Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort

Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort sits on the western shore of Bazaruto, the largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique. The island is about 35 kilometres long and lies some 30 kilometres from the mainland, inside a national park that has been protected since 1971. There are no shops or roads to speak of: just tall sand dunes, freshwater lakes, coastal bush and long, quiet beaches facing a shallow turquoise bay.

The resort has 44 villas built from reed, thatch and timber and spread along the shore. Beach Villas open straight onto the sand, Beach Pool Villas add a private plunge pool, and the two-bedroom Sea View Pool Villas sit higher up with decks over the bay, which suits families and friends travelling together. A single Two Bedroom Anantara Pool Villa has its own driveway, pool and a sunken Jacuzzi in the main bedroom. Every villa has air conditioning, mosquito netting, a minibar, a safe and indoor and outdoor showers.

Stays are sold on an all-inclusive basis. Golfinho serves breakfast and themed dinners, Sonhos is the seaside pool bar and restaurant, and Clube Naval sits over the water for long lunches and sundowners. Designer Dining sets private tables on a sandbank or the beach, and Spice Spoons cooking classes start with a walk through the resort's vegetable garden and orchard.

Most days revolve around the water. The archipelago is known for diving and snorkelling at sites such as Two Mile Reef, tag-and-release deep-sea fishing, dhow sailing and trips to Pansy Island and Paradise Island. Humpback whales pass through in the winter months, turtles come ashore to nest, and dugongs are sometimes seen in the seagrass channels. On land there is dune boarding, horse riding on the beach, birding around the coastal lakes, tennis, a gym and the Anantara Spa.

The resort supports nearby island communities through a scholarship programme for young people from Zenguelemo, Pangaia and Sitone, an annual charity run that helped complete a local health centre, school building with the local government, and village water points. Guests can also take part in Pack for a Purpose and the One Less Thing donation scheme.