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Azura Boutique Retreats: The Perfect Post-Luxury Safari Unwind
Anyone who has experienced the mind-blowing otherworldliness of a luxury safari will know that you never want it to end. You spend a few days deep in the wilderness with guides, butlers and fellow guests at your camp, and it feels like a lifetime, with new friends made for life. This is why many of our guests choose to finish their safari by escaping to a beachside retreat. Here they unwind and reflect on their experiences whilst continuing to enjoy the opulence that luxury safari experiences leave you hungry for.
Unwind on Benguerra Island
Nestled in the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean off southern Mozambique lies Benguerra Island, a twenty-one square-mile piece of paradise. As the second-largest island in the breathtaking Bazaruto Archipelago, Benguerra sits just fourteen kilometres off the Mozambican mainland. Benguerra is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, which means visitors here are treated to abundant marine wildlife and unspoiled nature.
Sitting amongst the blue waters, pristine beaches and dense forest lands, you will find Azura Boutiques. Azura offers two luxury retreats to choose from, Azura Marlin Beach and Azura Benguerra Island.
Azura Marlin Beach: Vibrant, Understated Luxury
Newly re-opened in 2025, Azura Marlin Beach exudes a vibrant, laid-back charm, perfect for families, groups, or travellers seeking a fun and lively atmosphere. Perched on dunes along the southwest coast of Benguerra Island, it offers breathtaking views over the turquoise Indian Ocean and dazzling white-sand beaches.
Each of the ten luxury villas is thoughtfully crafted, blending contemporary design with authentic Mozambican flair to create a stylish yet comfortable oasis. Every villa is designed to immerse guests in the natural beauty of Benguerra. For larger groups or families, Villa Vista offers two separate suites, a spacious pool, and a private dining area. There is also a range of fun activities designed especially for children, adding an extra layer of fun to their stay.
The resort features a variety of relaxing spaces to unwind, including a luxury spa to soothe tired muscles. Guests enjoy poolside lunches, dinners under the stars, and the ever-popular weekly beach BBQ, a highlight for many visitors. For those looking to take a piece of the experience home, the on-site shop offers a curated selection of locally crafted gifts.
Azura Benguerra Island Boutique: Exclusive, Barefoot Luxury
The award-winning Azura Benguerra Island boutique is ideal for couples, honeymooners, and those seeking bespoke luxury, privacy, and an exclusive escape.
Renowned for its private beachfront villas, perfectly positioned to take in the turquoise waters, this slice of paradise blends modern comforts with eco-conscious sophistication and locally inspired luxury. Each villa features a private pool, beach sala, sunbathing deck, outdoor sofa, and dining table, thoughtfully designed with Mozambican artisanal flair. The open-plan indoor/outdoor layout ensures guests are immersed in the beauty of the Indian Ocean just steps away.
After a day of diving, fishing, swimming, or simply lounging by the beach, guests can unwind with a treatment at the rejuvenating spa or browse the on-site boutique for locally crafted treasures.
Dining at Azura boutiques is a highlight in itself. The cuisine is fresh, locally sourced from local fishermen, and expertly prepared. Guests can enjoy their meals at the Jellyfish Restaurant, with the option to dine indoors or al fresco while gazing out over the ocean. Wine lovers will also appreciate the impressive cellar, stocked with wines specially flown in from the owners’ château in France, a true hidden gem worth discovering.
Dedicated Butler Services: Bespoke to You
At Azura Boutique Retreats, personalised Mozambican butler-host service is a hallmark of the guest experience. Each villa is assigned a friendly and knowledgeable butler, dedicated to ensuring every detail of your stay is seamless and memorable.
Azura butlers take great care to understand your meal preferences and provide a different meal experience every day. Meals are served in a variety of picturesque settings around the resort, from the restaurant to the beach club to intimate dinners on your private deck or even in the wine cellar.
Unforgettable Indian Ocean Experiences
The best thing about visiting Azura’s boutiques is that you can do as little or as much as you like. For the more adventurous visitors, the options are endless. Sip a refreshing cocktail at sunset onboard a dhow (boat) whilst your local skipper guides you along the coastline. Unwind with a picnic lunch on a secluded sanbar and island hop to explore the ancient ruins of the once magnificent 1950s iconic hotel Santa Carolina, located on the smallest island in the archipelago.
And then there is the diving and fishing, which are so spectacular they deserve a little mention of their own.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling on Benguerra Island
Azura offers a five-star PADI dive centre and high-quality snorkelling equipment for water lovers. Benguerra Island is renowned as a premier destination for both beginner and experienced divers as it is home to some of the Indian Ocean’s most pristine and biodiverse reefs.
The island’s famous Two Mile Reef, a vibrant barrier reef, features a variety of dive sites with colourful hard and soft corals, dramatic underwater landscapes, and a range of depths to suit all skill levels.
Marine life around Benguerra remains beautifully untouched, offering guests the chance to encounter an abundance of wildlife, including the rare dugong, playful dolphins, and even migrating humpback whales during the season.
Deep Sea FishingBenguerra is a dream destination for anglers, offering some of the best game, reef, and bill fishing in the Indian Ocean. Azura Boutique Retreats offers tag-and-release fishing trips for all experience levels, giving guests the chance to reel in sought-after species such as Wahoo, Black Marlin, Dorado, and Sailfish.
All excursions are led by passionate, friendly local guides whose deep knowledge of the waters, enthusiasm for angling, and love for their craft ensure an unforgettable day out on the ocean.
Getting There: A Special Arrival They say that some of the places most worth visiting are the most interesting to get to. With this in mind, Benguerra Island will not disappoint. The island is accessible via a short helicopter flight or boat transfer from Vilanculos, which has an international airport with flights from many major cities.
Arriving via helicopter is an incredible experience where guests get untethered views of the island and area around them before receiving a hearty welcome from the local Azura team.
For more information about luxury safaris and barefoot luxury retreats, please speak with our team. We specialise in creating bespoke experiences tailored to you and visit every location we offer to ensure the very best experiences for our clients.