Bazaruto was a final 4 night stay on a 2 week trip around Southern Africa doing safari, desert, rafting etc. Was intended to be a chance to flop on the beach, relax in one place, and also be a bit active (diving).

It exactly fitted our needs/objective, BUT I am really glad that I came to Tripadvisor first and had my expectations managed. What do I mean?

Anantara positions this as super luxe. Actually there are 2 other resorts on a neighbouring islands, which are much more luxurious but come in at 2-3 times the prices, and I have friends who have stayed there. We couldn't get reservations there, but I honestly cannot see those places having been worth the premium. We paid $2000 per night all inclusive for 4 people in the top villa. I thought that was absolutely fair and good value. But not super luxe. Probably was once, but - to use industry comparators - it is operating at a slightly faded Fairmont level, rather than Four Seasons. That said, nothing is missing. You have a gorgeous desert island setting, all the facilities etc but it's all operating without the glossiness you might expect if you took the marketing at face value.

That said, I disagree with the reviews which complain that this is unacceptably run down. To be honest, the level of shabbiness (too strong a word, but there are imperfections) feels right for the raw island setting. I have seen smarter resorts at similar price points in Asia, but they are bigger and served by a highway to the door. You cannot compare with the cost/benefit of being on a desert island.

To be honest, comparing this to the Maldives or Mauritius is inappropriate. Mozambique is off the tourist trail. The airport is served by 1-2 Embraers a day, not Emirates and BA wide bodies. This a different place, and a different smaller tourist crowd. I liked and wanted that - more adventurous and just nicer to be around.

There were also comments about the fact that the white sand beach is spoiled by the tide going out. Yes - it's tidal. And it makes it interesting, but it does mean that it's not a paradise beach which looks the same all day. That said, I loved seeing the islanders fishing at low tide and generally feeling I was in Mozambique rather than an AI generated postcard. The beach is very stunning for most of the day, and the sunsets are incredible.

So what did I love:

- Drinks are fantastic, and food is mostly great, always fine. Cocktails, wine, juices (all included) were really great.
- Dining by the waters edge is special.
- The resort is very spacious. I barely saw anyone in the pool. You could always get a loungers in a perfect position. And I think the resort was full.
- Diving was great. Saw stunning turtles, and the reef is 30 mins away
- Helicopter if you can. Views are stunning, and arriving by boat is nowhere near as nice (almost certainly requires you to wade through water which I don't want to do on the way to the airport).
- Clientele were really nice. No prima donnas at all. Everyone friendly, behaving nicely and treating the staff well.
- The spa is absolutely top notch (definitely 4 Seasons standard in treatments and beautiful setting)
- The staff team. All charming and so so friendly. You are made to feel wanted. Not one negative interaction.

So if you are looking for the Maldives on the cheap, do not go here. It is a different experience, and one I am thrilled to have had.

Incidentally, the hotel laid on a 1 hour tour of Vilanculos between checking our luggage, and the flight leaving. If you get the chance, do it. It was very thought provoking to see daily life here, and made Anantara seem all the more remarkable.

Thank you to the team for a wonderful stay.

We had a great stay after a rather bumpy speedboat crossing form Vilanculos Aiport. The island is lovely and we had a very large and well appointed villa. Excellent food and great beach. Isabel looked after us extremely well. We went on 2 great snorkelling trips and were amazed to see Dugongs and Whales.

During our 10-day stay at Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort starting August 5, 2024, we experienced both the charm and the challenges of this tropical paradise.

**Booking Process**
The financial handling during the booking process was frustrating. We assumed our holiday was paid for on the Anantara website using American Express (a surcharge applied which was fine to us). However, just a few days before the intended arrival to Anantara, while already on holiday in the South African bush with limited access to mobile connectivity, we were informed that they could not process the American Express payment due to a banking system transition. We were asked to pay by bank transfer with unclear banking details, which were blocked by our bank's fraud department. This took a lot of time and effort to resolve. It would be much simpler if Anantara arranged a PayPal payment option or some other payment terminal which could easily avoid this kind of struggles.

**Helicopter transfer and airport handling**
The welcome and organisation on the Vilanculo airport by the Anatara staff was friendly and well organized delivering a swift pass through to the helicopter transfer. This helicopter ride over the azur blue ocean is an amazing experience to get to the resort. The pilot very friendly and experienced.

