White sands, swaying palms and glittering translucent waters, Marlin Lodge stands on the unspoilt paradise of Benguerra Island, one of the The ‘Crown Jewels of the Western Indian Ocean’.

Marlin Lodge was hit hard by Hurricane Favio and will not be open again until 2008. Our best wishes go out to the islanders.

Facing Mozambique, across the channel, Marlin Lodge sits at the back of a curling beach on Benguerra Island, the home to some of the finest beach resorts in the world. Benguerra Island is just eleven kilometres long by five and a half wide and the landscape is dominated by a ridge of shifting sand dunes, a fragile barrier against the rolling Indian Ocean, that protects the eastern shore and ecentually curves out gracefully to the north towards neighbouring Bazaruto Island.

At low tide, the beach extends to join up with sandy islets that emerge from shallow waters and pink flamingoes come in to land on the bright white sand, dotted with sun-bleached driftwood. Inland from Marlin Lodge, at the dunes’ base, are two mirror-like lakes - the home to a crocodile or two - and a mixture of open savannah and scrubby acacia woodland. The eastern shore is a deserted Indian Ocean paradise where the Mozambique crabs play in the surf.

The elevated wooden chalets of Marlin Lodge snake along the back of the beach, either side of the point and are all linked by raised wooden walkways to the main lodge, bar  and restaurant. Relax in any of these polished teak and open-plan areas, sipping cocktails under makuti-thatched shade or lie by the freshwater pool amid the Ilala palms, in front of the beach. Flag down a friendly waiter to bring over a drink to your private beach capanna and enquire where dinner is to be served - the restaurant, beach, pool or choose to dine privately, on your own verandah. Life at Marlin Lodge is full of difficult decisions.

The delicious array of seafood and salads, meats and fish, offered every mealtime can be earned in various ways - watersports, island walks, diving, snorkelling, sport fishing - or playing beach volleyball. Alternatively, one may prefer simply to relax and completely recharge in the heavenly environment of Marlin Lodge.