About Coral Lodge
Coral Lodge is located on the central Mozambican coastline, just south of Nacala.
With only ten villas it is small, with smart and modern touches, yet an unpretentious vibe. It sits on a lovely wild stretch of beach, and is also in easy reach of the fascinating and historical Ilha do Mozambique.
Coral Lodge has kept the recipe here fairly simple: nice rooms and a modern style mixed with some African flavour and great service. This is an excellent beach lodge and the historical angle gives it a unique twist.
Our view
Coral Lodge has kept the recipe here fairly simple: nice rooms and a modern style mixed with some African flavour and great service. This is an excellent beach lodge and the historical angle gives it a unique twist.
Country manager: Mozambique
Traveller reviews of Coral Lodge
5 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
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View galleryCoral Lodge: Our full report
Coral Lodge is located on the central Mozambican coastline, just south of Nacala.
With only ten villas it is small, with smart and modern touches, yet an unpretentious vibe. It sits on a lovely wild stretch of beach, and is also in easy reach of the fascinating and historical Ilha do Mozambique.
Taken over by new owners in July 2018, the lodge still has an excellent ethos on sustainable tourism and we understand that they still employ around 80% of their team from the local community. Most have been trained from scratch, which is remarkable considering the high standards of service which have been achieved in little over a year. Coral Lodge also levies 2US$ per guest per night to be contributed to a community fund. The first project that has been requested by the community is to run electricity to the local clinic.
The main areas at Coral Lodge are built on an area of coral rock and sand dunes, looking out to where the ocean meets a mangrove-filled lagoon, and beyond to Ilha do Mozambique. Most of the structures were built using Mozambican-sourced materials: the bricks were made within the region; most of the wood is Mozambican hardwood; and the high thatched roofs were made in Maputo.
A broad deck overlooking the beach at Coral Lodge is home to a good-sized circular pool and some sunloungers, and above is an open-sided dining area and bar. The structure is open plan and relatively simple, with wooden floors and a high thatched roof. Solid furniture that has been beautifully crafted from coconut wood combines with the odd piece of modern art to lend a stylish feel. In the dining area, tables are set for meal times, and there are a couple of sofas and lounge chairs as well. A traditional Mozambican fishing boat is suspended above the well-stocked bar, and antique bird baskets hang from the walls. It manages to be both eclectic and discreet, and blends together beautifully.
Wooden pathways elevated only a few inches off the sandy floor, lead to each of the ten villas at Coral Lodge, which are nicely spread out. Five sit along the beach and face the sea and the sunrise, with lovely views of passing dhows. Four look over the lagoon and mangroves with a distant view of Ilha do Mozambique. These rooms see the sunset and have a slightly more private setting.
All of the villas at Coral Lodge have a large open-plan lounge and bedroom area with a high thatched roof and beige stone-tiled floors. Each is furnished with a large four-poster bed under mosquito netting, luggage racks, a big day bed, a sofa, a table and chairs, much of it made from coconut wood from Zanzibar. There is also a long cabinet with a minibar, tea- and coffee-making facilities and a phone for internal use. The rooms look very natural in style, yet funky light fittings add a fresh and modern touch to give a feel that is contemporary but not over the top. We especially liked the air conditioning within the bed's mosquito netting. This highly efficient system recycles cool air within your nets, which is environmentally friendly in comparison to normal air con.
A door leads to a separate bathroom, also modern in style, with a free-standing stone bath, twin sinks, a coconut-wood stand containing handy shelves and a linen laundry basket. There is also a lovely rain shower with plenty of hot water, a flush loo and hanging space for clothes. Toiletries are provided, as are thoughtful extras such as a shaving kit, toothbrush kit and cotton face pads.
In front of your villa is a wide veranda with a sunshade that can be adjusted so that you get just as much sun as you want. You, meanwhile, can relax in the comfy curved bamboo chairs or the sunloungers, fronted by a round marble table.
Two of the villas have a slightly smaller lounge area, and an additional room with twin beds; these are perfect for families with children.
