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Where to stay, guides, and visitor attractions
as featured in the TV series Globe
Trekker: Mozambique.
Where to Stay
Hotel
Polana, Maputo
One of the best hotels in the whole of Africa, the Polana
is an oasis of luxury in the otherwise hectic capital of Mozambique.
Set high up above the ocean amid beautiful gardens, it is
one of the continent's grandest colonial buildings. As you
would expect from this kind of establishment the service is
impeccable, the food is excellent and the rooms are large,
comfortable and tastefully decorated. Comparable with Copacabana
Palace in Rio or Raffles in Singapore, the Polana harks back
to an era of elegance where afternoon tea is taken and meals
are still served under silver cloches. Treat yourself to a
Margarita cocktail at the atmospheric Polana Bar before
dining outside at the Terraço Restaurant in
the balmy Mozambican night.
Indigo
Bay Lodge, Bazaruto island
If it's paradise you're after, look no further. Bazaruto
Island forms part of the Bazaruto Archipelago, a National
Marine Park with squeaky clean white sand and turquoise waters.
The lodge itself organises diving, excursions to the surrounding
islands, cultural tours of Bazaruto, horseriding treks and
much, much more. Accommodation comes in the form of bay-view
rooms or beach chalets, both of which are immaculately designed
with stunning views from the large terrace. Fresh seafood
is served up each evening and a real effort is made to make
each evening different - one night there's a buffet down by
the beach, the next there's a delicious set menu up in the
restaurant. The service is personal and professional; guests
and staff alike gather each evening in the bar to discuss
activities and to ensure that you get the most out of your
stay. Access to the island is by Indigo Bay's own 7-seater
plane which will take you over from Vilanculo on the mainland
in 15 minutes, offering spectacular views of the archipelago.
Hotel Omnuhipiti, Mozambique Island
Telephone: 00258 661 0101
At the far north end of the beautiful Mozambique Island lies
the Hotel Omnuhipiti. The north end of the island is like
a time-warp with abandoned Portuguese colonial buildings everywhere.
The Omnuhipiti, a brand new 4-star hotel, really stands out
in its surroundings, although it has been built to mirror
the island's architecture. It is a real treat to stay somewhere
with such excellent facilities in such a dusty, hot environment.
Rooms are spacious and the bar in the lobby is a real meeting
place for visitors to the island. Highly recommended.
Patio
dos Quintalinhos, Mozambique Island
If on the other hand you want to stay somewhere with oodles
of stylish character, the Patio dos Quintalinhos is perfect.
Run by Gabriele Melazzi, an Italian architect, and
his dog Dumbo, the guesthouse is small and cosy but the rooms
are very large; some have hanging beds, others have their
own roof terrace. Gabriele will make you feel at home and
his assistants make a fantastic breakfast. The guesthouse
is situated on the border between Stone Town and Makuti Town,
the two completely different halves of the island, and so
is perfectly placed to go wandering around either.
Russell's
Camp Site, Pemba
Situated over the way from the beautiful Wimbe beach,
Russell's is a unique place to stay in Pemba. Teepee-style
rooms surround a central courtyard where there's a fantastically
carved bar and eating and drinking area. This is the place
to come in Pemba for travellers and ex-pats alike - you're
sure to meet lots of people here. A pool table and excellent
pizza from a wood-fired oven add to Russell's attraction.
Pemba
Beach Hotel
Owned by the same resort group as Indigo Bay on Bazaruto,
the Pemba Beach is the only real upmarket hotel in Pemba.
A 5-star resort-style hotel, it has everything you would expect
- satellite television, air conditioning, excellent food,
and a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Built in an Arabian style, the Pemba Beach Hotel is the luxury
choice in Pemba for those with enough cash to splash out.
 Tour
Guides
Mozaic
Travel
Mozaic is an excellent place to start when planning your trip
to Mozambique. Based in Maputo, Mozaic can help with all aspect
of your journey including travel, accommodation, diving, trips
to the islands and tours. The helpful staff knows Mozambique
inside-out and will make sure your trip goes as smoothly as
possible.
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Travel