Anantara Hotels & Resorts is excited to announce the opening of Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort & Spa. Idyllically located on a tiny private island in the jewel-like Quirimbas Archipelago off the northern coast of Mozambique, the new property offers a paradise escape that is naturally exclusive. Just one kilometre long and 300 metres wide, the 12-villa resort combines sophisticated simplicity with unrivalled hospitality.
Medjumbe Island is reached by a 45 minute scenic light aircraft transfer from Pemba International Airport on the mainland, which is accessible from Mozambique’s capital Maputo or by international flights from Johannesburg or Dar es Salaam.
Currently being considered for World Heritage Site status, the Quirimbas Archipelago is undoubtedly Mozambique’s best-kept secret – a 250 kilometre string of tropical islands that are both marine wonderland and historical melting pot. Environmentally pristine, the archipelago’s 32 islands are surrounded by dazzling coral reefs and a wealth of untouched marine life. Within its waters, the 1,500 square kilometre Quirimbas National Park provides sanctuary for sea turtles, dolphins and whales, as well as tropical and game fish.
A boutique collection of 12 thatched Beach Pool Villas line a postcard perfect beach and reveal panoramic Indian Ocean views. With direct beach access, a private pool and hammock, the charmingly furnished interiors blend comfortable luxury with Anantara’s signature modern amenities to offer the ultimate tropical island retreat.
Guest areas are stylish and understated, designed to provide the privacy that guests are seeking – whether lazing around the pool, sipping cocktails in the tropical bar area, or relaxing in the informal Bahari Lounge Bar whilst enjoying the mesmerising views.
At a resort that feels miles away from the rest of the world, chefs dish up the kind of culinary diversity that promises to entice and satisfy. From local specialties to refined western classics, the Jahazi Restaurant serves guests with endless highlights of delectable seafood feasts and mouthwatering indulgence.
For a unique dining experience, guests can indulge with Anantara’s signature Dining by Design experience. Choosing from a selection of gourmet options or collaborating with a dedicated chef to craft their own menu, dinner is served at a table for two in an idyllic location – from a secluded, feet-in-the-sand set-up on the beach, to a sand spit under the stars, with a private butler tending to every need.
The Anantara Spa is a private retreat featuring a treatment suite and en-suite bathroom, where intuitive hands pamper guests with an enticing spa menu encompassing the most revered eastern and western techniques. Carefully selected therapies ensure a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating pampering experience. The Glacial Marble Massage combines the wellness properties of cooling stones with the ancient healing powers of touch to release specific points of stress. The Moya Crystal Experience comprises salt poultice exfoliation, a crystal gem massage, followed by hair and scalp therapy. The indulgent “Me Time” personalised journey, offers bespoke treatment sequences tailored precisely to the guest’s goal and mood.
A paradise for romantic escapades, ocean thrills and natural treasures both above and below the water, the startling beauty of the Quirimbas Archipelago comes with a sense of extraordinary adventure. A nature lover’s paradise, most of the activities at Anantara Medjumbe Island enable guests to delight in the island’s natural wonders. For those who enjoy water sports, the resort offers windsurfing, water skiing, tubing, along with both wake-and knee-boarding. A hand crafted dhow sailing boat invites guests on a sunset voyage of ocean discovery or to a remote island for a Robinson Crusoe-style picnic. Nature and bird-lovers can spend time exploring the island’s unspoiled shores and watching the many Palaearctic migrants and waders that frequent the area.
In the clear, tropical waters of the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, guests will discover a marine ecosystem that is absolutely pristine. With unexplored coral reefs and an astounding diversity of marine species, the resort boasts some of the finest diving in the world. The 12 known dive sites offer a range of underwater experiences that are simply breathtaking, taking in fringing reefs, coral banks and vertical and sloping reef walls. A dazzling array of fish from Moray Eels and Stingrays to Barracuda, Kingfish and other pelagic gamefish can be seen whilst diving here, and dolphins are commonly sighted. Leatherback, Loggerhead and Green Turtles are often seen in the water, coming ashore to lay their eggs on the sandy island beaches – often right in front of the beachfront villas. Humpback Whales also frequent the island waters between July and October.
