Rio Azul Beach lodge
Vilanculous, Inhassoro Luxury Accommodation

Rio Azul Lodge is located on the banks of the Govuro River in Mozambique, Africa. Rio Azul, meaning “Blue River”, overlooks the estuary and is about 2km from the Govuro River mouth. The lodge faces west and enjoys spectacular sunsets in a quiet and peaceful setting.

Rio Azul offers luxury lodge accommodation including six twin chalets, and two luxury villas which sleep six adults and six children. Each villa has its own swimming pool and is situated along pristine beach shores.

Although Rio Azul is primarily a fishing lodge, the lodge also offers good bird watching opportunities, kayaking and snorkelling to name but a few of the lodge’s beach holiday activities. We also offer a great fine dining experience and luxurious facilities.

Accommodation:

Great care was given to the design of Rio Azul, and much emphasis given to the eco-friendliness of the accommodation. The Chalets and Villas are built and decorated in an Afro-chic elegance and style and to this end no expense has been spared on the furnishings which reflect luxury and essential comfort.

At the heart of Rio Azul is the “living-dining” area where many ‘great tales’ are told while sipping away on an exotic drink, it offers a sometimes welcome retreat from the African sun and is a great place to retreat into a corner with a good book. Our main deck has a pool and the best sunsets you are likely to experience in your lifetime. And the view from the 31-foot bar is possibly one of the most spectacular in Africa.

• Chalets:
  Rio Azul has six elegant, thatch style, beach chalets, with sublime views over the estuary. Facilities include electrical plug-points and fans. And all are equipped with fans, mosquito nets, en-suit showers, twin basins, night lamps and full cupboards.
• Villas:
  The two Villa’s, also of thatch and wood construction both overlook the Estuary, from a private deck with pool. They both have a private lounge with overhead fans and full kitchen for self catering guests (fridge, microwave, freezers, oven, stove, crockery and cutlery etc). The Villa is divided into 3 rooms sleeping 6 adults, which are all en-suit. And also has a guest bathroom with shower. The Villa also has a loft with beds for up to 6 children. Electrical plug-points, fans, mosquito nets, night lamps and full cupboards are all standard
• Amenities
  • Rio Azul Lodge has a small shop that sells items such as batteries, sun block, fishing shirts, sunglasses, hats, lures, line and other fishing tackle. The lodge has electricity supplied by a generator and plug points for charging camera batteries, laptops, etc.
  • The fully stocked bar is available at all times.
  • Transport to and from the Lodge can be arranged on demand.
  • Flat screen TV with DSTV and video facilities.
  • Fishing equipment and boats for hire.
  • The Lodge has electricity supplied by a generator and all rooms have plug points for charging electronics etc.
  • Digital safes are provided in each room for valuables.

Location:

Rio Azul overlooks the Govuro River Estuary and is about 2km from the river mouth. The Govuro River mouth is 80km north of Vilanculos as the crow flies. The River runs north from Vilanculos and past Inhassoro and enters the sea at Bartholomew Diaz point, at the northern end of the Bazaruto Archipelago. The mangrove estuary system covers an area of around fifty square kilometres and the waterways of the main and sub-rivers extend for more than a hundred kilometres.

Rio Azul offers visitors a chance to fish the endless stretches of estuary canals and channels as well as view the abundant birdlife in this mangrove region while at the same time enjoying the beautiful, unspoilt beaches longing to be explored in this paradise setting.

GPS Location:
21"16'40.23 S 35"06'34.80 E

Getting There:

