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AZURA AT QUILALEA
Quilalea Island is one of the Southernmost islands in the pristine Quirimbas Archipelago, 30 nautical miles North of Pemba. It has one of only a few safe deepwater moorings in the area, where the Portuguese and Arab traders traditionally found sanctuary for their dhows. Along with its sister island Sencar, it is one of the few properties in the entire Archipelago to lie within a fully protected marine reserve, ensuring an abundance of marine life.
The island is approximately 86 acres in size Pemba, and apart from Azura at Quilalea staff and guests, it is completely uninhabited.
The island is covered in indigenous vegetation, with statuesque age old baobab groves and stunning flora and fauna, a real nature lowers paradise. There are 4 large sandy beaches on the island, the villas are spread along 2 of them, the main beach always has boat access, and remote and beautiful turtle beach is home to dozens of nesting turtles
and is an excellent spot for a private picnic lunch.
Its just as amazing below the sea, with snorkeling accessible off the beaches and around most of the island, patrolled by huge potato bass and schools of hunting jacks, and a
spectacular house reef for diving just a short fin kick away from the main beach. This is paradise for lovers of marine life and marine experiences.
The vision is to provide the ultimate in private luxury hideaways in stunning undiscovered destinations.
Azura at Quilalea is a hidden gem, somewhere to retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life, with a relaxed and understated ‘Robinson Crusoe’ castaway style that belies the comforts and experiences on offer. Attention to detail, as ever with Azura, is paramount in the design, the finishes, and the overall wow factor of the island experience.
Azura at Quilalea is an Eco-Boutique Retreat. Whilst the Quirimbas Archipelago stretch from Pemba to the Northern border with Tanzania, only the very southern part of the archipelago, where Quilalea is located, forms a fully protected marine sanctuary.
Conscious of this pristine natural environment and the need to preserve it, Azura at Quilalea has embarked on a unique energy saving project, whereby solar power, wind generation, rainwater harvesting, and eco-friendly rechargeable crystal batteries are used in combination with normal generators and desalination to provide the island’s
power and water. The aim is for all basic functions to run without the need to switch on generators for lengthy periods, and also to switch generators off completely at night to ensure maximum tranquility for our guests.
Uniquely at Azura at Quilalea, guests can control their own energy consumption through a wall switch at their villa. They can opt for ‘ECO’ or ‘LUXE’, Eco resulting in power for the
bare minimum requirements for the room, such as basic lighting and fan, or Luxe providing all mod cons including Aircon.
ACCOMMODATION
In keeping with the uninhabited nature of the island, the retreat consists of only nine seafront villas, accommodating eighteen guests.
The villas are built from natural coral stone and makuti thatch, and have all been revamped to increase comfort and make better use of the interior space, with natural
finishings, indoor/outdoor showers, private decks stretching out to the beach, daybeds and sun-loungers for relaxing.
Guests can choose between three categories of villa: 4 Sunrise Villas, 4 Sunset Villas, and Villa Quilalea. The island may also be booked out in its entirety for a complete private
island experience.
Sunset Villas have the premium locations, with an additional outdoor shower and beach sala. The cliff-top Villa Quilalea offers the most astounding accommodation for a couple
in the whole archipelago, with a private plunge pool, feature bathroom & dressing room, an outdoor shower, and its own separate sitting/dining area.
The villas are open-plan and spacious, with stylish décors of wood, cotton and materials such as rope, pebbles and rattan, all blending in seamlessly with the island surroundings.
Guests need only take a few steps to the gleaming white beach, or they may choose to bask on their sunlounger, recline in their sala, or cool off in their outdoor shower.
ROOM AMENITIESAll of the villas have a unique energy control system whereby guests can take control of their own eco-footprint. All mod cons are there if desired, including mini bar and airconditioning, or guests can throw their villa open to being air-cooled by the natural breezes.
Villas can be configured as kingsize or twin, with oversized mosquito net and feature bathrooms, including indoor/outdoor showers, double vanities and separate toilet/bidet.
Outdoors there are daybeds on the deck and sun loungers.
Villa Quilalea additionally has a feature bathroom with free-standing bath and separate dressing room, a romantic draped Kingsize 4 poster bed, and enlarged sitting area. It also
has a private infinity pool, sitting/dining area, extended decking and relaxation areas, and a stunningly private location, including ocean access from a clifftop stepladder.
ACTIVITITES
Cliff-top African Spa
• Beach picnics / private dining experiences
• Island Baobab nature walk
• Mangrove Kayaking on nearby Sencar Island
• Scuba Diving and scuba diving courses
• Snorkelling and guided snorkelling trips
• Deep sea fishing
• Sea kayaking
• Dhow sailing
• Dhow Sunset Cruise
• Island hopping and remote beach picnics
• Cultural visits including nearby historic Ibo Island
• Tours of the working coconut plantation on Quirimba Island and the local village
SPA
Azura at Quilalea’s uniquely African spa offers signature treatments based on local ingredients and traditions. These include being rubbed down with ground coconut shells, covered head to toe with tamarind and aloe, or gently massaged with warm marula oil.
The Spa has a stunning location on the Island’s headland where there is a natural rock alcove with rhythmical splashing of the water at high tide to aid in the relaxation process.
DINING
Cuisine at Quilalea is focused around the natural produce available locally, in line with the island’s ‘Eco Ethos’. Lots of fresh fish and seafood dominate the menu, with dining a relaxed and laid back affair.
Guests receive Azura’s trademark Mozambican Butler/Host service, where they try to make the dining experiences different through a range of unique and special venues and set-ups.
Should you have particular dietary requirements it is advisable to alert the us as far in advance as possible, as some specialist ingredients may take time for us to procure.
For the wine connoisseur, there is a wine cellar stocked with fine wines from the owner’s 5 estates, as well as wines from Azura’s own Chateau flown in from France’s Loire Valley.
The wine cellar makes an excellent venue for a more formal private dining experience. Normal meals, house wines, local spirits, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are included in
the rate.
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