Nuarro Beach Lodge is well known for the stunning experiences guests have with the creatures of the sea.  From the beautiful sightings enjoyed during a snorkel off the main beach, the the majestic Humpback whales that come into the bay with their young calves in season. 

However today the guests, staff and local residents were very surprised by the newest and most unusual sighting ever in the sea!!  Life remains full of surprises!!

The month of February is traditionally known as cyclone season in Mozambique.  Thankfully the country has been spared the wrath of any major cyclone since 2007, with only the occasional Tropical Storms bringing in rain and wind.  Unfortunately 2012 saw the surprise arrival of cyclone Funso in mid January when no one expected to see any cyclones. 

Funso is an intense, slow-moving storm which formed off central Mozambique in the Mozambique Channel. The storm continues to move over open water in the southern part of the Mozambique Channel drifting slightly southward.  Zambezia, the most populated province of Mozambique has been hit the hardest. High winds, torrential rain and rough surf pounded the area.  Although it has had a marked impack on rural communities in these areas, none of the major tourist destinations have been seriously affected and all the lodges and island properties have been spared any damage.  As a precautionary mesasure the lodges in the Bazaruto Archipelago have been closed for a week and Federal Air have also suspended all flights to and from Vilanculos temporarily.

Official forecasts aim Funso southward, steering it well clear of both southeastern Africa and southwestern Madagascar during the next two to three days. 

For lovers of history and architecture, northern Mozambique is an ideal destination.  The islands of Ibo and Ilha de Mozambique specifically are rich in both and guided tours can be taken to explore and photograph buildings that are hundreds of years old.  Even more impressive are the stories told by your guides of the history of the buildings, some good and some very sad. 

On Ibo you can view forts, trade warehouses, private homes (some in ruins and other lovingly restored), a hospital that use to be the best in the southern hemisphere and churches to name a few places.  The "Cowrie shell" house tells the tale of a woman who decorated the front wall of her house with a cowrie shell for every day her husband was absent.  The story goes that she was crazy - and whether she was crazy because her husband left her alone for so long or if he left her alone because she was crazy remains a mystery.

The Fort of São João Batista, constructed in 1791, is still an impressive sight to behold today.  Its history is filled with tales of sieges, slave trading and infamous interrogations.  Today its occupied by local artists that sell their hand made crafts to tourists.  The silversmiths based here created some of the most beautiful handmade silver jewellery and is well worth the visit. 

Ilha has a rich selection of statues, forts, the Vasco de Gama Museum and many other sights to behold.  My favourite was the old Catholic Church built opposite Ilha de Mozambique.  Its reported that this church was constructed in 1575 and is the oldest in the southern hemisphere.  Although in a poor state of disrepair, the building is still very impressive and one can only imagine what tales it could tell if its walls could talk

I had the pleasure of recently spending two nights at the newly re-opened Azura at Quilalea.  The little island is part of the Quirimbas Archipelago, surrounded by the warm tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, and a delight to stay at.  There is something for everyone - including superb snorkeling right off the main beach, adventurous kayaking around the island, walking trails, giant old baobab trees and a rich diversity of bird life. 

The Azura brand ensure that the highest level of guest service is given at all times -  from the warmest of welcomes on arrival to a special surprise gift from the Lodge and not forgetting a special private venue selected each night just for you by your Villa host to sit back and enjoy your cocktail sundowner drink and savour the sunset. 

Dining is an experience on its own as the chef and his team endeavour to present you with a variety of fresh, flavourful and utterly delicious dishes at every meal time.  The most difficult thing is to decide just what to have as all the options are mouthwatering. 

The rooms are tastefully decorated and cater for all creature comforts. No expenses has been spared to ensure that guests enjoy a most memorable stay.

The Lodge is a perfect destination for honeymooners or for someone looking for a special place for a special occasion. 

Azura at Quilalea is most definitely paradise rediscovered!

Source: Gorongosa National Park Newsletter

The Ministry of Tourism of Mozambique (MITUR) and the Gorongosa Restoration Project (GRP) are pleased to announce that the Visabeira Group - operator of the Girassol hotels in Mozambique and Angola - has been selected to manage the Tourist Camp of Chitengo - the largest Tourism facility inside Gorongosa National Park.

The camp at Girassol Chitengo currently offers accommodations for 78 guests in cabanas and bungalows, a camping area and a vast network of trails for safaris. The camp also offers a restaurant, swimming pool, gift shop, walking areas and many tourist activities within the Gorongosa National Park. The Park has been recently expanded to include the peaks and rainforests of Mount Gorongosa.

MITUR and the GRP will work with the Visabeira Group to further develop the Park as one of the fastest growing tourist areas within Mozambique.The Visabeira Group will invest $2 million dollars in renovations, new lodging, and tourist facilities in order to help the GRP restore Chitengo and Gorongosa to its historical position as one of Africa's leading National Parks.