The activities at Coral Lodge are enormously varied – more so than at most of the other beach lodges that we feature in Mozambique. There are your usual water-based activities such as scuba diving and windsurfing, plus snorkelling, which can be either in the lagoon in front of the lodge or on the reefs, accessed by boat. There is no coral in front of the lodge, but the mangroves and sea grass provide a nursery for fish which are large in number. You can also take a kayak out amongst the mangroves either with a member of the Coral Lodge team or by yourself. Visits to nearby islands can also be arranged, perhaps including a picnic breakfast or lunch to make a longer excursion.
A historical tour to see the oldest church in the southern hemisphere, believed to date from 1579, is fascinating. You can also pop into the Governor's holiday palace which was built in the 1700s and used during the height of Portuguese rule. A tour of Ilha do Mozambique (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is another must-do for those who are interested in history and culture, and is included in the rates for stays of longer than three nights. A guide from Coral Lodge will take guests to see the Stone Town where most of the old Portuguese buildings are, including the Governor's main palace – now a simple yet interesting museum exhibiting artefacts dating from Portuguese rule and retrieved from shipwrecks, and religious art. A visit to the fort, which was started in 1589 and took just over 60 years to build, is also worthwhile.
The nearby villages of Cabaceira Pequena and Grande Pequena make for an uncontrived visit into a Mozambican community. And during our visit to Coral Lodge in October 2011 we especially enjoyed a cooking lesson with the head chef.
Coral Lodge also has a small spa where a trained masseuse from the local community offers a variety of treatments including massages, manicures and pedicures.
Geographics
- Location
- Nampula Province, Mozambique
- Ideal length of stay
- There is so much to do here that 5–7 nights, if not longer, is a great amount of time.
- Directions
- Coral Lodge is a two-hour drive from the nearest main airport at Nampula, then a boat ride of about 15 minutes, depending on the tide. It is also possible to charter a plane to Lumbo airstrip, which is five minutes by car then 15 minutes by boat from Coral Lodge.
Nampula Airport is serviced by Kenya Airways from Nairobi on Mondays and Thursdays, and by SA Airlink from Johannesburg on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. - Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board
- Food quality
- Coral Lodge prides itself on excellent food and we found it to be among the best we had in Mozambique. The chef, Carlos, is outstanding. Born in Mozambique he has had over 20 years' experience in Mozambique and Europe, and is very willing to share his skills with guests. When we visited in October 2011 we learnt how to prepare sea grass (a type of seaweed gathered from the front of the lodge), and helped prepare kingfish which we had witnessed being bought fresh that day from local fisherman.
Wherever possible the food is sourced locally. Fresh seafood is usually on the menu, as are lots of vegetables and herbs bought from Nampula's market. Most of the menus make use of seasonally available items, supplemented by produced such as salads from a vegetable garden on site.
Breakfast is served either on your veranda, or in the lodge's main restaurant or even on a nearby island as part of an excursion. Homemade cereal with yoghurt, cheeses, fresh bread, jam and muffins are on offer, as are eggs of your choice and bacon.
For lunch you can expect two set courses, with a light main course such as prawn and pineapple salad served with green leaves and dressing. Then for dessert we had homemade baobab and coconut ice-cream.
Dinner is also a set menu but with three courses. When we were at Coral Lodge we had a starter of tuna sashimi with a soy dressing on our first night and an individual tartlet with green side-salad on our second. The main courses were lobster, and then kingfish with sea grass in a tomato sauce. Desserts were cheesecake and coconut tart. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Yes. Coral Lodge offers 24-hour room service, including snacks, and can arrange meals on your veranda. There is a minibar in the room. Phones in rooms can be used to make any orders or requests.
- Drinks included
- Drinks are included apart from international beers, champagne and premium imported wines and spirits.
Special interests
- Honeymoons
- For an Mozambican honeymoon combining luxury with some adventure, Coral Lodge is a lovely choice. With nicely spread out villas with either sunrise or sunset views, it's very romantic. Enjoy the variety of activities, explore the local history or simply enjoy the sea and sun.
