An authentic historical stay in an area rich with cultural sites

A fantastic peaceful lodge with amazing gardens

Experience ancient Mozambique architecture in the unique rooms and buildings

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Ibo Island Lodge Overview

A dot on a map becomes the focus of your dreams when you land on the grassy runway of Ibo Island. Embrace the tranquillity of such an untouched region where you can be completely alone in the elements. Only you, some rare birds, ethereal mangroves and ancient ruins that would tell fascinating fables if they could talk.

Welcome to an award-winning lodge on a tiny island in the middle of the Mozambique nowhere. Recline high on the mesmerising roof top terrace overlooking the ocean and track the slow and steady dhows that drift across the blue horizon. Refresh your senses with a massage and indulge yourself with a frosty cocktail at one of the pools. This is the Ibo Island Lodge life, designed to uplift mind and body – your escape from your reality.

Allow yourself to be whisked away to an idyllic white sandbank beach. Forget all your troubles in the shade while you sip champagne then don your mask to snorkel nearby. Dive some of Africa’s richest coral reefs, swim with dolphins, sea kayak into pristine mangroves and fish off the shores. Take a Quirimbas mobile island-hopping dhow safari to undiscovered islands and sit beside a beach fire at night. Ibo Island is the kind of destination that reminds you to live every moment in endless sunshiny days.

Your Never-Never land becomes your retreat within the cool, luxurious walls of ancient mansion suites. Amble through lush gardens of blooming frangipani, bougainvillea and tall palm trees – a true tropical paradise where nothing else matters. Don’t make any plans, just go with the Ibo flow.

Accommodation At Ibo Island Lodge

Ibo Island is a potential World Heritage Site and the lodge has been lovingly renovated and designed to incorporate as many of the original features of Mozambique’s architecture. All the rooms are all individually designed, authentic to Ibo’s history and original architecture, simple yet elegant, with splashes of opulence. You have a choice of either premium sea facing rooms, historical rooms, garden facing rooms, or the private Paradiso villa option. This is Mozambique accommodation at its best.

Sea Facing Rooms: Beautiful high and low tide ocean views that change throughout the day. Air-conditioning, ceiling fans, wide verandas, magnificent king size 4 poster beds, luxury cotton and silk linen.
 
Historical Rooms: Original, beautifully restored large historic rooms with wide verandas facing lush tropical gardens at the rear of the Niassa mansion. A perfect setting to explore and discover on your Mozambique Holiday.
 
Garden Rooms: The Niassa Garden rooms step out from huge verandas into lush tropical gardens with chunky palm trees that provide shade around the Niassa dip pool.
 
Villa Paradiso: This beautifully restored building can cater for up to 12 guests and has private facilities including its own pool and garden, kitchen and roof top terrace. One of the most unique private Mozambique villas available.

Dining At Ibo Island Lodge

At Ibo Island Lodge, a culinary splendour overcooks in the award nominated kitchen. Sublime desserts such as Ibo coffee éclairs, surf-fresh seafood platters, smoked sail fish, flat breads and an array of mouthwatering tapas, coconut and chilli traditional Ibo Island crab curry, crunchy green pawpaw salad and fresh lobster grilled on an open fire are some of the highlights on the menu.

Fresh from the ocean and sourced wherever possible locally, tropical and traditional dishes are all prepared by the chefs, unhurried and from scratch. Breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed in a number of different locations, served either in the privacy of your own veranda, on Ibo’s sandbank beach, at the fort of Joao Baptiste or under the palms in the tropical gardens. Dinner becomes a little more extravagant and is served on the rooftop terrace under the stars and lantern light. With the shore just feet away, sometimes dolphins can be heard in the bay.

Dining on Ibo is an event, elaborate and indulgent. The extensive wine list compliments the cuisine. For those who are on an island honeymoon or celebrating something special, a candlelit dinner in a range of secret and special locations can be arranged for two. Ibo Island is blessed with an abundance of fresh crab which is quite arguably some of the finest and most delicate seafood on offer. The legendary Ibo Island Lodge crab feast has guests coming back for more every year!

Things To Do On Ibo Island

Ibo Island Lodge promises the ideal setting to enjoy a great range of activities in the magical Quirimbas Archipelago. Make your Mozambique holiday something truly special: join a spectacular dhow safari, go scuba diving and snorkelling with expert guides or mingle with local people and discover history dating back 1,000 years. Place of great beauty, Ibo’s ocean calls guests to swim in her warm waters, to sail atop her white tipped waves and to dive deep to see her treasures. You can wear your swimsuit all day long if you choose…

Ibo Beach Excursion: Slip out of the ancient harbour on a boat, passing the old fort, into the crystal blue open water. Watch the beach unfold as the tide retreats, revealing an infinite sugar sand spit to explore.
 
Mogundula Island Quest: Plan and book your private castaway picnic lunch on this small uninhabited tropical paradise. A chic deserted spot for those who want to escape from it all, accessible only by boat. Two secluded beaches, a lake and beautiful coral reefs.
 
Guided birding and nature walks: For avid birders who explore the wooded areas around Ibo Island where tides and mangrove swamps affect the variety of birds seen daily. Sunset birding is best when birds fly in to roost: Ibo nests over 700 different bird species, 10 of these being threatened.
 
Island hopping dhow safaris: Only Ibo Island Lodge offers fully guided, tailor made, mobile island hopping dhow and kayak safaris. Scheduled departure expeditions leave under the expert leadership of a pro guide and local crew. Explore exotic islands, pristine mangroves, and exquisite coral reefs.
 
Dolphin Safaris: Savour the incredible experience of swimming with wild dolphins in their natural environment. A soulful 2 to 3 hours of hanging with these majestic sea creatures and turtles as they breeze in and out of the bay at Ibo Island. Learn about the regulated Swim Code of Conduct to ensure an eco-friendly approach.
 
Quirimba Island Day Tour: Take this fascinating 90-minute walk through pristine mangrove swamps at low tide to the tiny Quirmba Island. Hear tales of Arab maritime merchants and the legendary Gessner family which now holds forte. Watch huge coconut crabs climb tall palm trees.
 
Guided historical island tours: Meet the people of Ibo, a fascinating cultural blend of European, Indian, Arabic and Chinese. They still follow and respect old Mozambique tribal customs and tribal religions on this historical island. An explosive way of life, completely unique to Ibo Island.
 
Scuba diving: Experience the PADI Dive Resort at Ibo Island. Choose fantastic Ibo Island dive package combos available on a tailor-made basis. Explore the famous lighthouse dive where angel fish, massive napoleon wrasse, trumpet fish and garden eels lurk.
 
Spa treatments: Enjoy a massage in the comfort of your room, inspired by the culture of the local Ibo people, using traditions passed down from mothers to daughters. Body scrubs using Ibo coarse sea salt and zesty lemon grass. Or sample a traditional white Mozambique Musiro facial.
 
Ibo Island Lodge Silver Jewellery Project: Discover some 40 traditional silversmiths on Ibo Island who handcraft exquisite, intricate, jewellery using ancient Arab techniques and tools. The artisan-artists are simply continuing an ancient Ibo tradition of producing fine metalwork while making money.