t miss catching sight of the third largest bay in the world! After being met at the airport, you’ll be whisked by boat across this bay to a private sandy beach where, on the top of a cliff, Londo Lodge is situated.

Londo is an evolving dream of the owners, PJ and Evelijn - a young, enthusiastic couple from the Netherlands. Being surrounded by healthy coral reefs with mangrove creeks further around the bay and miombo woodland and ancient baobab trees on the peninsular, it offers an enticing bush-and-beach combination. There is plenty to occupy you with good choice of watersports including fishing, canoeing and scuba diving along with leisurely walks in search of shy bush buck and other small game. Maybe take a spa treatment or just relax on the beach or by the inviting swimming pool in this perfect location.

The individual octagonal-shaped villas, designed to make the most of the stunning view across the bay and to catch the passing breezes, are simply furnished. You certainly won’t be disappointed by the quality of dining since food is Evelijn’s passion! She makes good use of local fish, prawns, crayfish and crab and imports quality South African meat to create a wonderful mixture of African and Asian dishes.

and what about?
	Scuba divers might also like to consider staying on Vamizi Island with 12 luxurious beach houses further north in the Quirimbas Archipelago where pristine, unbleached coral reefs wait to be explored. Not only are the marine colours amazing but also the fish populations in terms of variety and sheer numbers. The area is protected by the Cabo Delgado Biodiversity Project, run in partnership with the Zoological Society of London and the island's fishermen, who have been trained to monitor green and hawksbill turtles, dugongs and humpback whales.

:: Sample Holidays

Beaches of the Seychelles

Visiting Praslin and Desroches, two contrasting, idyllic islands...read more

Indian Ocean Gems - Mauritius & Réunion

Exploring the rugged volcanic island of Réunion before enjoying the white sand beaches and luxury of Mauritius...read more

Intimate Botswana & Mauritius

A holiday of two halves with a safari in the remote Okavango Delta and Selinda Reserve followed by a few luxuriously relaxing days beside the Indian Ocean...read more

Southern African Safaris & Sunsets

Combining a safari in South Africa with a hideaway island off the coast of Mozambique...read more