- See ideas for Honeymoons in Mozambique
- Luxury
- Coral Lodge 15.41 manages to blend luxury, an unspoilt beach location and rich culture; it provides all mod cons in a beautiful, remote setting and simultaneously sets a high value on sustainable tourism by supporting the local community.
- See ideas for Luxury in Mozambique
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children under the age of 12 years are admitted only at the discretion of the lodge.
- Special activities & services
- Coral Lodge has an English-speaking nanny (lots of experience but not specifically qualified) and a little playground, and they can do beach craft like making necklaces and treasure hunts. They also have a baby cot and two highchairs.
- Generally recommended for children
- We would recommend Coral Lodge for children for its laid-back atmosphere, good family villas and range of activities. However as they don't want to have too many children at the lodge at any one time, children under the age of 12 are allowed only on request – so ask us if it is possible.
Communications
- Communications
- Coral Lodge has WiFi in the main dining area and bar, and a laptop to lend to guests who don't have their own. Both are free of charge.
- TV & radio
- Next to the bar Coral Lodge has a TV room which has DSTV and a Playstation as well as a book swap. They also have movies downloaded on laptops which guests can watch.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- The dive instructor and one of the onsite owners are first aid trained, and they have a first-aid box on site. The nearest good doctor and hospital are in Monapo, which is about an hour away by car.
- Dangerous animals
- Low Risk
- Security measures
- Coral Lodge has guards day and night, with at least two on duty all the time. There are safes in every room.
- Fire safety
- Every structure has its own fire extinguisher and the staff are trained in how to use them.
Activities
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is included in the cost at Coral Lodge. Clothes are machine washed, line dried and ironed. They have a tumble drier in case of bad weather.
- Money
- Coral Lodge will exchange small amounts of US dollars, euros and South African rand into meticais.
- Accepted payment on location
- You can settle your bill for extras in cash in US dollars, euros, South African rand and Meticais. Coral Lodge also takes MasterCard and Visa with no additional surcharge.
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Coral Lodge's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of Coral Lodge.
Other lodges in Nampula Province
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Nuarro Mozambique
Nuarro is a small eco lodge in a remote location, offering exceptional diving and friendly service well off any tourist trail.
Terraco das Quitandas
Terraço das Quitandas is a small idiosyncratic boutique hotel, stuffed to the ceiling with beautiful antiques and perfectly located to explore Ilha do Moçambique.
When to go to Nampula Province
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit Coral Lodge in Nampula Province
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mozambique in January
January is one of the wettest, hottest and most humid months in Mozambique, with average daytime temperatures reaching the low 30s °C, dropping only to around 24°C at night. Although the rain falls mostly as tropical downpours in late afternoon/evening, with the rest of the time sunny, there are definitely better times to visit.
Diving is generally good, but visibility can be limited. Dolphins are abundant, but humpback whales have moved out and this is the last month with a reasonable chance of spotting whale sharks and manta rays. On beaches, turtles lay their eggs and by the end of the month some are beginning to hatch.
After the busy Christmas/New Year period lodges are almost empty, so it’s a good time to avoid the “crowds”.
- One of the wettest & hottest months, with high humidity
- Diving is fair but visibility can be poor
- Great for dolphin viewing
- Turtles laying eggs, which begin to hatch by end of month
- The low season so lodges much quieter, but for a reason
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in January
Mozambique in February
The hot, wet weather continues, with rainfall at its peak in February in the south, and temperatures as high as those experienced in January; this is also the start of the cyclone season. Such storms are relatively rare but when they do occur they bring widespread devastation and disruption. Although the sea is wonderfully warm, beaches can be pretty windy and diving at this time of the year can be more challenging, with choppier waters and sometimes pretty poor visibility.
As such, lodges tend to have good availability. The chances of seeing manta rays and whale sharks are minimal now, but turtles are still laying eggs followed by hatchlings making a dash for the ocean.
