Mozambique beach villa vacation

Planet

Many of Africa's protected wildlife areas were once the domain of trophy hunters. Camps and basic infrastructure were set up to accommodate wealthy hunters and the revenue accrued assured that the areas were protected from cattle farming and habituation. Traditionally, trophy hunting was the only means available to acquire the vast sums of money needed to keep the wildlife lands from being developed.

Thankfully, not any more.

Think of safaris today and one conjures up an image of excited khaki-clad tourists in a traditional game vehicle, stopping to photograph animals and learn about the bush from their guide.

Because of the increase in interest from travelers around the world to go on an African safari, far more of the local communities around these wildlife areas are actively involved in the protection of their natural heritage.

Many communities close to wildlife reserves benefit from secondary employment directly from tourism in these protected wildlife areas – souvenir sales, the supply of fresh produce to lodges and camps to name but a few. Instead of trophy hunting keeping reserves open and wildlife able to roam freely, safari tourism is doing this. Safari tourism saves Africa's wildlife by creating much needed local employment and revenue to the extent that governments find these areas worth preserving.

We provide clients with information about environmentally-friendly tourism and choices that can be made while still enjoying a bucket-list vacation – leave sea shells on the beach, don't visit 'petting' parks or go on a shark cage diving. The guides that we work with teach guests the problems associated with feeding wild animals and other important environmental concerns in each specific area of travel.

The introduction of Solar Power technology to Coral Lodge in 2018 was the first step forward to becoming Mozambique’s first off-grid hotel or resort. We have successfully introduced solar lighting to the lodge as well as to the pathways between the villas and main lodge.
The next phase planned is a solar-powered boiler, as well as solar-powered air-conditioning throughout. Solar power technology has proven itself to be a reliable, economical and effective way of reducing one’s carbon footprint and contributing to climate change.

We are very proud to bring the first wind turbine technology of its kind to Coral Lodge, and to Mozambique. This system combines wind turbine technology paired with cleverly designed solar panels. The sound of the Ecolibri wind blades is undetectable (< 20 DB) even in the presence of strong winds since blades cannot rotate at a speed higher than the wind itself and consequently do not cause any type of noise. The turbine isplaced 1km away from the lodge. This exciting project which is funded by Ecolibri guides Coral Lodge into a new era of green technology and ensures that we have very limited impact on the environment, and are dedicated to responsible tourism.

Coral Lodge has a vision of eliminating the use of plastic as much as possible from every day lodge operations. In 2019 we introduced our water-bottling plant, which will replace single-use plastic bottles with branded glass bottles that will be recycled hygienically and refilled daily with clean and filtered water. This project is the yet another significant sustainable tourism initiative by Coral Lodge in contribution to our aim to become the leading eco-destination in Mozambique.

Where possible on our itineraries, we encourage non-motorized activities – city biking, trail road running, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing etc. Not only are these CO2 free but they encourage a healthy lifestyle.

The introduction of Solar Power technology to Coral Lodge in 2018 in partnership with Eco-Libri, was the first step forward to becoming Mozambique’s first off-grid hotel or resort. We have successfully introduced solar lighting to the lodge as well as to the pathways between the villas and main lodge. The next phase planned is a solar-powered boiler, as well as solar-powered air-conditioning throughout. Solar power technology has proven itself to be a reliable, economical and effective way of reducing one’s carbon footprint and contributing to climate change.

Activities center around sailing in a traditional dhow, snorkeling around the shore. The crystal-clear lagoon provides the perfect snorkeling experience, for those that do not like to venture too far away from shore. Stand-up Paddle Boarding has been a sport of choice for hundreds of years for Polynesians, and in recent decades, with surfers, for training purposes. Over the past few years, it has become a favorite water sports activity worldwide.

Coral Lodge is the perfect playground for both beginner and advanced Stand-up Paddle Boarders.
Canoes are provided for use on a complimentary basis. The canoes are designed for either one person or two persons to share paddling duties, and have more opportunities for vacation selfies! . Discover the beauty of the lagoon, our bright sandy beaches, and the meandering mangroves Bottlenose dolphins and Humpback dolphins are also frequent sightings during July through to September.

Coral Lodge offers Half-day sailing experiences to view the whales and dolphins by traditional sailing boat.

People

We recognises that employment created through tourism helps to stop poaching, raises education and skill levels, and uplifts local communities in and near the tourism hotspots. Our company policy is to use local suppliers that employ staff directly from the communities around them. We use local guides because they are the most knowledgeable specialists in the area, and by employing them, the local community in turn benefits.

The presence of Coral Lodge in Mossuril Bay has had a hugely positive impact on the surrounding communities, especially Cabaceira Pequena. We currently employ over fifty staff, most of whom support a minimum of 6 – 15 people each. We are proud to provide a boost to the economy of the villages. Coral Lodge guests are encouraged to visit these communities and learn about the history as well as the cultures and lifestyles of the local people. Many of our guests ask how they can get involved, or how they can make a difference, and so we have decided to create the Coral Lodge Foundation.

This foundation, with the help of contributions from our guests, will be able to assist with various projects where necessary. One of those projects is the “We Believe in Love Project”.

Thanks to Gito and the We Believe in Love project; we built a 35m2 vegetable garden in Cabaceira Pequena, which has become a source of fresh, organic vegetables for our lodge. Gito and three others from the village grow the vegetables and in turn, sell the fresh produce to us at Coral Lodge as a source of income.

The need to build a new school was the first project that inspired the creation of the “We Believe in Love” foundation. The best way to change the world is through education. We felt this was very important for the community to have a school that was inviting for them to attend. Through donations that given to the project we were able to create a place that inspired the children to attend regularly, and in turn motivate the teachers too.

The community of Cabaceira Pequena was missing a place for everyone to come together on a social level. We built the community house to serve as a place that everyone can enjoy movies/soccer games and other social events. We called it “Casa do Sporting.”

Our assistant manager, Valentim, has a son that sadly was born with defects. He is unable to walk and needs constant care. Since he was born, Valentim carried his son everywhere. With the kind help of a sponsor from Portugal who kindly sponsored the wheelchair, and the assistance of TAP Portugal, who transported the chair from Lisbon to Maputo, and finally IRISFAST who transported the chair from Maputo to his house. The chair has made a considerable difference to his son’s and family life.