Kilima Sanctuary

Mozambique

About

Kilima translates as “hill” and this aptly named villa is set on the highest point on the Machangulo Peninsula. The 360° views over the Indian Ocean on the east and Maputo Bay to the west are breathtaking. On a clear evening, the lights of Maputo City are visible in the distance and on the eastern side, dozens of humpback and southern right whales can be seen cavorting in the ocean. Hundreds of workers laboured for five years to complete this architectural marvel, offering the most exclusive retreat in southern Mozambique. “Barefoot luxury” is our motto, and we encourage guests to leave their shoes at the main entrance and soak up the opulence of Kilima from your soles to your soul. As the floors are all of the highest quality, with a silky smooth finish, they can be slippery, giving guests even more reason to enjoy our villa barefoot. Our staff are on hand, and will assist with the operations of the cinema, steam room and any other features of this opulent villa.

Location

Situated on the Machangulo Peninsula in southern Mozambique, it is ideally located for same-day transfers from the capital of Maputo. Kilima Sanctuary is one of 15 private villas in the Machangulo Private Reserve, where complete privacy and intimacy is ensured. The private reserve forms part of the greater Maputo Special Reserve and one of the few remaining natural dune forests in the world. The closest village is Santa Maria, about half an hour drive from the villa on the western side of the peninsula. In Santa Maria guests can experience local village life, but it has very limited shopping options so guests should ensure they pack all necessities.

Property Info

Kilima can sleep a maximum of 12 guests. For intimate private events, including weddings, we can host up to 40 guests.

The Master Suite is separated from the main house by a walkway and staircase, and consists of three floors. The ground floor provides a private lounge, kitchenette and spacious bedroom with a large bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower, dressing room, and large viewing deck. The first floor offers a private library and office space, as well as a large viewing deck.

The top floor provides another viewing deck. As the undisputed, highest point in Machangulo, the views from the deck are magnificent.

The Dune House is nestled in the natural dune forest, adjacent to the main house, and is accessible with a private, decked walkway. Offering a kitchenette, lounge, bedroom with en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower, and a large bath, it has abundant space for a couple. There is also a private deck with an outdoor dining area and a rooftop deck with spectacular views – ideal for whale watching and sunbathing.

The Beach House, similar to Dune House in size, also boasts a large en-suite bedroom with a large bath, indoor and outdoor shower, lounge and kitchenette. The patio is enclosed with shutters, should guests prefer more privacy, and it also has a rooftop deck with sun loungers.

The Main House, is the heart of the villa and is accessible by a majestic, spiral staircase, setting the expectation of what awaits inside. Here guests have access to our cinema, a large lounge overlooking the Indian Ocean, a large indoor dining room with an outside sunset deck and a guest bathroom. Upstairs guests will find the bar, outdoor lounge, large pool deck with sun loungers, and a large, Grecian-style swimming pool. There is a stunning outdoor dining area, fire pit and access to the steam room. The Main House also features our three additional bedrooms.

Room 1, is spacious, with a private lounge, an outside deck with a seating area, a bathroom with an oversized bath, an indoor and outdoor shower, and a king-size bedroom.

Rooms 2 and 3, similar in size, share a private courtyard, and both have a small lounge area, king-size canopy bed, a large bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, as well as private outside deck seating.

Staff

Kilima Sanctuary has a full staff complement, consisting of three chefs, two security guards and a team of cleaners, waiters and groundsmen. Our team includes Antonio, the house manager and concierge, and Bernardo, your personal waiter. To book day excursions, including snorkeling, Inhaca Island trips, SCUBA diving, deep sea fishing and many others, please speak to Antonio. Two massage therapists are available for basic massage treatments, which we can offer as an in-room service, or on the pool deck.

