07 May 2015
The word on the bush telegraph is that 2015 will mark a sea change for safaris with countries and regions increasingly specialising in niche versions of this tried and trusted formula, particularly marine safaris.
As one of the early trend-setters, eco-friendly Azura Retreats were ahead of the game with their incredible overland and underwater safaris. Boasting two established properties in Mozambique together with the launch of a beautiful new property in Southern Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve, Azura is the answer for amphibious adventurers who want to experience the very best of both worlds.
Azura Quilalea is a private island paradise surrounded by the pristine waters of Mozambique's Quirimbas Archipelago marine sanctuary. Besides the handful of guests and staff residing here, it's wholly uninhabited so if you're after a heavenly hideaway offering spectacular sea life, you've found it.
The island ticks all the boxes and more when it comes to meeting the marine safari criteria. Quilalea has one house reef just metres from the main beach as well as an additional 17 breathtaking dive sites in the surrounding waters of the Indian Ocean which vary in topography and depth, including walls and drop-offs for the more intrepid. These remote, undisturbed dive sites are abundant with a variety of reef fish, sharks, turtles, rays, eels, dolphins not to mention some amazing coral gardens. Whether you are dipping your toe in the water for the first time, refreshing your skills or are a seasoned pro, PADI Scuba courses at Azura Quilalea range from those designed for children and beginners through to full certification up to Divemaster level.
If you love marine wildlife but prefer not to take the plunge with diving or snorkeling, you needn't feel like you're missing out. Humpback whales migrate past the shores from July to November joining the resident pods of dolphins that play all year round in front of Quilalea's seafront villas. Also as a guest, from November through until April, you can enjoy a Turtle Beach picnic trip to see the nesting female turtles. For those seeking something more strenuous, you can set sail on a traditional Mozambican dhow, kayak through mangroves or try your hand at big game fishing.
With your sea legs sorted, it's time to skip across the border to Azura Selous, Southern Tanzania's first luxury safari property. Wild, rugged, remote... this is Africa at its most awesome; prepare to be humbled by its majesty. Three times the size of the Serengeti, the Selous with its ravines, rivers, plains and maze of lakes is Africa's largest Game Reserve. When it comes to game viewing experiences, as the second oldest reserve in the world, it is also the most classic and authentic.
Game lodges are limited to a select few (Azura Selous' nearest neighbour is over 4 hours' drive away) so tourism is kept to an absolute minimum making safaris in this vast wilderness a powerful, spellbinding experience. Home to Africa's biggest population of elephant, buffalo, crocodile and hippo, visitors to Azura Selous can also expect intimate encounters with lion, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, bushbuck, eland, greater kudu, leopard and antelope. As you'd imagine, it's a birder's paradise and over 400 species have been recorded here.
Team the extraordinary surroundings and wildlife of the Selous with Azura's wow factor, style and expertise and you've got something magical... in fact, it's the stuff of dreams.
For press information and images please contact:
Julie Hedley at Small World Marketing
e: julie@smallworldmarketing.co.uk t: 0845 634 1460
