Extraordinary Ocean Encounters and Romantic Island Escapades at Medjumbe Island Resort

Extraordinary Ocean Encounters and Romantic Island Escapades

In the remote Quirimbas Archipelago, currently being considered for World Heritage Site status, the 1,500 sqm Quirimbas National Park is environmentally pristine. 32 lush islands are surrounded by dazzling coral reefs, abundant with marine life. In this extraordinary paradise, Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort immerses travellers in Mozambique’s best-kept secrets.

Ocean thrills, island escapism and soaring panoramas

Tiny and private, Medjumbe Island’s tropical landscape and azure waters provide a rich, untouched playground. Bird watchers can head to the island’s tidal pools to spot exotic and rare bird species. Water sport enthusiasts can water ski, wakeboard or knee-board across sparking waves. Dhow sailing boat lessons offer couples an invigorating bonding experience, with the option of both taking up the challenge of mastering traditional techniques, or one relaxing onboard and cheering on their partner as a team of three skippers explains how to work the ropes, check for wind direction, control the sail and steer. For romantics, a sunset cruise across the bay in a traditional dhow sail boat is savored with sparkling wine and finger foods.

From one isolated paradise to another, Quissanga Island is just a 15-minute boat ride away. A picnic here offers a tailored menu of salad and barbeque delights with beverages, served by a personal waiter and chef at a shady table in a coconut plantation, followed by a stroll around the tiny deserted island, a swim in crystal clear water and snorkelling amongst tropical fish. For an unforgettable night alone, the Star Bed Sleep Out experience invites couples to reconnect with the beauty of nature and one another, sleeping outside in a four-poster bed under the stars.

For a unique bird’s eye perspective of the Quirimbas Archipelago, helicopter sightseeing tours soar over a breathtaking tapestry of jewel-colored waters and verdant primeval forest. Authentic tours of Ibo Island offer two fascinating guided itineraries, both beginning with a helicopter adventure. The historical experience offers an inspirational walk through Stone Town’s important heritage buildings, learning about the turbulent history of the ancient Fort of São João Baptista and observing silversmiths handcrafting exquisite jewelry using ancient Arab techniques and tools found nowhere else in the world, with opportunities to purchase unique gifts. The cultural experience introduces visitors to charismatic Ibo locals and the island’s thriving tribal customs, after which a guided village walk reveals the daily life of the Kimwani people, how Muslim and African traditions have blended to create a unique way of life, as well as a visit to the local witch doctor and an island face mask to take home.

Encounter extraordinary diving and giants of the ocean

The Quirimbas Archipelago boasts some of the world’s most spectacular and undiscovered scuba diving opportunities. The underwater conditions here are excellent. Warm year round, the water temperature hovers between 25 and 29 degrees Celsius, and an average visibility of 20 meters reaches as far as 50 meters in summer. The vibrant coral reefs and bountiful marine life in this part of the Indian Ocean are only accessible from Anantara Medjumbe Island, and as the resort only takes out small groups of divers at a time, these sites remain pristine for future generations to enjoy.

12 incredible dive sites suit beginner and seasoned divers, and most are located within a 15-minute boat ride of Medjumbe Island. Highlights include the coral bank of Neptune’s Nursery, which attracts game fish, fusiliers, small snappers, juvenile sweetlips, moray eels, blue spotted stingrays, ribbon eels and nudibranchs. For intermediate divers, Sambi Sambi’s 10 – 40 meter sloping wall is frequented by leopard sharks and turtles. The most awesome of all is The Edge of Reason, giving advanced divers a feeling of flight as they peer over the 800 meter drop. Anantara Medjumbe’s PADI affiliated dive centre caters for all levels, and has two well-equipped boats for offshore excursions.

Above the surface, boat trips set out in search of turtles and dolphins. Giants of the ocean also visit seasonally. Humpback whales from the Antarctic migrate to the Quirimbas Archipelago between July and September to mate and give birth. These colossal creatures often swim peacefully alongside passing boats, arch gracefully over the waves and expel air from their blowholes, thrilling Anantara Medjumbe guests with a truly majestic experience.