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If you hanker after a tropical escape and a chance to play Robinson Crusoe with your family (or Blue Lagoon with your beloved, for that matter), then The Blue Door is for you.  If you travel here from Durban your journey won’t even be too taxing – it’s 4 hours to the border and another 40 minutes to the house. And once you arrive and immerse yourself in the rhythm of life on the beach, you certainly won’t want to leave!

The Blue Door takes its name from the magnificent carved Indian door at the entrance to the property. It sets a tone for an exotic vacation space that embraces its position overlooking the sea in this remote corner of Mozambique. The estate where the villa is situated overlooks a magnificent, seemingly neverending beach and a marine reserve that is teeming with sea life. Explore the waters by kayak or venture to the reef for spectacular snorkelling that reveal fish in a kaleidoscope of colours and if you’re there in turtle season (between October and February), prepare for night time sorties to witness the turtles laying or once hatched, scrambling to the water’s edge.

The Blue Door embraces simplicity and effortless style. We love the layers of textures, from pebbled shower walls to woven bed throws and that the whole home is built from local timber – it really does enhance how at one with the environment it feels. You’ll see plenty of handhewn details throughout the villa (Mozambican craftsmen are renowned for their skills) and the open plan living space and bedrooms are dressed in a palette of muted tones punctuated with deep indigo-patterned mud cloth. These oh-so-easy surrounds call for languid days, long discussions on what’s for dinner, catching up on books you’ve been meaning to read and precious together time in what can only be described as a truly untouched corner of paradise.

What we love!

• Early morning and evening walks on a deserted beach, endless swims in the turquoise waters, spectacular snorkelling and brilliant diving
• The main en suite rolltop bath with sea views for days!
• Lazy afternoons spent dozing at the pool after your morning’s activities and moonlit dinners in the protected courtyard
• Sunset drinks on top of a neighbouring dune overlooking the sea
• Drifting off to sleep with the sound of the waves
• You may be far away from the city but comforts like air con, daily housekeeping and even someone to help shlep cooler boxes down to the beach and back really adds to the experience
• That the kitchen is so well kitted out – including gas hob and electric stove plus plenty of fridge space to keep you well stocked for your stay
• The huge beach and sense of remoteness
• The tropical climate that’s tempered by a cooling sea breeze
• The privilege of seeing turtle tracks and witnessing baby turtles by torchlight as they make their way into the Mozambique channel
• Swimming with the wild dolphins in nearby Ponto Malangane

What you need to know…

• The house sleeps 9 – 4 adults and 5 children. There are two main bedrooms with adjoining and/or interleading rooms for children with bunks and beds.
• It takes 4 hours to drive in from Durban, around 8 hours from Johannesburg and the property can be reached in around 40 minutes from the Kosi Bay border post
• This is 4×4 territory – the estate is reached by a sandy track and the neighbouring villages and the nearby Maputo Elephant Reserve are best reached by 4×4 vehicles too
• It is also possible to leave your car in the safe lock-up parking at the Kosi Bay border and be met by a reputable company who offer 4 x 4 transfers to the house.  Once there they can be booked for trips to the village and for dolphin safaris.
• You’ll need to bring most of your provisions (frozen meat, fresh vegetables and drinks) but you’ll be able to stock up on basic provisions like ice and firewood at Ponto Molangane, around 20 minutes drive away
• The villa is situated within a marine reserve which means buying fish and shellfish from locals on the beach is prohibited, there is however a seafood shop selling frozen offerings in Ponto Malongane. Bottom ocean fishing is prohibited.
• Mozambique is a malaria area and while there have been no recent reports in the area, it is best to seek medical advice prior to arrival and take the necessary precautions

Reviewed by Vicki Sleet