Ibo Island Lodge
Quirimbas Archipelago

Azure waters, white sandbars, coral reefs and mangrove forests, spiced up with the crumbling colonial architecture of Ibo town, not to mention the historic mansions of the lodge itself… Ibo Island Lodge is indeed a secret gem. Lost in time and almost forgotten to the outside world for nearly a century, Ibo Island was on the Arabian slave trade route and later a Portuguese colonial outpost and it is bursting with Portuguese and Omabi-Arab history and atmosphere.

The lodge is set amongst lush tropical gardens in a prime waterfront spot, overlooking a lovely bay dotted with dhows sailboats. There are three pools and a rooftop restaurant and bar, a magnificent sundowners spot.  There are 14 garden or sea-facing rooms spread across two of the three impeccably converted mansions – each over 100 years old with high ceilings and 1-metre thick walls. The third mansion houses the communal areas. Incorporating the architecture and style of its colonial history, the rooms are simple and elegant, with ceiling fans as well as air-conditioning, lime walls, indigenous solid teak and mahogany furniture, handcrafted by the people of Ibo, and wide verandas. Beds are handcrafted king size 4-poster or twin bed adorned with crisp cotton linen, comfortable cushions and colourful fabrics from Zanzibar. 

Let the tide decide your day’s activities – the lodge will advise on the best things to do, such as having lunch in the middle of the isolated sand bank, followed by snorkelling or scuba diving. You will encounter an amazing array of fish and you might just spot turtles, dugongs, dolphins and humpback whales. Other activities include fishing, sea kayaking through the mangrove channels and, of course, a fascinating guided tour of Ibo Island’s old town. One of the most wonderful activities offered at Ibo Island Lodge is island-hopping excursion by dhow where you will camp beside a beach on deserted islands, dine on freshly caught seafood and go kayaking, snorkelling and nature walking – a glorious adventure!

For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.
Robert Louis Stevenson