Leatherback Beach Villa

Mozambique

About

Leatherback Beach Villa is a luxurious “beach house”, named for the many leatherback turtles that call this stretch of coastline home.

Designed with the ultimate beach vacation in mind, this villa is the epitome of barefoot luxury, offering guests all that is needed to truly unwind. From various indoor and outdoor seating areas to a private pool and fire pit, we ensure your stay will be a memorable one.

The heart of the property is the main house, where the communal dining room, open-plan kitchen, and outside areas are. The smallest of our villas, Leatherback only has four rooms, sleeping a total of 10 people, and each room is set apart from the main house, allowing for privacy.

Built as a private vacation home, it is ideal for families. It features an opulent master suite, smaller rooms close to the pool area ideal for kids or friends, and easy access to the beach.

The laid-back style with attention to detail provides our guests with both supreme luxury and comfort.

Location

Situated on the Machangulo Peninsula in southern Mozambique, it is ideally located for same-day transfers from the capital of Maputo. Leatherback Beach Villa is one of 15 private villas in the Machangulo Private Reserve, where complete privacy and intimacy is ensured.

The private reserve features one of the few remaining natural dune forests in the world and forms part of the greater Maputo Special Reserve.

The closest village is Santa Maria on the western side of the peninsula, around a 30-minute drive from the villa. 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

Leatherback can sleep a maximum of 10 guests in four bedrooms. Built in ‘plantation’ style, with double volume spaces, making it light and airy, the villa has wooden decks all around the property offering spectacular sea views from every space.

There are no air conditioning units in the rooms but each room has a large ceiling fan and all the beds have large mosquito nets covering the entire bed space. The constant, refreshing Indian Ocean breeze ensures that the rooms are always well-ventilated.

The open-plan kitchen and dining area, with seating for up to 12 people, allow guests to interact with the chefs and even pick up on a traditional recipe or two. Linked by the large deck, the lounge is set apart from the kitchen and dining area, allowing for intimate conversation or cozying up with a book.

The large deck also boasts a pergola with a seating area to enjoy cocktails or watch whales swimming by.

The rooms are connected to the main area by wooden walkways and stairs.

The Master Suite is situated on a dune with views over the rest of the property and the beach. This large room with a king bed, has a coffee & tea station, and a small bar fridge stocked with milk and water. There is seating in the room, offering guests a place to cozy up with a book on bad weather days or to escape the sun.

Linking the bedroom to the en-suite is a small dressing area with ample cupboard space. The bathtub is the star of the show. With glass doors around the bath, it is ideal for relaxing in, with bubble bath and champagne, while soaking up the spectacular views. The bathroom has an indoor as well as an outdoor shower.

Rooms 2 and 3 are closer to the pool area. They are similar in size, with twin beds that can convert to king with an additional single bed, ideal for kids. They each have an en-suite with a shower, and the rooms are connected by a private deck.

Room 4 is the ideal romantic hideaway, as it is set apart from the rest of the property, connected by a wooden walkway. It has twin beds that can convert to king, an en-suite with indoor and outdoor showers, and a private deck and seating area, ideal for friends traveling with family or for guests that require more privacy. It also has its own coffee & tea station.

The pool is in the center of all the action and right next to the large fire pit. Guests can spend an entire day lounging in the sun followed by drinks and the ambiance of an open fire in the evenings.

Staff

Leatherback Beach Villa has a full staff complement, consisting of a chef, house manager, and cleaners. Our house manager can assist guests with any requests and questions they might have.

To book day excursions, including snorkeling, Inhaca Island trips, SCUBA diving, deep sea fishing, and many other activities, please speak to Antonio, who is our general manager in Machangulo.

Two massage therapists are available for basic massage treatments, which we can offer as an in-room service, on the pool deck, or in the main house.

Amenities

Rooms

Ensuite with reef-friendly bathroom products
300-thread count linen
Ocean views
Dressing gowns
Fan
Hairdryer
Mosquito nets

Villa

Meals and house beverages in select packages
Honesty bar
Lounge
Ocean views
Decks
Laundry service
Free parking
Firepit
BBQ facilities
Communal dining
Massage treatments
Outdoor pool

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 and soft drinks are complimentary, and wines and spirits are available from our honesty bar.

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 easily accessible from Leatherback Beach Villa with a couple of wooden stairs leading from the deck down to the gently sloping sand dune that leads to the beach.
to Santa Maria on the other side of the peninsula, for our more adventurous guests. Please always inform our house manager if you are planning on taking a walk or would like to be picked up somewhere, and ensure you take enough water and sunscreen. There is no cellphone reception along most of the coast, making it difficult to locate guests, should the need arise.

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 island’s northern side to experience 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 a deep sea fishing day trip, however, the beaches in front of the villa offer an ideal spot for angling.

Hiking: The pristine, unspoiled beaches are perfect for hiking. There is a long stretch of uninhabited coastline and guests can walk for miles without seeing another person. From Leatherback, it’s about an 6km walk along the beach
to Santa Maria on the other side of the peninsula, for our more adventurous guests. Please always inform our house manager if you are planning on taking a walk or would like to be picked up somewhere, and ensure you take enough water and sunscreen. There is no cellphone reception along most of the coast, making it difficult to locate guests, should the need arise.

Transfers

Leatherback Beach Villa 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. 5-hour drive from Maputo) or hop on our private boat at the harbour to cross Maputo Bay. All our vehicles have the necessary permits and insurance.

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 Loggerhead Beach Villa 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 25-minute drive from Leatherback Beach Villa.

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, 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 Leatherback’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.

Unfortunately, there is no cellphone reception or WiFi at the villa, allowing guests to truly relax and unwind. Our house manager can, however, take guests to areas with reception. Guests wishing to catch up on communication can do so at Bemugi’s in Santa Maria.