Luxury experiential travel company andBeyond is set to expand its island footprint by adding the award-winning andBeyond Vamizi Island to its portfolio. Situated in the Quirimbas Archipelago off the coast of northern Mozambique, the company will take over the management of the island from 1 March 2016. The island’s six luxury private villas will continue to operate under andBeyond’s signature brand of warm and authentic hospitality, with the intention to re-open the lodge in the future.
Boasting one of the most pristine habitats on the East African coast, which makes it home to exceptional marine life, and with a long-standing reputation as a leading private island resort, Vamizi perfectly complements andBeyond’s other island destinations. These are andBeyond Mnemba Island off Zanzibar and andBeyond Benguerra Island in Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago.
Vamizi’s six individually designed luxury villas provide an intimate setting for up to twelve people, making them the perfect choice for families, small groups or high profile guests in search of a private holiday. Each villa comes with a dedicated team of staff, as well as a vehicle that can be used to visit one of the island’s five secluded picnic sites or to explore the mangrove lagoons.
“These exclusive houses are very different to what we have to offer at either andBeyond Mnemba Island or andBeyond Benguerra Island, adding yet another dimension to our portfolio. They represent the ultimate private beach hideaway for individuals, families or groups looking to escape winter or to end their safari on this very unique island,” explains Joss Kent, &Beyond CEO.
Set in a marine conservation area, the waters surrounding andBeyond Vamizi Island boast some of the most untouched coral reefs in the Indian Ocean, with over 180 species of coral and more than 400 kinds of reef fish making this one of the world’s top diving sites. Vamizi’s marine sanctuary covers most of the eastern side of the island, extending three kilometres (almost two miles) out to sea.
Known for its conservation ethos, andBeyond intends to augment its existing conservation efforts at andBeyond Mnemba Island and andBeyond Benguerra Island by supporting and driving the environmental initiatives already in place at Vamizi. While andBeyond already has a positive influence on over 9 million acres of protected wildlife land in the areas where it operates, the addition of a third marine habitat to the company’s portfolio means that marine conservation will now receive the same focus as its land-based projects “With its strong conservation background, Vamizi Island perfectly aligns with our values of Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People,” says Kent. “This new, exciting addition to our portfolio is part of a broader strategy that will promote the conservation of the Indian Ocean from Zanzibar in the north to the southern tip of Mozambique. Home to one of the world’s great marine archipelagos, this entire area is under threat. We intend to use our influence and expertise to protect it, focusing on reef conservation and on creating safe migratory routes for the endangered species that travel this coastline, from turtles to humpback whales.”
Vamizi is renowned as a breeding site for green turtles, providing guests with the opportunity to see these magnificent creatures laying their eggs or the hatchlings making their first trip to the ocean’s edge. Supported by an on-site conservation team for more than ten years, the careful preservation of the reefs surrounding Vamizi has also led to one of the dive sites accessed from the island, Neptune’s Arm, being recognised as one of the top scuba sites in the world. In addition, the island boasts exhilarating catch-and-release deep sea fishing, as well as a selection of activities that includes snorkelling, whale watching, kayaking, dhow sunset cruises, nature walks and community visits.
The island’s community is a long-standing partner in conservation efforts run by the lodge and andBeyond will continue to work closely with the local inhabitants through its social development partner of choice, the Africa Foundation and by supporting the work of the Friends of Vamizi Trust. Following the examples already established at andBeyond Mnemba Island and andBeyond Benguerra Island, the company will use its operations to continue supporting the local communities, while exposing the beauty of these areas to international travellers and working diligently towards the conservation of their natural riches.
Reservations for Vamizi Island will be handled directly by andBeyond from 18 January 2016. The island can be easily added onto a trip to either East or Southern Africa and can be accessed via a scheduled or charter flight from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Nairobi in Kenya or Johannesburg in South Africa to Pemba in Mozambique. From there, a charter flight in a light aircraft takes travellers directly to andBeyond Vamizi Island.
To find out more, contact your preferred travel provider or log on to www.andbeyond.com.
About andBeyond
andBeyond is one of the world’s leading luxury experiential travel companies, designing personalised luxury tours in 15 African countries, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Chile and Argentina. The company also owns and operates 33 extraordinary safari lodges and camps in Africa and India, as well as privately guided expeditions in Botswana, which positively impact more than 9 million acres of wildlife land. Established in 1991, andBeyond takes exceptional care of its guests in order to make a difference; its commitment to sustainable responsible travel, conservation and community empowerment has been globally recognised with multiple awards over the years.
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