Mozambique: Pemba on mainland: Guludo ***

A tropical, barefoot paradise, on a deserted, powder white beach. Lapping turquoise waters, rustling palms and a sultry sun guarantee complete tranquillity. Guludo has a rustic exclusivity with spacious, beach-front bandas and an intimate feel with character filled service and an exotic, fresh seafood-based cuisine. The perfection of Guludo is sealed in its’ design, ensuring the presence of each guest actively benefits the local community and environment just by being there.

Squeezed between the dazzling Indian Ocean and wild African bush, Guludo Beach Lodge overlooks undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Mozambique. In the north of the Quirimbas National Park; Guludo boasts incredible wildlife, both above and below the warm waters edge. Perfectly situated to discover these wonders, you can dive the pristine coral reefs, explore the islands, soak up the rich local culture and take in the vast African bush.

Guludo has been built using strict ethical principles that have ensured our host communities and environment receive maximum benefit through the lodge. Guludo has recently won an award for its innovative design, which develops on local architectural styles, using exclusively local materials guaranteeing minimal environmental impacts.

How to get there?

2-hour drive from Pemba airport to Guludo

Fly from Pemba to Matemo Island and transfer by boat (20 minutes) to Guludo (mainland). We suggest you drive one way and fly back from Matemo (depending on flight availability).

Accommodation

Step off your veranda to an idyllic beach as far as your eyes can see. All bandas have been designed by award-winning architects Cullum & Nightingale who have ingeniously blended luxury with a mix traditional and contemporary styles and with the highest of environmental and social integrity.

Each of our bandas over look Guludo's beautiful beach and enable you to watch the sun spectacularly rise over neighbouring Rolas Island through bleary eyes from the comfort of your own, extravagant king-sized bed. Only the occasional monkey playing in your hammock can disturb the peace!

Explore the two types of accommodation we have on offer; our famous, award-winning tents and new eco bandas.

The tented bandas:

The beauty of our popular, award-winning, tents lies in their openness; enabling guests to be safe inside a spacious, stylishly furnished tent while feeling as if they were actually outside, able to watching the moon or sun rise over the sea and hear all the intriguing noises of the African bush.

The spacious tented bandas give breathtaking panoramic views through their netted walls. The raised bedrooms sit under an expansive palm-thatched roof, opening upwards and outwards to make the most of cooling sea breeze. The rooms are furnished with beautifully designed furniture inspired by the irregular shadows made by the tall palms overhead. In each tent is either an extravagant king-sized bed or two generous twin beds. Each tent has a quirky alfresco marbled bathroom with hot water delivered twice a day.

The eco bandas:

A high roof shelters a spacious veranda encompassing a stylish Swahili-inspired waiting seat, hammock and traditional sun loungers. Double doors lead inside next to a discrete window (reminiscent of a gun turret) which sits above a writing desk for the morning delivery of tea and pastries. The bedroom is raised with a king-sized bed under an extravagant, hand-crafted mosquito net, ensuring the most is made of the dazzling sea views.

Behind the bedroom itself is a large bathroom with twin sinks, a mirror ingeniously carved out of the banda wall and a shower big enough for a footy team! Positioned to the side of the private bathroom and up a small staircase is on the best views in the lodge... the view from the loo! The stable door-style shutters allow one to decide on how proud to be versus the view they would like to see.

Activities:

Scuba Diving

Guludo is perfectly positioned to dive some of the best, and most pristine, coral reefs in the world.

Opposite Guludo's calm bay is the Quirimbas Archipelago's fringing reef with breath-taking coral diversity as well as copious schools of game fish, turtles, sharks and, at the right time of year, humpback whales. With vast diving diversity Guludo offers a range of diving from sheltered tranquil coral gardens to drop-offs with strong currents.

Rolas Island

Rolas is our most popular activity and it’s not hard to see why. Just a short sail from Guludo, this tiny island is surrounded by crystal clear waters with breath-taking reefs to snorkel and a stunning white sandy peninsular. Local legend says the island is owned by the sacred, resident coconut crabs, the largest crabs in the world, who dictate the weather and the fate of anyone who dares upset them. During your visit to Rolas you will meet some of the Guludo fishermen who use the island as temporary base and, if you dare, go with “old man coconut crab” into the Rolas Coral Rock Forest to see some of the infamous crabs for yourself. In the middle of the island you’ll find a simple shade with a spectacular, panoramic view, perfect for whale spotting (July to September) and spying the two resident fish eagles.

Ibo Island

An island stopped in time; a throw back to a time of colonialism, slaves, exploitation and silversmiths. Ibo Island has a chequered, yet fascinating past. As you walk through the ancient Portuguese town, it doesn’t take much to imagine how this derelict city was once a fashionable hotspot in its heyday, from the mid 1700s on. The grand Portuguese villas, with intricate ironwork, high ceilings and large verandas are now crumbling and slowly being reclaimed by nature. Just a stone’s through from the city centre is the famous pentagonal fort of St Jao Baptista. Originally built for defence, the fort was soon utilised for the abominable slave trade. The fort now tells the tragic story of the countless lives lost and exploited; the foundations to the lavish Portuguese city. However, the fort also shows hope for Ibo’s future with old and young silversmiths using the same ancient Arabic techniques as their forefathers to make and sell jewellery to the growing number of visitors to the island. The hope lies in the responsible and respectful development of the island so history doesn’t repeat itself with tourism taking the place of slavery as the exploiter.

Elephant look out:

Take in the wild African bush while watching the sunset & sipping a G&T. Perched on the top of a rocky hill the peace and beauty of the elephant lookout will take your breath away. This viewpoint overlooks the northern part of the Quirimbas National park and is one of the very few places possible to view elephants during the day. Also, here you are likely to see antelopes, primates, warthogs and, if you’re lucky, some of the large cats. Leaving mid afternoon you can sit back, sip an ice-cool beer, soak in the beauty and watch the sun slowly disappear over the horizon.

Guludo Village

A glimpse of life in rural Northern Mozambique. This is by no means a normal "village tour," you won't find anyone or anything staged or sanitised, just village life as it is. First stop in the village is normally to one of the small shops, where you will be able to buy some material to later take over to the tailor. Then you'll walk past the school, the chief's house, the mosque and visit a typical home. However, we can guarantee, your lasting memories will be of welcoming smiles and hordes of laughing children running after you!

Beach archery

Traditional archery on the beach. Learn how to use a traditional bow and arrow with expert tuition from an ex-hunter.

Beauty on the beach

Experience a traditional "muciro" face mask, hair braiding and a local-style massage.During treatments Guludo's finest potter, Zora, makes a variety of pots to sell to guests.

Sunset cruise

Go for a sunset sail on our famous traditional dhow, Mustajabo, made by hand in Guludo village. Watch the sun set over the land while sipping an ice cool beer and watching our incredibly agile crew enthusiastically leap around Mustajabo tweaking her sails.

Itinerary: 7 nights

DAY 1: Flight from Johannesburg International airport to Maputo. Check in for your domestic flight to Pemba in the north. 2 hour car transfer to Guludo Beach Lodge where you will be staying for 7 nights on a full board basis (including snacks and picnics, tea and coffees and laundry service).

DAY 8: Boat transfer to Matemo Island and boar your small plane to fly to Pemba airport. Check in for your flight back to Maputo. Check in for your flight back to Johannesburg.

Prices include

International flights (departure from Johannesburg), accommodation at Guludo Beach Lodge on a full board basis including snacks and picnics, teas and coffees, laundry service and airport-hotel return transfers. Guludo Beach Lodge is also donating 5% to their associated charity, Nema.