- Rain & hot weather peaks, as does the humidity
- Start of the cyclone season
- Diving conditions can be more challenging
- Great month for turtle watching
- Warm seas
Our view
A time to avoid if possible
Weather in February
Mozambique in March
Rainfall is still high, peaking in the north – where it continues for longer than in the south – and the threat of tropical cyclones remains (2019 saw Idai wreak havoc). Temperatures fall ever so slightly but it’s still hot, with daily temperatures averaging 30°C and nights around 23°C. It’s still pretty humid but this begins to drop away towards the end of the month when the weather generally starts to improve.
Diving, as in previous months, can be OK with warm seas, but conditions are unpredictable, and visibility is still only fair. Of the key marine species, only dolphins are now regularly seen and the last of the turtle hatchlings make for the sea. Availability is usually good, but when Easter falls in March, lodges can get booked up early.
- Rainfall eases but still a chance of significant downpours
- Cyclones remain a threat
- Diving is reasonable, but visibility can be hit and miss
- Turtle spotting excellent
- Although low season, Easter can get booked up quickly
Our view
This is not a great time to visit
Weather in March
Mozambique in April
Although rain still lingers in the north, the rainy season in the south draws to an end. Temperatures are still high but as the rain peters out, humidity drops considerably and so it feels much more comfortable. There is still a small risk of tropical cyclones (as in 2019, when cyclone Kenneth hit), but these are usually extremely rare.
Diving conditions improve with increased visibility and the sea is still warm, so April can be a lovely month for diving or a beach holiday. It is also excellent for fishing, with most of the game fish species being present. Lodges begin to see more visitors and can get especially busy over Easter.
- Rainy season comes to an end in the south
- Good weather for a beach holiday sets in
- Diving, improves with increased visibility & warm seas
- Excellent fishing conditions
- Visitor numbers begin to increase, especially around Easter
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in April
Mozambique in May
As the rains cease in the north, May marks the start of the dry season across Mozambique (although the odd freak cyclone has been known to make landfall, this is exceptional). The days are warm and sunny, with low humidity and temperatures around 27°C, while evenings start to cool to around 16°C. It’s a really good month to visit coastal areas and as such the lodges get a bit busier and prices start to rise.
Diving continues to improve with good visibility and calm waters, and the excellent game fishing conditions continue. Lastly, Mozambique’s biggest international music festival, Azgo, takes place in Maputo during May.
- Start of the dry season: virtually no rainfall & humidity drops
- Diving continues to improve with good visibility & calm seas
- Excellent fishing conditions continue
- Azgo international music festival in Maputo
- Lodges get busier & prices increase
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in May
Mozambique in June
Good weather continues with pleasantly warm days, clear skies and a bit of a breeze – ideal for a relaxing beach holiday. Diving conditions are near perfect with good visibility, though note that sea temperatures are dropping by a couple of degrees. Southern right whales start appearing along the coastline. The excellent deep-sea fishing continues. On Ibo Island in the Quirimbas Archipelago, 24 June sees the Feast of St John the Baptist – celebrated as Kueto Siriwala (“to not forget your roots”) day. Expect dhow races as well as traditional music and dance.
Lodges are getting busier and with Mozambique’s month-long summer holiday beginning in late June, it’s advisable to book well in advance. This is one of the best months and prices increase, reflecting the move into this peak season.
- Weather now very good
- Southern right whales start appearing along the coast
- Diving conditions are superb
- Kueto Siriwala festival on Ibo
- Lodges getting busier & therefore prices higher
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in June
Mozambique in July
The dry season is now in full swing so clear blue skies abound. Warm, sunny days and cool evenings continue, with average temperatures between 25°C during the day and 16°C at night. July is definitely one of the best months to visit the Mozambique coast, though beaches can be a little windy. Humpback whales begin making their long annual migration from Antarctica to the warmer waters off East Africa to calve; if you’re lucky you may get to see them, especially at the end of the month.
Diving and snorkelling conditions are reaching optimum levels with generally excellent visibility, though the water is now chilly by Mozambique standards. Fishing is still very good for most game species. Lodges are filling up due to northern hemisphere school holidays.
