Rio Azul Lodge
Discover paradise and gaze upon the blue waters and perfect shores of Mozambique at Rio Azul, a thoughtful eco-lodge that overlooks a tidal lagoon home to its own diverse ecosystem and access to the warm Indian Ocean. Bordered by a magnificent and fully protected mangrove forest, it’s the perfect place for travellers with a love of nature and a thirst for adventure. With a variety of rooms to choose from, this fantastic accommodation gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a variety of guided excursions and activities, or alternatively, create their own unique experience and privately explore the natural beauty that makes up this incredible corner of Mozambique.
Rio Azul Lodge, Mozambique
The Rio Azul lodge is located on the Bartholomeu Diaz point, a stretch of land that juts out of Mozambique and into the Indian Ocean. It is north-west of the Bazaruto Archipelago, an incredible collection of islands home to a vast array of wildlife, including corals, rare birds and a population of freshwater crocodiles that serve as a reminder that these islands were once a part of the African mainland.
In the more immediate vicinity is a sparkling lagoon that can be gazed upon from all corners of the eco-lodge, and a mangrove forest that surrounds it. The lodge is dedicated to protecting this mangrove forest, as mangroves are extremely effective at protecting the environment.
- Stay in a beach front Villa or lavish chalet
- Enjoy amazing local food
- Immersed in nature, surrounded by a forest on the edge of a lagoon
- Unrivalled views of a stunning archipelago
- Perpetually warm weather
- Opportunities to partake in a range of activities, including snorkelling and bird watching
Rio Azul Lodge in Mozambique is home to not one, but two Beach Front Villas. Each luxurious Villa is made up of three double bedrooms, able to sleep up to a maximum of six adults, as well as a loft with three bunk beds for children under 16. That’s a total capacity of nine people, whether that be two families holidaying together or a group deciding to explore the eastern coast of Africa.
Both Villas have their own private deck (with a swimming pool!), seating that includes beach chairs and a dining table that allows you to eat your snacks whilst gazing at a stunning sunset that turns the sea and sky a deep orange. If you’d rather stay indoors however, the large lounge areas offer ample seating.
Room Specifications:
- Three double bedrooms
- Private deck with swimming pool
- Seating area with beach chairs
- Dining room table
- Large lounge area
- All meals daily
- Unlimited use of estuary boat per room
- Use of sea kayaks
- Tea & coffee
- Snorkelling on request
If you’d rather stay in somewhere a bit cosier, Rio Azul Lodge also has six Beach Front Chalets. The Chalets feature a Twin Bedroom with two ¾ length beds, plus a roll out bed for children under 16. The Chalets have an amazing beach front view that enables you to gaze at the sunsets over the beach, estuary and sea.
Room Specifications:
- Twin bedrooms + pull roll-out bed
- Magnificent views
- All meals daily
- Unlimited use of estuary boat per room
- Use of sea kayaks
- Tea & coffee
- Snorkelling on request
Dining at Rio Azul Lodge is always a joyous occasion, with food prepared using only the freshest local ingredients that are sourced either from nearby producers or grown onsite in the lodge’s own vegetable and herb garden. Seafood also comes straight from the sea, with no middle man getting his mitts on it. On the menu, you can expect traditional Mozambican specialties such as peri-peri chicken and freshly caught prawns. Dinners are always a particularly wonderful experience that can vary between calm and informal evenings, romantic and candlelit affairs, to fun and lively beach BBQs.
Blessed by an rich unspoilt estuary, Rio Azul is an ideal spot for a bird watching holiday. A bird walk along the shores and through the surrounding bush is sure to excite the eyes, and Rio Azul also offers boat rides on the estuary where a large array of both common and exotic birds can be found.
Rio Azul Coastline Bird Watching
The unspoilt coastline of Rio Azul plays host to many waders in the summer months and sightings of rare Crab Plovers make for a potentially special day. There is a huge variety of shorebirds to spot including Grey Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Mongolian Plover, Bar-Tailed Godwit, and Whimbrills.
Rio Azul Mangrove Bird Watching
The mangroves that line the estuary are home to spectacular Mangrove Kingfisher, as well as a selection of other Kingfisher species. Osprey, Pelicans, Flamingos, Yellow Billed Stork, Woolly Necked Stork and Goliath Heron are other estuary birds frequently spotted in the area.
