Beachfront thatched huts overlooking the Indian Ocean from this hotel called Kisawa Sanctuary in Mozambique, which was built alongside a marine conservation center.
Kisawa Reserve occupies 300 hectares of forest, dunes and seashore on the southern tip of Bengueira Island, which is located 14 kilometers from mainland Mozambique.
It’s the first hospitality project created by entrepreneur Nina Flor, whose studio NJF Design collaborated with local weavers, straws, and carpenters to bring the project to life.
Opening in November 2021, the hotel consists of 22 suites in 12 thatched villas arranged within the sand dunes.
Some are on the quieter bay side, some are sheltered in the ocean-side sand dunes, yet all are carefully placed within their own secluded plot of land, providing maximum privacy and optimum appreciation for the natural environment,” said the hotel team.
Built throughout the site without the use of heavy machinery, the wooden structures are covered with thatch and clad in a variety of styles based on the local vernacular.
Guest cottages are tall villas with undulating sculpted roofs that reflect the shape of the waves.
Inside there are mottled plaster walls and wooden floors covered with large carpets. Colorful printed textiles add warmth and variety to a neutral décor.
Woven grass door panels slide to open the bedrooms and bathrooms to the living and outdoor areas, letting in breezes.
Wooden decking wraps around the huts, forming pathways for more terraces that support the surrounding cabanas and pools.
Contemporary, locally made furnishings blend with crafts and handicrafts from across Africa to give the interiors an authentic feel.
Communal dining spaces throughout the resort feature a similar design treatment, serving traditional cuisine made with the freshest seafood and produce, with a zero-waste policy and no use of processed ingredients.
The wellness center hidden in the dunes consists of clusters of circular straw volumes with conical tops.
Besides the hotel, Fluhr also launched the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies – a research center for ocean conservation.
“Their parallel operations create a new symbiotic business model where for-profit hospitality contributes directly to marine science and non-profit research,” the team said.
Resort guests can participate in research efforts through activities such as excursions on the research vessel, which are used to tag and monitor local shark populations.
“The coupling of cultural celebration and environmental conservation in Kisawa offers a fresh and forward-looking account of both Mozambique and island escape,” the team said.
Mozambique is located in the southeast of the African continent and is growing in popularity as a tourist destination. Sussurro, a chain of private cottages in the southern part of the country, has won three awards at the 2021 AHEAD MEA Awards.