House Marape

The San Sebastian Peninsula runs out toward the Bazaruto Archipelago, and House Marape sits on it, inside the Vilankulos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected stretch of land and sea covering 43,900 hectares. Mangroves and dunes back onto turquoise shallows. It is a compact stay: five thatched villas, joined by wooden walkways that cut through coastal scrub to the Indian Ocean. Each villa runs on a king or twin bed setup, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a high thatched ceiling, and a private deck facing the water. Driftwood and woven palm furnish the interiors, alongside hand-carved woodwork. Bathrooms are en suite, with an outside shower for rinsing off the sea. The communal area holds a bar, a plunge pool, open decks, and a dining room serving food sourced locally. Guests can snorkel a reef roughly 40 minutes out by boat, where turtles and coral crowd the water, or paddle self-guided kayaks through nearby coves. A sundowner dhow cruise sails out toward the horizon most evenings. Inland, an open safari vehicle explores the sanctuary's wetlands and savannah, a stretch known for its birdlife. Staff are drawn from villages bordering the sanctuary, many trained on site since the lodge began, and their knowledge of the land shapes the walks, meals, and guiding throughout the stay.