• On The Beach - walk straight out of your villa onto white sand, stretching for miles in either direction.

• Huge Villas - each spacious villa has a massive bathroom, infinity pool & twin outdoor shower.

• Abundant Seafood - feast on grilled fish, huge prawns and crayfish barbecued on the beach.

Azura is a beautiful, new beach lodge on Benguerra Island - the second largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago. Amazing attention to detail has gone into the construction of this boutique island retreat, giving you a good slice of barefoot luxury at its best.

15 thatched villas are positioned along an incredible stretch of sand, lapped by Mozambique's turquoise waters. The surrounding ocean forms part of a national park and offers exceptional snorkelling and scuba-diving (Azura has a gold rated PADI dive centre), as well as catch-and-release deep sea fishing.

However, possibly one of the best things to do, is absolutely nothing. Settle onto the plump cushions shaded by thatched beachside salas, and watch dhows sail by on the translucent sea.

Azura is the country's first luxury eco-boutique retreat. Built in partnership with the local community, the owners are passionate about the environment and actively involved in a number of exciting projects which they'll happily tell you about.

Azura is built along the north-west coast of Benguerra Island, in the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique.

• Ecotourism Gets a Luxury Makeover
• Scuba-Diving Africa
• Highlights of the Mozambican Coast

• Air-Conditioning
• Bar Facility
• Outdoor Shower
• Private infinity pools Beachside salas Butler service

Meals at Azura are a real treat with an abundance of fresh seafood including yummy seafood barbecues on the beach - tucking into huge prawns and lobster tails with your toes in the sand is an experience not to be forgotten. Lunch is a la carte with a choice of delicious, crunchy salads and other light meals.

There's a choice of dining venues. The main restaurant has magnificent ocean views, then there's the Star Bar with its high thatched ceiling hung with paper stars or, a short stroll down the beach, the Gheko Deck. You can also ask for a picnic basket and search out a secluded spot for a romantic picnic for two.

To complement your food, the extensive wine cellar includes fine wines flown direct from the owner's chateau in France's Loire Valley.

Each of the 14 private beach villas at Azura is extremely spacious, with big comfy beds, huge bathrooms and infinity swimming pools looking out onto the tropical turquoise sea. The style is beach 'chic', with beautifully carved furniture and traditional artwork.

A few steps away, on the sand itself, is a thatched sala with a daybed where you can while away the heat of the day with a good book. Each villa also has its own butler, so you can really relax knowing an ice cold drink is close at hand.

The Presidential Villa has it all - two en suite bedrooms, indoor and outdoor bathrooms, a sitting room with fireplace, dining area, huge pool and jacuzzi. This large villa has a beautiful beachfront location at the end of the property, enhancing its privacy.

† All pricing is meant as a guide only, to assist you in planning your African holiday. Prices are subject to change as flight prices, seasonal date bands and special offers may vary. Please contact us for a more specific quote tailor-made to suit your exact requirements.

• 1 July 2009 - 15 December 2009
  
  From € 425 £ 383 R 4968 $ 633 per person sharing
• 16 December 2009 - 15 January 2010
  
  From € 489 £ 440 R 5706 $ 727 per person sharing
• 16 January 2010 - 31 March 2010
  
  From € 330 £ 297 R 3862 $ 492 per person sharing
• 1 April 2010 - 15 July 2010
  
  From € 375 £ 337 R 4380 $ 558 per person sharing
• 16 July 2010 - 31 August 2010
  
  From € 472 £ 425 R 5518 $ 703 per person sharing
• 1 September 2010 - 30 November 2010
  
  From € 438 £ 394 R 5118 $ 652 per person sharing
• 1 December 2010 - 15 December 2010
  
  From € 330 £ 297 R 3862 $ 492 per person sharing
• 16 December 2010 - 10 January 2011
  
  From € 472 £ 425 R 5518 $ 703 per person sharing