Zimanga is proud to welcome you to:
A NEW DESTINATION IN AN EXCITING WORLD-RENOWNED BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT (opening 2026…)
Zimanga Bazaruto in Mozambique is a prime African ecotourism destination unlike any other. Surrounded by crystal clear tropical water and hundreds of vast sandbanks in even more unimaginable shades of blue and hues of white, this Exclusive Use lodge is situated on a private game reserve hosting unique species from the massive Eland, the World’s largest antelope, to the diminutive Suni, one of its smallest. The area, oft referred to as the Blue Serengeti, hosts an overwhelming abundance of marine and terrestrial species, and apart from being considered as extremely important southern humpback whale calving grounds, is also home to Africa’s last remaining dugongs, 5 species each of dolphins and turtles, hundreds of species of birdlife plus thousands of other aquatic lifeforms from three seahorse species, hundreds of corals, thousands of colourful reef fish and a legion of oceanic predators that follow these, resulting in a prolific fusion of terrestrial and marine life in one of the World’s top biodiversity hotspots.
ACCOMMODATION
An Exclusive Use Luxury Tented Lodge set on a private beach on the San Sebastián Peninsula bordering the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Zimanga Bazaruto sleeps up to 12 fully boarded guests in 6 twin rooms in the heart of a private conservation sanctuary encompassing more than 30 000 hectares of terrestrial and marine habitat.
The waters of the picturesque tidal Pelican Bay lap only meters from the sea-view rooms’ private decks, and apart from bird species that use the mangroves and shorelines for permanent residence, the bay is a haven for a variety birds roosting at night, including herons, storks and of course pink-backed pelicans. Our bush units are set in the heart of the beautiful coastal bush with phenomenal views into the underbrush from your private deck, surrounded by constant birdsong, and with shy wildlife often visible from your bed.
Mozambique is renowned for its incredible seafood with the culinary experience being an activity in itself, and dishes served by our in-house chef are all sourced locally and as fresh as you can get.
You can find more information about the Lodge by clicking on this link
WILDLIFE
As a key biodiversity area wildlife is abundant, from smaller inhabitants like seahorses on seagrass meadows and suni antelope darting along the lodge’s undergrowth, to massive humpback whales spectacularly breaching during their springtime calving season and Livingstone’s eland browsing along deserted beaches and coastal forest.
In between this, coral reefs teem with thousands of colourful fish and turtles, mangroves act as fish nurseries, with hundreds of bird species inhabiting the open ocean, thick forests, freshwater pans, estuaries and vast sandbanks exposed and hidden again by each change of the tide.
The rarest mammal in Southern Africa, the shy Indian Ocean Humpback dolphin resides in the estuaries and shallow flats and are a near guaranteed sighting, and lucky visitors might catch a glimpse of one of Africa’s last remaining dugongs on the seagrass meadows in between the larger islands and hundreds of sandbanks hosting thousands of flamingoes, their pink feathers contrasting vividly against the blue.
Descriptions of the Archipelago as the Blue Serengeti or Africa’s Galápagos Islands could not be more accurate
PACKAGES
Zimanga Bazaruto is an Exclusive Use Lodge and packages are flexible and dependent on group requirements. Accommodation is full board and includes boat transfers between the mainland and lodge, all park fees and activities from birding, ocean safaris and whale watching, snorkelling, sea-horse expeditions, game drives, sunset dhow cruises, and many in between.
Add-ons include helicopter transfers from the mainland, deep sea fishing, swimming with horses, helicopter photography trips and scuba diving.
With the large variety of activities on offer, custom packages can be assembled to include or exclude third party activities and outings to build your own holiday to only include your preferential activities.
A minimum of a 6 night stay is recommended to immerse yourself in the best activities that the best beaches in Africa have to offer you and create memories that will last a lifetime. Whilst a beach-breakaway was always seen as an add-on to an African Safari, the Archipelago is THE destination in itself, on par with the wonders that any land based safari can offer, and once you’ve set foot in the Archipelago you will forever long to return.
ACTIVITIES
Similar to Zimanga South Africa’s original and groundbreaking wildlife experiences, this new lodge similarly focuses on experiential travel offering a extensive variety of included activities, with Nature’s rhythms being followed at Zimanga Bazaruto and the tide determining most water-based excursions. Outdoor experiences simply abound in this tropical paradise with the main focus being on exploring its unparalleled beauty via our large open custom built 27ft cat.
Whale watching is incredible from July to October but ocean safaris can yield results from pelagic birds, dolphins, mantas, sharks, whale sharks, turtles and the holy grail of bait balls of oceanic anchovies trapped against the surface and being decimated by birds from above and predatory fish from below. Nearby isolated sandbanks act as magnets for an astonishing variety of seabirds or you can spend time in the olive bee-eater hide to witness one of Africa’s largest colonies of these busy and beautiful birds.
Alternatively you can choose to support a community-run conservation project established to protect seahorses by joining a snorkelling excursion with expert local guides, or just laze away on the private beach watching birds arrive to roost for the evening or explore the lodge grounds for diminutive suni browsing the undergrowth
A 35-minute boat ride in between a maze of exquisite islands and sandbanks surrounded by turquoise tropical waters leads you to the World-renowned Two-mile reef which makes for extremely easy snorkelling (equipment provided). This reef alone is said to host more than 2000 species of fish, corals, and invertebrates, and the constant sounds of thousands of lifeforms clicking and crackling away on the healthy reef is a testimony to the abundance contained thereon.
The adventurous can take a ride on the “Magaruque express” consisting of a drift snorkel on an incoming tide following the 2km rocky shoreline of this smaller island. Tranquil canoe trips through the mangroves allows a quiet and immersive experience, you can enjoy a game drive to view the unique African wildlife on offer, and in a once-in-a-lifetime and must-do experience hop into a helicopter to witness the thousands of greater flamingoes wading the vast sand flats exposed during low tide.
Add to that world-class Scuba diving or deep-sea fishing with several operators in the area and the list just goes on…
Zimanga
Zimanga, originating in KwaZulu Natal South Africa, was the first reserve in Africa designed to cater for both wildlife photographers and avid safari enthusiasts in mind, offering an unhurried and ultra-exclusive experience. We are intent on building on the success of the original reserve and to expand our unique offerings across Southern Africa’s most spectacular wildlife hotspots and to share with our visitors our love of this continent, its wide open spaces and its wildlife
