Travessia Beach Lodge

The Casita Deluxe rooms provide guests with sweeping sea views. The rooms can be set up with either a King-sized bed or as a twin room, with 2 single beds – all beds with mosquito nets. The spacious Casita Deluxe rooms can accommodate one extra bed or baby cot and can sleep up to 3 guests. Casita Deluxe features an open plan bathroom, separate toilet, an outdoor shower and a private deck with hammock.

The Family Suite boasts panoramic sea views. The suite is intended for families, providing enough space and privacy for both parents and children. The Family Suite is open plan yet offers visually separated sleeping areas. The rooms contain a King bed and two single beds – both with mosquito nets – the Family Suite can additionally accommodate one extra bed or baby cot, sleeping a maximum of 5 guests. This family friendly haven presents an open plan bathroom, separate toilet, an outdoor shower and a private deck with hammock.

The Travessia Beach Lodge menu is inspired by the seasonal produce available at the local markets and shops. For fresh fish or crayfish, the chefs prefer to rely on the local spearfishermen. Fruits such as mango, pawpaw or avocado are seasonal, though the coconuts grown are available all year round.

For breakfast, guests will be presented with a spread of cereal, yoghurt and fruit, rolls or home-baked bread with condiments such as honey, jam, peanut butter, marmite or cheese. Guests will have the option to order an English breakfast with eggs, bacon, beans and tomato.  Lunch is a lighter affair, a choice of crisp salads, fresh sandwiches, or delicious burgers. Dinner is served plated as a set menu. The chef often prepares a fish or meat dish with different side servings and salad, followed by tempting, home-made desserts. Staff will strive to accommodate special dietary requirements as good as they can with the groceries available.

A short stroll from the restaurant takes you to the Beach Bar and Pool Deck. Here, you can stretch out on locally made loungers whilst enjoying all-encompassing views over the endless coastline and a sea of palm trees – of the hinterland.

If the weather is right, guests will be invited to an early afternoon braai on the pool deck. The bar is stocked with local beers, soft drinks, a selection of South African wines and spirits, plus everything you need for the good old G&T – perfect for when the mesmerising sun sets.

Snorkelling – Discover the coral reefs of the Inhambane area, famous for sightings of Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. The area has been earmarked to join the list of Marine World Heritage Sites – guests staying at Travessia Beach Lodge are strongly recommended a day or half-day trip for an ocean experience, diving or snorkelling. The water temperature is above 23 degrees all year round and can reach temperatures of 28 degrees early in the year. The Travessia team will suggest a selection of dive centres and will offer to assist with the booking.

Boogie Boarding – This activity is fun for everyone – Kids as young as three years have been braving the warm waters and shore breaks with boogie boards of all sizes. With the help of parents, little ones can catch the waves in knee deep water at low tide, bigger boards are available for older children and adults.

Kayaking – This is a great way to explore the coastline, paddle out at low tide with the easy-to-handle Fluid Buddy and Legend Kayaks. For even greater experience and plenty of laughs, guests can opt for double seater inflatable K2s. Those who wish will have the chance to book a trip with the team to LingaLinga, exploring the quiet waters of Morrumbene Bay by kayak.

Bush and Village Walk – The Bush and Village Walk tends to be a favourite activity among guests, the walk entails a casual stroll through the coastal forest, introducing you to customs in the village, special sites like the rare baobab tree or the local bush bakery. Depending on what the locals are busy with on that afternoon, food and Sura tastings may form part of this uncontrived experience.

This experience is complimentary, though any donations from guests to Travessia Beach Lodge’s ‘Village Fund’ are welcome and will contribute to future projects to the benefit of the community, such as building and maintenance support for the local schools or infrastructure.

Market Visits – Do as the locals and join the team on their shopping trip to Morrumbene, Massinga or Maxixe. These small-town markets usually cater for locals more than for tourists, allowing for a relaxed browsing experience. You will find a variety of “capelas”, the colourful printed fabric worn by Mozambican women. Guests will also encounter beautifully woven baskets, traditional food preparation tools and of course, lots of fruit, veggies and spices. For a broad selection of curio items, the team will recommend a trip to the market of Inhambane.

“As a remote location and being truly cast-away and off the electrical grid, we have turned necessity into virtue by building our own state of the art Solar Hybrid System from Germany. Our water comes from our own well. We do have a back-up generator but luckily so far, we didn’t have to use if very often. Our set-up is therefore based on energy-saving equipment, which also means, that you won’t find air conditioning or flat screen TVs. There is mostly a light breeze in the evening and our buildings are constructed to allow natural ventilation, and as for the TV entertainment: We are sure you won’t miss it.”

“Travessia has been involved in community development programs from the first days of construction. With the support of mainly Dutch friends and family from co-owner Anne Bijma, two water pumps have been established in the neighbouring villages. In conjunction with our previous project manager Zach, we have supported the construction of a library of a school nearby and we are involved in the construction of school benches and tables. Although it may not be considered as “upliftment” in the strictest sense, our Project Manager Ryan’s substituting as a goalie in the local soccer team is highly respected and cheered by the locals and we love to support our village team with their resident Mzungu goalie on a balmy Sunday afternoon.”