**Accommodation and Facilities**
The villas, while spacious and offering stunning ocean views, are noticeably outdated. The interior decor feels very old, with in example broken lamps, old useless kitchens as a memory to appartment style units in the past and curtain rails that no longer function properly. This detracted from the overall comfort and luxury we expected from an Anantara brand property.

**Resort Infrastructure**
The resort features, as a main walking infrastructure to get around, elevated wooden walkways and terraces, which are unfortunately in a state of disrepair. I even fell through one of the planks, and I am not particularly heavy. The lighting installed in these areas is exposed, posing a hazard, especially around the pool with water where children play. Additionally, the available airstrip is completely outdated, the tennis court has cracked and uneven tarmac, the artificial grass football field is half torn and damaged, all the signing is old and unreadable and the asphalt paths throughout the resort are all broken and worn out. A thorough renovation is urgently needed to address these safety concerns and to meet the high standards associated with the Anantara brand.

**Staff and Service**
Despite the outdated facilities, the staff performed wonders with the limited resources and outdated infrastructure and accommodation available. From housekeeping to the restaurants and reception, everyone was attentive and helpful. Their dedication and friendliness significantly enhanced our stay.

**Food and Beverage Experience**
Although we generally prefer à la carte dining, the buffets exceeded our expectations. The quality, themes, and variety were impressive, even during the quieter season when not all restaurants were open. The live bands and musical accompaniment during dinners were very pleasant without being overpowering. The breakfast buffet was also very sufficient and tasty, featuring a good amount of live cooking. The lunch menus in the two restaurants offered a variety of nice food. We enjoyed our meals, and the kids had a great time.

**Activities**
The activities offered were a highlight of our stay:
- **Horseback Riding**: We rode along the beach multiple times. The horses were well cared for, with proper facilities and quality feed. Our guide was excellent, and the rides through the beach and inland were breathtaking.
- **Big Game Fishing**: Led by Captain Fernando, this was an incredible experience. He was very experienced, making the fishing tours memorable. However, be aware that the waves can be quite challenging.
- **Private Boat Cruises**: We took two private boat cruises to Paradise Island and Pansy Island. Both trips were fantastic and well-organized. The trip to Paradise Island included a wonderful beach BBQ, and the captain provided an extensive history of the island. Snorkeling here was fantastic, with a diverse underwater life. At Pansy Island, we combined the tour with whale and dolphin watching. The captain knew how to find the animals while maintaining a respectful distance. Snorkeling at 2 Mile Reef on this trip was amazing, with an overwhelming variety of marine life, which we can attest to as avid divers.
- **Cultural Drive**: This tour around the island was very informative, giving us a great insight into local life. We learned, for example, that the islanders only recently got electricity.
- **Kids and Teens Club**: We were particularly disappointed with the kids and teens club facilities, which were just not available despite being heavily promoted on the website. This was a significant letdown, as we had counted on some kids' entertainment. The staff seemed unaware of these activities and suggested booking tours instead, which is not the same.

**Exploring the Island**
It was delightful to explore the island from the resort. Walking along the beautiful, expansive beach, seeing locals at work with their fishing, and watching schoolchildren walk to school along the shore was a wonderful spectacle that truly appeals to lovers of authentic Africa. You do realize you are a guest on their beautyful island home.

**Conclusion**
Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort is a beautiful destination with a lot of potential. However, it urgently needs a comprehensive renovation to ensure safety and to meet the expectations of its guests. While the good experience we had made up for some of the shortcomings, management cannot rely on this going forward. Future guests should be aware of the current state of the resort and consider this before booking. A price versus quality discussion is fair to have, as we did not feel pricing was adjusted for these issues if compared to other Anantara resorts or hotels.

One disappointing aspect was on our departure day. Despite having a helicopter flight booked, which is a significant revenue for the resort, we were charged for three final pizzas as our departure was at 12:45 PM. This was particularly strange given the all-inclusive formula. While this charge was formally correct as they might feel we had checked out before waiting for the helicopter, it felt like a petty gesture and left a less favorable final impression. Just a pitty we would say and so easy to avoid as these 60 dollars are not making any difference.

We had a great holiday but would not positively refer or recommend people to go here with the current state of the resort. It is just not what you expect from an Anantara brand resort. We would like to thank all the staff for their extra efforts in creating such a memorable experience at the resort. And would be definately looking forward to come back to this beautyfull environment when the resort is properly renovated to a modern Anantara grade level.

Note: the pictures shown on Booking.com and Tripadvisor seem from many many years ago.