If you happen to sail a dhow up the Mozambique Channel you’re sure to be lured ashore by the palm-fronded white sands you spy with your telescope – it goes without saying you must be properly equipped with a collapsible vintage spyglass and a superior glam tan – and Sussurro is the beach to aim for. Set on the secluded Nhamabue peninsular just north of Vilanculos on the Mozambique coast, Sussurro is a statement on sophisticated minimalist style and sustainability.
Owner built and run, the lodge is the realisation of their lifestyle dream for the Zimbabwean-born couple Adam Humphreys and Sarah Birkett. Adam used to holiday in this area as a boy; driving overland from Zimbabwe with his father to camp on the shore. Sussurro took four years to emerge from the first concept drawing to opening its doors to guests because Adam and Sarah were committed to sourcing sustainable products, and employing local craftsmen to make as much of the lodge as possible by hand.
The property is as off-grid as it gets, and is backed by solid eco-cred, part of which is the seedling nursery where they grow native species saplings destined for the regeneration of a nearby mangrove forest. The lodge lies within a 1500 square kilometre protected marine area, which is a sanctuary for manta rays, turtles, and a kaleidoscope of fish and a migratory route for dugongs, whales and whale sharks.
Sarah was the vision behind the look and the overall ethos that reflects an authentic Mozambique experience in a design-worthy, mindful African context. There are six beachfront bungalows, each with a massive 92 square meters of personal space, surrounded by mature vegetation and lagoon-facing verandas. The public areas are made up of the library and gallery, lap pool, yoga deck, and a bar and restaurant. A soothing pallet of natural fabrics, raw concrete and palm thatch is used throughout to gentle effect. Pack light and forget the world for a while.
Images: Sussuro
