This restored colonial lodge pairs spacious, elegant accommodation with a great beachside setting. Having been nominated for World Heritage status, Ibo Island features a tropical palm tree-lined coast, turquoise waters and dense mangrove forests, as well as many historical landmarks dating from its trading past.
Location
Located in Northern Mozambique, Ibo Island is easily accessible via a flight from Kenya, South Africa or Tanzania. Daily flights from Nairobi, Johannesburg or Dar-es-Salaam land in Pemba, known as the gateway to the Quirimbas Islands. An Ibo Island representative will meet you here and accompany you on the 20-minute transfer flight to the island.
Facilities
The main lodge reflects traditional Ibo Island architecture, with wide, garden-facing verandas edged by palm trees. Besides a comfortable, high-ceilinged lounge, bar, and rooftop restaurant, there is a communal sea-facing pool, a private beach, lush gardens filled with bougainvillea, and an onsite spa offering massages and other treatments. You’ll even find a traditional silversmith workshop within the main lodge, where you can see how jewellery is traditionally crafted.
Lunches are enjoyed in the shade of the garden, as are afternoon tea and cakes. Evening meals are served on the roof restaurant and include local specialities like grilled seafood platters and delicate crab curries flavoured with chili and coconut, as well as an extensive wine list.
Rooms
Housed within the restored colonial mansions that adjoin the main building, Ibo Lodge’s nine rooms are simple yet elegant in style, with handcrafted four-poster king-sized beds, rich Indian silk, and mahogany furniture. The spacious bathrooms are fitted with twin basins, marble showers (in some cases with sea view) and a separate toilet. Two of the rooms have an additional outdoor shower, while another two have an antique roll-top bathtub.
Each room is surrounded by its own veranda, complete with plantation-style seating and garden or sea views. With three categories of room – sea-facing, garden-facing or historical – as well as the private, five-bedroom Villa Paradiso (which comes with its own pool), guests can choose accommodation that best suits their needs and desires.
Activities
With its great beaches and rich marine-life, there are plenty of water-side activities at Ibo Island. Scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking are provided by the onsite PADI dive centre, while the lodge also offers spa treatments, castaway beach picnics on neighbouring islands, birding safaris, canoe trips into the mangrove forest, and traditional dhow boating excursions.
As a key Portuguese settlement and strategic landmark in the old Indian Ocean trading routes, the island also has cultural and historical significance. A guided walk hosted by the lodge’s professional guides will lead you around medieval forts and colonial estates dating to the 1500s, and enliven ancient tales of pirates, prisoners, and merchant sailors.
Bed & Breakfast
When to go
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Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
Like the majority of Southern Africa Mozambique has distinct wet and dry seasons. With small regional variations aside, the wet season starts between October and November and lasts through to April or May. These rains are however not ‘Monsoon’ like, largely due to the significant rain shadow effect of Madagascar which essentially acts as a giant buffer. Rainfall amounts are therefore surprisingly small considering its location along the Indian Ocean. The dry season lasts from April or May all the way through to October or November, with clear skies dominating. The occasional shower is still possible during this time, just unlikely. The countries location so close to the equator as well as to the Indian Ocean makes temperatures relatively consistent throughout the year, with an average high of between 23°C/73°F and 82°C/82°F.
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What People Say
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The personalised service provided was far beyond my expectations. A three week trip visiting four countries in Africa, multiple game reserves, wineries and much, much more was flawless. While a close encounter with a leopard and her cubs…
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We got in touch after hearing about Hide & Seek from a friend. Have to say hats off to Jamie, he was so patient throughout, even through our indecisiveness! Ultimately we ended up with the most incredible holiday of our lives. Thank you again, we will be back!!
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Thank you for arranging our Safari holiday in Kenya and Tanzania for us. It was to celebrate our 40th. Wedding anniversary which was on July 1st. 2018, and through your arrangements, we have had a holiday that we will never forget...
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Thanks so much for a truly unforgettable once in a life time holiday. Hopefully we will be in touch again soon!
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Spot on in terms of itinerary . We not disappointed by any of the suggestions and had the best holiday ever! Thank you!
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Jamie was very helpful throughout the booking process and recommended the perfect holiday. There was nothing we would change having now been out to Tanzania. I would highly recommend Hide & Seek to friends and relatives.
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Jamie was excellent. Once I described what we wanted I knew he would come up with the business. ..and he did!!! 5 stars
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We spoke to numerous travel agents over the period we looked at booking our honeymoon and only hide and seek gave me the confidence I was looking for. Really pleased with our decision.
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Hide and seek dealt with our last minute travel plans extremely well. Obviously, our accommodations shifted as availability diminished but ultimately they came up with a vacation that we will never forget.
