Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort

Bazaruto Island sits inside a protected archipelago off the Inhambane coast of Mozambique, and this resort occupies a stretch of it with forty-four villas set back from the beach. The surrounding waters are warm year-round, with soft coral reefs that support dugongs, turtles, and humpback whales — the whales pass through between July and September.

Villa categories range from Beach Villas — twenty metres from the water — to Beach Pool Villas with private plunge pools and beachfront verandahs, to two-bedroom Deluxe Sea View Pool Villas suited to families, to the Anantara Pool Villa with a sunken jacuzzi in the master bedroom and panoramic bay views. All villas have en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, satellite television, and mosquito screens.

On the water, the activity centre runs kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, dhow sailing, snorkelling, water skiing, wake boarding, and PADI scuba diving courses. Fishing options include deep-sea, catch-and-release, and boat charters to the surrounding reefs. On land, you can join guided dune boarding, a crocodile lake drive, horse riding, or a cooking class that begins with a walk through the resort's vegetable garden and orchard.

Four dining venues cover the main meals: Golfinho Restaurant serves breakfast and themed dinners with Mozambican, Portuguese, and Mediterranean menus; Clube Naval is an open-sided grill above the water; Sonhos Pool Bar handles casual poolside eating; and Dining by Design arranges private meals on sandbanks or aboard a dhow. In-villa dining is available throughout the day.

The spa has a full treatment menu and hydro facilities. A separate adults-only pool and a family pool operate alongside the main facilities. The resort has a kids' club and a conference centre.