The Visabeira Group, SGPS, SA, was created in 1980 and it is today a multinational holding organized in five sub-holdings (Visabeira Global, Visabeira Indústria, Visabeira Turismo, Visabeira Imobiliária and Visabeira Participações Financeiras), with a well known presence in nine countries, trading its products and services in more than fifty nations, all over the world.

The Girassol Chitengo will become part of the Girassol hotels chain portfolio in Mozambique which includes hotels, aparthotels, tourist camps, resorts, catering and restaurants, all devoted to leisure and business tourism.  

The Ministry of Tourism of Mozambique and Gorongosa Restoration Project wish to congratulate the Visabeira Group, who pledges to ensure that all projects will adhere to the Park's high ecological standards for protecting the ecosystem and generating local employment, while establishing a sustainable tourism industry.

Marlin Lodge is proud to announce that they have officially become a Patron Supporter of the Endangered Wildlife Trust. (EWT).

The EWT will soon be launching their Dugong Emergency Protection project from the forthcoming guest and community Interactive Environmental Centre (exclusively) based at Marlin Lodge. The Management and team of Marlin Lodge are thrilled that the Lodge will soon host EWT’s Dugong Project manager as an in-house conservation expert to inform & educate guests about the surrounding marine environment, and the resident Endangered Dugongs. This will provide guests with an opportunity to experience the wonder and fragility of East Africa’s last viable Dugong population.

This association enables the team at Marlin Lodge, together with the support of visiting guests, to enhance the protection of one of Africa’s most endangered marine mammals, and will allow education of their community and guests to foster this worthy and critical cause.

From Nuarro Beach Lodge, Ilha de Mozambique area:

"I am delighted to announce the whale watching season at Nuarro has officially started with the first sighting by guests from their breakfast table! From now until late November, we can enjoy regular breaching displays by these magnificent creatures as they protect and nurture their young calves in our sheltered bay.   It brings back happy memories of my 6 nights stay in October and the incredible experience of swimming with a mother and her calf and I wonder if any of the guests will be lucky enough to get the chance to do the same.    Most guests are content to watch these fantastic creatures and their incredible display of breaching in the bay from the comfort of their private verandah or with a drink in hand relaxing by the bar. However, the more intrepid have enjoyed kayaking and diving between them as they show their splendid yet gentle strength. "

Starting September 1, Airlink will increase the number of flights between Johannesburg and Nampula from three to four flights a week.  The additional direct flight will operate on Thursdays, complementing the current flight schedule on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.  All flights are operated by 37-seat Embraer 135 regional jets.

Flights depart Johannesburg at 11h05, arriving in Nampula at 13h35. The return service departs Nampula at 14h40 arriving in Johannesburg at 16h45 to connect with domestic and international inbound and outbound flights.

Also starting September 1, Airlink will offer more seats on the direct service between Johannesburg and Tete due to demand, using the 83-seat AVRO85 regional jet on Thursdays, in addition to the current Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday schedule.  Flights depart Johannesburg at 10h50, arriving in Tete at 12h55.  Flights depart Tete at 13h40, arriving JNB at 16h00 offering seamless connections with domestic and international inbound and outbound flights.

Source: Tourism Update

Mozambique Airlines (LAM) has obtained “highly satisfactory” results from the latest IATA (International Air Transport Association) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), according to a LAM press release received by AIM on Monday.

The audit was held from 6-10 June. According to sources in the audit, quoted by the release, “the assessment held shows clearly that LAM is a company which in its operations complies with the technical and operational requirements established in the civil aviation industry. It is thus a safe company that its clients can trust”.

IOSA is the internationally accepted and recognised audit system for civil aviation. 370 air companies, accounting for 93 per cent of world air traffic have IOSA certification.

The audit looks at an airline’s business organisation and management system, flight operations, operational control, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, ground assistance, cargo operations and operational safety.  This is LAM’s third consecutive IOSA certificate. It was first certified in 2008, then again in 2009, and now in 2011.

Despite this result, LAM is still not allowed to operate within the airspace of the European Union. Perversely, the European Commission paid no attention to the IOSA certification, or to LAM’s impressive safety record, when it decided in April to ban all Mozambican air companies from flying to Europe.

In a press statement, the Commission announced that “all air carriers certified in Mozambique have been banned from flying into the EU ... because of significant safety deficiencies requiring decisive action”.  But these “safety deficiencies” were at the level, not of the air companies, but of the regulator, the Mozambican Civil Aviation Institute (IACM).

Despite the ban, LAM continues to fly to Europe, because its twice weekly flights from Maputo to Lisbon are operated under a “wet lease” agreement with a Portuguese ompany, EuroAtlantic Airways, which is not covered by the ban.

(SOURCE: AIM NEWS)