Anvil Bay is a private and exclusive luxury barefoot beach camp in Mozambique’s most southern national park. Miles of untouched beaches, an ocean teeming with marine life to explore, a dream destination for nature lovers in search of the perfect get away from it all. Beyond the sand dunes there are lakes, wetlands, forests and grasslands of the Maputo Special Reserve.
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Ecorating: 4.0
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
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This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
Sample Itinerary
There is a lot to keep you happy here… You can go kayaking, paddleboarding or ride the fat-bikes on the beach, not to miss the guided trails, fishing and an ocean safari – where dolphins, turtles and even manta rays and whale sharks may be seen. If you are lucky you can also see humpback whales (seasonal) and leatherback turtles that come ashore to nest in summer months.
Start your morning with a long beach walk before breakfast. Or you just want to take a relaxing stroll to the nearby lake and view the resident Hippos there are plenty of options for you.
To run a fat bike is great fun and best done around low tide when the going is a bit easier.
Discover the world below the surface of the sparkling Indian Ocean and go snorkelling. You will be provided with all equipment and an introduction to snorkelling techniques. You travel a short distance by boat to one of the exclusive coral reef snorkelling sites where you will be able to spend time observing the diverse marine life found at Anvil Bay.
Don’t miss an Ocean safari! Set sail on one of Anvil Bay’s boats for a 2 hour leisurely cruise along the coastline in search of marine animals big and small. Dolphins are frequent visitors to the shores, as are turtles and the occasional Whale shark & Manta Ray. Depending on the circumstances and the behaviour of the animal it may also be possible to enter the water and interact with some of these magnificent creatures. In season humpback whales can also be encountered up close and personal during their annual migration.
At anvil Bay you could either do angling on the Mozambican coastline. For those new to the sport there is a basic introduction, equipment and someone to guide you to the best spots. If you’re familiar with the techniques grab a rod and explore the options. Species typically caught from shore include three spot pompano, stumpnose, shad, bonefish, and trevally. Catch and release encouraged.
You could also do ocean fishing. Species such as black, blue and striped marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dorado, various tuna species, king and queen mackerel, kingfish and barracuda are all found here. You can do half day guided fishing charters from the unique jet powered wave boat.
From late October to late January each year you can witness the nesting of both Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles. The emergence of the hatchlings occurs from December through to late March. Anvil Bay participates in the turtle monitoring program and guests can take a guided turtle tour where with luck you’ll be able to view turtles laying their eggs.
You can do a safari to Maputo Special Reserve which is home to Southern Africa’s last remaining coastal herd of elephant and was originally established to protect this elephant population in the 1930s.
In 2010 the Mozambican government began a translocation program to Maputo Special Reserve in order to re-introduce species that were historically found in the area. Over a thousand animals have been reintroduced so far.
The translocations are backed up by aerial surveys and counts, which have been taking place annually since 2011. The 2014 census indicates that the introduced populations are steadily increasing. The species found to be the most abundant are hippo, reedbuck, elephant, crocodile, red duiker, blue wildebeest and zebra, while the giraffe, nyala, kudu, bushbuck and waterbuck populations are growing.
The accommodations, called Casinhas (a little home in Mozambique) are nestled in the canopy of the coastal forest just a few steps away from the secluded white sand beach. They blend a small footprint, natural materials and local craftsmanship with simple functional furnishings and fine linen.
Designed to be your home from home you will find a well stocked minibar and beverage station, luxury indoor and outdoor showers and a private dining deck en-suite.
As the sun sets join us for a pre-dinner drink before settling in to enjoy an excellent meal prepared by our chef who takes advantage of the fresh seafood and produce from local communities to prepare world class cuisine with a Mozambican flair.
You will be in the hands of amazing staff and surrounding community that you are supporting only by choosing to come here. Take the chance and do a community tour!
Trip details
Ecorating: 4.0
Season: All year round.
Airport: Maputo International (MPM)
Included: Full board & drinks, activities, private transfers.
Not included: Insurance, visas, items of personal nature, tipping etcetera.
Find out more about Mozambique: Maputo Special Reserve, is a nature reserve in Mozambique. The reserve is located on Maputo Bay, approximately 100 kilometers southeast of the city of Maputo, Mozambique. The Reserve is 77,400 hectares (191,000 acres) in extent and was originally proclaimed in 1932. The reserve will eventually form part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, which includes national parks from South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. At the moment it forms part of the Usuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Travel ethics: Since the post-independence departure of some 360 000 Portuguese, Mozambique’s 24 million people are mainly from black ethnic groups, the largest being the Macau and Shangaan. Nevertheless, it is the Portuguese language that dominates and around 50% of Mozambicans speak it as a first or second language, despite the 60 or so regional languages.
Traditional African religious beliefs are still strongly held in Mozambique though some 56% of Mozambicans regarding themselves as Christian. Music and dance feature prominently in Mozambican culture – the famous marimba is a local instrument – while the Portuguese influence on Mozambique’s spicy, Mediterranean-style cuisine will be obvious to visitors.
Mobile networks and email: Email and Internet access is provided. The mobile network works ok but may not be totally reliable.
Visa: MOST foreign nationals require a visa to enter Mozambique. Please check with the Mozambique Embassy in your country.
Time zone: GMT + 2
Vaccinations: Learn what vaccinations you need
Packing: Swimming attire, Hat, Shorts, T-shirts, Light pair of trousers, Light jumper (if you come in the cooler season), Sandals/flip flops, Prescription drugs
Toiletries bag, At least two good books, Spare glasses/sunglasses/contact lenses, Sunscreen protection, After sun if you forget the sunscreen!
Please note that your weight allowance on the light aircraft is 15kg and soft bags must be used!
Local Currency: Metical but USD is also widely accepted.
Weather: Weather Mozambique
Water: Clean water available at the lodge.
Safety: Your safety is our priority. Anvil Bay is considered a low crime destination.
For more information on travel advice: Travel tips Mozambique
Ecorating: 4.0
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
Does my trip make a difference?
Read more
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
$7.50 per person per night is paid as a community levy – our Concession fee is paid monthly to the Maputo Special Reserve, delivery of all supplies is paid to the local Dhow operators and 95% of our 31 staff are paid salaries, accommodated at the lodge and transported home for their week off.
Destination Information:
Anvil Bay is a tourism experience where the Chemucane Community is an equity partner in a top end tourism development. Opportunities to meet the affected community forum exist, yet, like the other interactions, require planning and prior arrangements. The idea would be to possibly spend one day interacting with the community and the other experiencing the unique environment in which the lodge is located.
One of the solutions to saving the worlds dwindling areas of wilderness relies on creating sustainable enterprise where local communities and national parks coexist. The Mozambique Government’s landmark decision to grant the Chemucane Community an ecotourism concession in the Maputo Special Reserve has resulted in such an opportunity. The Chemucane Tourism Company – CTC is a joint venture formed between the Chemucane community and the Bell Foundation, a philanthropic trust established for the benefit of the local community. With funding from the World Bank and the Bell and Ford Foundations,
CTC which has built and operates Anvil Bay beach camp, has already created great benefit for the community in terms of skills transfer, construction and hospitality jobs and the purchase of local materials, produce and services. In an area with little previous economic opportunity a sustainable enterprise now exists.
All benefits from your holiday accrue to the community while concession fees go to support conservation efforts in the park making Anvil Bay the perfect responsible tourist destination.