Special Bird Species at Rio Azul
There are some truly special bird species encountered in the nearby environment and surrounding bush. Be sure to look out for the likes of the Madagascar Bee-eater (summer), Yellow Spotted Nicator, Pied Mannikin, Mozambique Batis, Lemon Breasted Canary, Grey Sunbird, Olive Headed Weaver, Green Coucal and White Throated Robin.
Bird Watching Assistance at Rio Azul
If you’re new to bird watching and need some help spotting and identifying the local flying animals, the lodge offers bird books and binoculars for guest use and there are keen birders among the staff who will happily lead you on an early morning bird walk.
Mozambizque Bird Atlas Project
Rio Azul is currently taking steps to become part of the “Mozambique Bird Atlas Project”, a project formed in collaboration with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to keep tabs on the local birds. To achieve this goal, Rio Azul is currently compiling a list of sighted birds and guests are encouraged to take note of every existing and new sighting.
Rio Azul Lodge provides fantastic fishing opportunities to people of all skill levels, from complete beginner fishers to the most experienced fisherman. This spot is ideal for fishers who employ a variety of techniques including fly fishing, light tackle lure fishing, surf fishing and deep-sea fishing. The policy at Rio Azul is strictly catch and release.
Estuary Fishing
Govuro River Estuary
The Govuro river mouth is a source of great quality estuary fishing, easily accessible in 12 foot aluminium boats. The estuary is large and offers diverse fishing from trolling lures, to casting baits, lures and flies. Fishing in the deeper main areas is good for grunter, kingfish, barracuda and rock cod.
Mangrove Channels Fishing
The mangrove channels are excellent for catching the likes of river snapper, perch, estuary cod, grunter and small kingfish.
Complementary Estuary Fishing Boat
The boats that come with each room are ideal for estuary fishing. They are made of aluminium and have a single 15 horse power Yamaha outboard motor, an electric creeper motor, a two-way marine radio and a cooler box for snacks. Guests will be taught how to operate the boat and the electronic equipment on board when they arrive. Guests will have the choice of hiring a local skipper should they wish to.
Offshore Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing Boats
The lodge’s boats are captained by experienced and qualified fishing guides who know the area like the back of their hand. The lodge has two 31-foot fishing boats which are reliable, safe and comfortable.
The boats have access to some extremely productive reefs. Guests have the choice of trolling, plugging, jigging, fly-fishing or drift bait fishing for the game fish that are found in the ocean off Bartholomeu Diaz.
Boats can hold up to 6 passengers at a time. The nearest reefs are within walking distance of the lodge, and reefs right up to 25 mile reef north of Bazaruto Island are accessible to the lodge’s boats.
Fishing Tackles and Lures
Tackle for offshore fishing is available for a nominal fee. Lures can be bought at market related prices.
Complementary Fishing Bait
Bait is available from the lodge at no extra charge and consists of: prawns, squid and fish. The lodge will also endeavor to supply live bait when possible.
Snorkelling is one of Mozambique’s greatest activities, and it’s the same story at Rio Azul. The unspoilt environment here is one of the most premium places to snorkel in Mozambique. Visitors have the chance to experience fabulous underwater scenery with a wide variety of coral and sea life. Because the clear waters of the Indian Ocean in this part of Mozambique seldom drop below 25°C, conditions are ideal for snorkelling all year round.
Paradise Island
The best snorkelling at Rio Azul takes place at the stunning Paradise Island. Paradise Island, part of the Bazaruto Archipelago, offers one of the best snorkelling experiences in the world, with a myriad of colourful fish and gorgeous corals lighting up the shallow waters of the Indian Ocean. Turtles are a frequent sight, as is the thrilling but harmless black tip reef shark.
The spectacular underwater seascapes of Paradise Island will leave even the most experienced snorkellers breathless with the knowledge that they will never forget their time here. Rio Azul will make you a picnic basket that will keep you energised as you explore these incredible shallows.
Beach Snorkelling
Rio Azul Lodge has limited access to beach snorkelling on the front beach and the sea behind the lodge.
Snorkelling Gear
Rio Azul has a full range of snorkelling gear for guests to use for beach snorkelling on the beach of Rio Azul Lodge or during the day trip to Paradise Island
Open to children