ANVIL BAY LODGE

RUSSEL WASSERFALL
A stay at the 5-star Anvil Bay Lodge in the Maputo National Park offers a glimpse of Mozambique’s natural beauty. An eco-lodge, designed for just 18 guests, it combines luxury with a sustainability and community empowerment, making it an ideal destination for travellers seeking adventure and a chance to contribute to local conservation efforts.

Images supplied by Anvil Bay Lodge)
The 5-star Anvil Bay eco-lodge blends seamlessly into its surroundings on the shores of the Lubombo TFCA marine reserve.
The Lodge is one of few tourism concessions operating in Maputo National Park, part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area of Mozambique. Distant neighbour Membene Lodge, mentioned in this series, is a more grass-roots experience, while Anvil Bay is the best the area has to offer. The local community owns it in a trust, creating a tourism-based asset and source of livelihood for them.
Guests are invited to leave their shoes behind and enjoy the concept of "barefoot luxury" in the pristine surroundings. Spacious, thatched chalets blend seamlessly with the landscape, providing comfort while maintaining a connection to nature. With direct access to a stunning stretch of white sand beach, visitors can indulge in various outdoor activities, from snorkelling in the warm Indian Ocean to exploring the diverse wildlife of the reserve.


It’s as close to nature as you can get, but this community-operated lodge offers every comfort for a deeply relaxing and immersive beach safari experience.

Images supplied by Anvil Bay Lodge)
The Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area seeks to preserve biodiversity not just on land, but a stretch of coastline some 300 km long, stretching from iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa to Maputo Bay in Mozambique. It includes ecosystems in lakes, estuaries and wetlands, and a marine reserve stretching some miles out to sea.
Part of the Anvil Bay experience includes joining local rangers from the marine reserve on guided beach walks to witness the remarkable nesting of Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles from October to March. This unique opportunity allows visitors to participate in the turtle monitoring program, where they can learn about conservation efforts and even assist the rangers in protecting these endangered species.


Images supplied by Anvil Bay Lodge)
As part of a marine reserve, Anvil Lodge is close to vital breeding grounds for Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles and it is worth timing your visit to coincide with the animals coming ashore to lay their eggs, or the hatchlings heading to the ocean.


Image by Rowan Pybus
Image by Rowan Pybus
Ponto Do Ouro park Ranger Titos Falanca helps a struggling hatchling to the ocean to begin its life on the waves.
Marine Rangers like Titos Falaca (left) and Alvaro Roberto Machaeie (right), from the Ponta Do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve monitor the progress on the turtle breeding grounds throughout the cycle.
Apart from turtle monitoring, guests can enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and fat biking along the beach. There are also safaris through the Maputo Special Reserve to see zebra, giraffe, and indigenous elephants which are darker and more shy than their open savannah cousins.





Predictably, all of the many activities available for visitors to Anvil Bay are based on the ocean. From swimming with dolphins, snorkelling and paddling kayaks, fat-biking on the beach or surf-fishing, this place is an endless adventure.
Reaching Anvil Bay Lodge is an adventure in itself. There is a scenic helicopter transfer from Maputo with stunning aerial views of the coastline and the reserve. Alternatively, a 4x4 road trip through the Maputo Special Reserve provides an opportunity to see wildlife and enjoy the tropical scenery. It’s an unforgettable getaway that enriches both the traveller and the local community.

Image by Rowan Pybus
Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve, the first marine transfrontier conservation area in Africa is part of the Lubombo TFCA and is patrolled by a team of dedicated rangers.


Images by Rowan Pybus
Guests at Anvil Bay Lodge and local school groups are able to join the rangers on request, to assist with monitoring the turtle activities and witness the power of a miraculous natural cycle.
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