- Warm sunny days & cool evenings
- Diving conditions now almost perfect
- Humpback whales begin arriving
- Fishing still very good
- School holiday time, so lodges are filling up
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in July
Mozambique in August
As in July, the days are lovely and warm – great for lying on a beach, though there’s a slight chill to the evenings and the sea is at its coolest at around 16°C. This is one of the best times to visit Mozambique, and is a great month for diving as visibility now reaches its peak, but it can be a bit windy. Humpback whale numbers are increasing, and manta rays and whale sharks start to appear, though are not a common sighting.
Fishing drops off a bit but some species such as sailfish and queen mackerel are still taking bait. August is very popular – probably the busiest month – so lodges can be quite full and family-friendly resorts will have more children around.
- Days still nice & warm with cooler, but pleasant evenings
- Optimal diving conditions.
- Whales numbers increase; the odd manta ray & whale shark may be seen
- Fishing starts to tail off a little
- Lodges at high occupancy levels, so can be busy
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in August
Mozambique in September
In September, temperatures begin to climb and warm, sunny days continue, although evenings are still cooler (averaging around 28°C in the day and 19°C at night); this is historically the driest month in Mozambique. Whale watching is getting even better as numbers increase and, as in August, diving and snorkelling conditions are excellent with great visibility.
Sightings of whale sharks and manta rays begin to increase, and while dolphins are seen throughout the year, September is the start of the best dolphin-viewing period. The fishing is good with marlin, sailfish and kingfish all possibilities. Although the school holidays have ended it is still high season and still a popular month – it’s our favourite month here.
- Arguably our favourite month
- Temperatures start rising – the weather is beautiful
- Superb diving & snorkelling conditions continue
- Sightings of whale sharks & mantas rays pick up
- Great for dolphin viewing & whales still present in good numbers
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in September
Mozambique in October
October is the hottest of the dry months with daytime temperatures peaking at around 30°C and evenings feeling balmy at around 20°C. With the heat building, the rains can begin right at the end of the month. The fishing is very good, especially for the bigger game fish like marlin.
October is also considered the best month for whale watching, and one of the best for dolphins, which are present in good numbers. The chances of seeing whale sharks and manta rays also increase as the seas warm up; this, and the next two months, are best for sightings. Like August and September, October is also excellent for diving and snorkelling, with superb visibility, thus it’s another popular month, and carries peak season prices.
- Hottest of the dry months
- Excellent whale & dolphin watching
- Chances of seeing whale sharks & mantas increase
- Diving conditions remain excellent
- Fishing for certain game fish species is very good
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
Mozambique in November
As the dry season ends and the wet season starts, the weather becomes a lot more unpredictable. Days are very hot with humidity increasing, though rainfall is still fairly low. November heralds the return of turtles coming ashore to nest and lay their eggs. With visibility still pretty clear, diving and snorkelling conditions remain good. There is still a decent chance of seeing humpback whales before they begin heading off towards the end of the month, whilst sightings of whale sharks and manta rays remain good, and dolphin sightings excellent.
Fishing for certain species, especially kingfish and marlin, remains excellent. It’s no longer high season so prices of some lodges come down.
- Days hot but weather becomes a somewhat unpredictable
- Diving still good
- Start of the turtle-nesting season; humpback whales begin to leave
- Good month for dolphins, whale sharks & mantas
- Lodge prices starting to come down
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in November
Mozambique in December
Days are still hot, with rising humidity making it feel a lot stickier. Average daytime temperatures hit 31°C+, with evenings around 23°C. December is one of the rainiest months, but expect short sharp thunderstorms as opposed to lengthy rainfall. The turtle-nesting season is now in full swing, so seeing females laying their eggs becomes a possibility. As humpback whales head back south, sightings become scarce, but dolphins, whale sharks and manta rays are still present in good numbers.
Fishing for marlin, bonito and kingfish is still excellent. Sea visibility is generally good, but it can become a little hit and miss as the sun and warm seas encourage plankton blooms. Christmas and New Year are very popular periods despite invariably carrying price supplements.
- Days are hot & a lot more humid
- Turtles laying their eggs on beaches
- Whale season is now largely over
- Dolphins, whale sharks & mantas are still present
- Christmas & New Year get booked up early, & cost more
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in December
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