Marlin Lodge

MARLIN LODGE IS INCLUDED IN OUR BOOK, DIVE IN STYLE

The Bazaruto Archipelago is a National Marine Park and its unspoilt waters and reefs offer some of the finest diving sites and deep-sea fishing in the world, with some 2000 species of fish alone. Marlin Lodge has a fully equipped dive centre and simply the best instructors to help guests to explore this extraordinary underwater world. There is also an extensive range of boats to get you to the sites quickly.

The hotel that occupies prime position on the west coast of Benguerra Island’s 20 square miles is Marlin Lodge. Built in 1995, it was originally the fishing lodge of a wealthy South African enthusiast who was drawn by the unparalleled game fishing in the surrounding waters. Where fishermen lead, divers often follow, and from these humble beginnings, the lodge has reinvented itself as a fully fledged boutique resort.

Marlin Lodge is something of a triumph in a country that until just a few years ago was riven by civil war. Things are only going to get better. As it stands, there is no more comfortable or stylish way to enjoy the wonders of the beautiful and remote Bazaruto Archipelago.

All rooms come with four-poster beds and private verandas with deck chairs or hammocks and ocean views. Elevated walkways connect the cabanas to the main lodge building, which contains the living and dining areas, a swimming pool and a small spa with a fully qualified therapist.

Marlin offers unspoilt diving at its best, notably on the ocean side of nearby Two Mile Reef, and you will have the ocean more or less to yourself. Experienced divers should also dive Cabo San Sebastian. It's an hour from the resort by boat and only found using GPs, but home to huge quantities of game fish that you can see from the boat before the dive.

In the unlikely event you get bored of the diving, there is a range of other watersports and activities available, including kite surfing, windsurfing, waterskiing and knee boarding, or guests can just relax by the pool, enjoy the incredible tranquillity of the island, and watch the day drift by. Boat trips to neighbouring islands are also possible, such as a lunch excursion to Pansy Island, (really just a fabulous white sand bank) named after the pansy shells or sand dollars that are washed up on it. En route you can visit the flock of flamingos and might be lucky enough to see humpbacks and dolphins. Alternatively, you can just sit back with a cool drink and enjoy the supremely restful environment. The restaurant serves up delicious Afro-Asian and Portuguese cuisine, either in the dining room, by candlelight on the beach, or in the privacy of your own cabanas.