Amenities

Rooms
Ensuite with reef-friendly bathroom products
300-thread count linen
Coffee & tea stations
Ocean views
Dressing gowns
Fan
Hairdryer
Mosquito nets

Villa
Meals and house beverages
Steam room
Cinema
Honesty bar
Lounge
Ocean views
Decks
Laundry service
Free parking
Communal dining
Massage treatments
Outdoor pool
Pool bar

Meals & Beverages

All our rates are full board and include breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as pre-dinner canapés or snacks. All local beers, our range of house wines, and soft drinks are complimentary. We only charge additional for our exclusive range of imported champagne, wines and spirits, but we will supply guests with a defined list.

It is up to you to inform us in advance of your dietary requirements, food allergies or any food you don’t eat. We try our best to cater to everyone’s dietary requirements but we rely on the information you provide in advance, so we can be as prepared as possible. Due to remote locations, we will not be able to cater for very strict alternative or religious diets without being informed in advance.

Beach Access

The beach is accessible from Kilima, however, as it is set high on the natural dunes, the walk is only recommended for our fitter guests. Our house 4X4 vehicle and driver will be on hand to drive guests to the best beach areas.

Activities

Santa Maria: The heart of Machangulo, Santa Maria is the only village on the peninsula and is a hub of cultural activity. The best spot to visit is certainly Bemugi’s Bar & Restaurant. The sunset bar of Bemugi’s is an ideal place to enjoy the vista over the bay towards Maputo, and Bemugi’s has a great restaurant and bar, should guests wish to enjoy a social day out. Day trips to Santa Maria can be arranged with our concierge.

Inhaca Island: A short 10 minute boat ride away from Santa Maria is the picturesque Inhaca Island. Here guests can explore the island, visit the town on the northern side of the island and enjoy local life, visit the historic lighthouse, or simply enjoy a leisurely day on the pristine beaches of southern Inhaca where we can arrange picnics for guests. Inhaca is the ideal place for snorkeling, kayaking, SUP, or a selection of other water sports. It is also very safe for kids to play as the quiet bay has no waves, and many guests have been fortunate to see the resident loggerhead turtles swimming by.

Deep sea fishing: Our concierge can arrange for a day trip deep sea fishing, but the beaches in front of the villa is ideal for angling as well.

Hiking: The pristine, unspoilt beaches are ideal for hiking. There is a long stretch of uninhabited coastline and guests can walk for miles without seeing another person. From The Monarch, it is a 7km walk along the beach to the other side of the peninsula to Santa Maria, for guests feeling adventurous. Please just always ensure to inform the concierge if you are planning on taking a walk or would like to be picked up somewhere, and ensure you take enough water and sunscreen with. There is no cellphone reception along most of the coast making it difficult to locate guests should the need arise.

Transfers

Kilima is accessible by road, sea or air. Our staff can collect guests at Maputo Airport and from there, either drive to the property through the spectacular Maputo Elephant Reserve (approx. 3-hour drive) or hop on our private boat at the harbour to cross Maputo Bay.

Guests should note that there is a high chance of having to wade through the shallow waters at Santa Maria when they disembark. The boat ride is approximately 1-hour, and the car journey to Kilima Sanctuary will take another 20 minutes.

Alternatively, guests can charter a private plane or helicopter from Maputo Airport and fly direct to the Machangulo Private Airfield, a 20-minute drive from Kilima Sanctuary.

Our travel team can arrange all flights and transfers. All our guests need to do is choose their preference and show up!

What to pack

Hats and sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
Shorts and light clothing – even in winter months the weather can get warm in the daytime
Jerseys and warm clothes. In winter, mornings can be cool, warming up by midday, but, even in summer, it can be cooler in the early mornings and late evenings.
Rain jacket during the wet season (November – March)
Sandals (plus closed shoes if intending to take part in walking activities)

Wifi & Accessibility

One of Kilima Sanctuary’s most alluring features is that it’s in a remote area, offering discretion for our guests. However, this also leads to our network connectivity being limited from time to time. The main areas in the house (lounge, pool bar, pool deck and dining areas) as well as the Master Suite and Room 1, have great local mobile network, or roaming data, reception. WiFi is available by the pool bar, lounge and deck, as well as dining areas and the Master Suite.