Zavora Lodge Hot

Zavora Lodge has 6 new en suite rooms that have recently been built on top of the primary dune with a magnificent views of the Indian Ocean, inside the Lodge there is a bar and restaurant, and outside beachfront houses, bungalows and campsites, these are generally for the South African guests that stay here on a self catering basis (as they can drive and bring their provisions with them), there is a small shop just outside the Lodge where you can pick up any forgotten essentials, but please don’t expect the wide range that we have here in the UK. A laundry service is available upon request.

Zavora Lodge is considered to be a rustic natural resort with no frills, its the excellent fishing, unspoilt beauty of miles and miles of coastline and adrenaline diving is what makes Zavora Lodge a special destination.

Zavora has two very long, accessible reef systems. The "deep reef" system runs parallel to the coast approximately 10 kilometres off shore. Multiple dive sites have been identified on this system, varying in average depth from 24 to 45 meters. This reef system is quite literally packed with life, with enormous shoals game fish, Manta Ray cleaning stations and an extremely healthy shark population, including Bull, Tiger, Dusky and Blacktip sharks.

A 3 night stay here compliments a tour in Tofo perfectly, but please note Zavora has no mains electricity and power is only generated between the hours of 8am until 12pm, and then 4pm until 10pm, you can adjust quickly to this routine.

Accommodation at Zavora lodge is simple, 6 rooms en suite rooms with either single or twin beds, mosquito net, ceiling fan, plenty of storage, a personal safe and a partially open air bathroom, open shower all with hot & cold water, WC and sink.

Outside your room you have a couple of chairs where you can sit and enjoy the slow evenings or stunning sunrises, the views of the Indian Ocean from this elevated position are absolutely amazing. There’s a small communal kitchen with a fridge and stove where you are able to prepare fresh fruit, teas and coffees and store anything that needs to be kept cool, you also have a nice decked area with tables and chairs to relax with fellow guests.

There are several options of reaching Zavora depending from where your international flight is originating. If you are taking a few days or week in SA first on SharkWeek for example there is now a daily flight from Johannesburg to Inhambane, if you wish to fly as direct as you can from the UK you can fly into Maputo with Ethiopian Airways or TAP and then fly or drive up.

As there are a few options available and we suggest this is discussed with your advisor to see what flying options best suit you. Zavora Lodge is situated 2 hours south of Inhambane airport and 4 hours north of Maputo .

Zavora lodge has a small restaurant with a good choice on the menu ranging from locally caught fish and shellfish, to steaks and salads, there is a bar offering local and international drinks, a lovely shaded terrace to eat and drink on with unspoilt views of the Indian Ocean as well as an inside eating area. The bar area has a TV and pool table.

Due to its remote location there is very little to do at Zavora when you’re not diving other than sit back and relax, enjoy the view or chat to the sport fishermen that often pop into the bar.

Should diving not be available due to adverse weather conditions the dive centre can organised a trip into the local towns or villages for a bit of sight seeing.

All diving in Zavora is undertaken by RIB and launches are from the beach, generally 2 dives are taken in the morning and sometimes when weather permits a 3rd dive is available in the afternoon.

The area has two very long and accessible reef systems, as well as the wreck of the Klipfontein.

The “deep reef” system runs parallel to the coast approximately 10 kilometres off shore. Multiple dive sites have been identified on this system, varying in average depth from 24 to 45 meters. This reef system is quite literally packed with life, with enormous shoals of game fish, Manta Ray cleaning stations and an extremely healthy shark population, including Bull, Tiger, Dusky and Blacktip sharks.

The “inshore reef” system lies just one kilometre off shore, north of Zavora, running parallel to the dunes known as locally as Red Sands and White Sands. The Red Sands area features multiple Manta Ray cleaning stations in 12 to 14 metres, and both parts of this system offer stunning Macro life and underwater topography, as well a wide variety of game fish, potato and brindle bass, plus more opportunities for shark encounters.

Average depths range from 12 to 18 metres with pinnacles coming up to 6 meters, both of these reef systems are quite literally kilometres long and to date, not all parts have been completely explored and mapped. Exploration diving in the area will be available to divers who are interested in participating. More or less in between these two systems, about 6 kilometres off-shore, lays the wreck of the Klipfontein.

The seasonal Humpback Whale migration begins in July and finishes in October, during this period it is common to see and hear large numbers of Humpback Whales in the area, and with optimal conditions in water encounters are possible. The best months for Humpbacks are normally August and September.

Other dive highlight includes encounters with an extremely healthy turtle population, including Loggerhead, Hawksbill and Leatherback Turtles, as well as relatively common sightings of the Small Eyed Ray, the worlds largest known species of Sting Ray, which to date, has only been seen alive in its natural environment along the coast of southern Mozambique.