• Flying
  From OR Tambo Int. Airport (Johannesburg), to Vilanculos Int. Airport, Mozambique. Transport to the Lodge is arranged prior to arrival and an air-conditioned vehicle will transport you to the lodge via a spectacular beach drive to Bartholomew Dias Point and The Lodge.
  • Pelican Air Tel. 011-973 3649
    Daily flights from OR Thambo Int. And flights Tuesday & Friday from KMIA to Vilanculos.
  • LAM Tel. 011-622 4889
    Flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from OR Thambo Int.
    And Tuesday & Saturday from Lanseria Airport.
• Self Drive
  From JHB & DBN, 16 hour (1 600km) drive via Maputo, Xai Xai and Vilanculos. 80km North of Vilanculos, turn right towards Inhassoro (14km), and a 24km beach drive to The Lodge (permits required- arranged by our Lodge prior to arrival).
  • Engen Garage before the Border
    This would be the recommended place to purchase Third Party Insurance; Global Alliance (GA) does most of the Border paperwork for you, making the process a little quicker. The cost would be R150.00 for insurance. At this garage you can also purchase the following required travelling accessories:
  • Reflective Jacket
    • Two Red Triangles
    • ZA Sticker
• At the Border
  The following steps are required to cross the border. There will be several people at the border that will try and assist you at a low cost, if you choose to use one please take care as they tend to cost a bit more at the end.
  • S.A. Border: Counter 5: Vehicle Registration – you will need your SARS forms and your vehicle ticket.
  • Counter 6: Passports – Please make sure that all travellers are present as they will not stamp unless this is done.
  • Moz Border: Counter 14 – Passports
  • Counter 18: Vehicle Registration – This will cost R15.00 to get the form, the form is in English and Portuguese, once completed you must submit back at the counter to get the last stamp.
  • Note: GA will provide you with contact details for a police officer and lawyer should anything happen this would be your first contact point.

Activities:

• Fishing
  Rio Azul is one of the few venues along the Mozambique coast where one can access deep water with strong currents close to the beach. The point at the river mouth has deep water right at its edge, and big game fish move into easy casting distance of the shore to feed. Our large fishing boat “Fazer” is perfect for a variety of types of Deep-sea fishing. With a supply of good fishing spots not far off the coast a huge variety of fish can be caught here. Most commonly being Mackerel, Cuta, King Fish, Queenfish as well as seasonal Marlin and Sailfish. These varietals can be caught using a variety of different techniques, i.e. lure, fly, bait or trace fishing. As well as Deep-sea fishing, the Govuro River estuary offers many species of fish for light tackle fishing and fly fishing. Fish such as Snapper and Grunter are most commonly found here, but young game fish such as Barracuda and other varietals such as Rock cod and Honeycomb rays can frequently be found here too.
• Snorkelling and Diving
  Rio Azul does have minor reefs in the immediate vicinity; and we arrange exciting day excursions/picnics to the well known Paradise Island and the surrounding reefs where you will be entertained by a wide variety of bejewelled fish and extraordinarily shaped corals. A kaleidoscope of colour greets you both above and below the ocean. Magnificent reefs, home to the turtles that nest nearby, whales, dolphins and if you are lucky the elusive dugong. The reefs are protected, unspoilt and pristine offering multitudes of colourful fish which are bound to remain a highlight of your Rio Azul experience for many years to come.
• Dining
  Rio Azul offers an exquisite range of delights. Freshly caught fish, calamari, lobster, prawns and crab are on offer regularly, tantalizingly prepared together with exotic Portuguese spices and traditional cuisine. Meals are relaxed affairs served in our dining area where you are always assured of unsurpassed personal attention. A “dining under the stars” experience can be arranged for private parties or romantic dinners, as well as picnics on the beach.
• Other
  • Kayaking
  • Bird Watching
  • Hiking
  • Trail walking
  • Wind Surfing
  • Skiing and Wakeboarding
  • Dhow Cruises
  • Island excursions (Day & Overnight)
  • (Guides available for all the above)

Rates:

• Whether you are staying in Rio Azul’s Luxurious Villas or Chalets, your Daily rate will include:
  • All meals daily
  • Unlimited use of estuary boat per room
  • Use of sea kayaks
  • Tea & coffee
  • Snorkelling on request
• Rates Exclude:
  • Drinks
  • Boat hire for deep sea fishing
  • Snorkelling at sea
  • All petrol for estuary boats and deep sea fishing boats
  • Mozambique airport tax
  • Flights
• Click here for 2012 Rates (SA)

Make an Enquiry: