Overview
Barefoot safari
Anvil Bay is a barefoot beach safari camp tucked away on a stretch of untouched coastal wilderness in Mozambique’s spectacular Maputo National Park.
Created with a light footprint, eleven thatch and canvas casinhas embrace natural materials and local craftsmanship. Backed by a dune forest on stilted wooden decks, each opens out onto miles of wild and exclusive sands. A bar, lounge and restaurant are located at the heart of the camp.
Choose to relax on the sands, go on adventures at sea such in search of whales, turtles and more, or explore the park’s lakes, forests and savannahs in search of its famous coastal elephants, returning for evenings under the stars around the campfire.
Facts
At a glance
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Eleven rooms
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Dining and lounge area
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Beach bar
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Solar powered
Experiences
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![Anvil bay sup]()
SUP and body boarding
Grab a board from the activity center and head down to the shoreline to catch some waves.
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![Anvil Bay20]()
Snorkelling
Travel a short distance by boat to one of Anvil Bay’s exclusive coral reef snorkeling sites to spend time observing the diverse marine life.
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![Anvil Bay 019 Activity Kayaks Photo Credit Jacques Marais]()
Sea kayaking
A selection of kayaks and lifejackets are available to take out to sea. Double kayaks can also be configured for angling.
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![Anvil Bay9]()
Beach bikes
Borrow fat tire bikes to ride along the beach and discover more of the coastline at your own pace.
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![Kisawa Sanctuary humpback whale]()
Ocean safaris
Cruise along the coastline in search of dolphins, turtles, whale sharks and manta rays. From July to November, humpback whales make their annual migration along the Mozambican coastline.
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![Anvil Bay13]()
Fishing
Enjoy catch and release fishing from the shoreline or to land something bigger, charter the jet-powered boat and head out into the Indian Ocean.
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![Maputo reserve]()
Game drives
Explore the surrounds of Anvil Bay in the fascinating Maputo Special Reserve on a drive through the plains, dune forests and diverse landscapes of the park.
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![Anvil Bay8]()
Local culture
A village visit takes a tour past the mangroves to Mabuluco where most of Anvil's staff come from and where the dhow delivers supplies from across the bay of Maputo.
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![Anvil bay turtles]()
Turtles
From October to March each year, loggerhead and leatherback turtles return to nest on the beach, with the hatchlings emerging from December to late March.
Community & Culture
One of the solutions to saving the worlds dwindling areas of wilderness relies on creating sustainable enterprise where local communities and national parks coexist. The Mozambique Government’s landmark decision to grant the Chemucane Community an ecotourism concession in the Maputo Spacial Reserve has resulted in such an opportunity. The Chemucane Tourism Company (CTC) is a joint venture formed between the Chemucane community and the Bell Foundation, a philanthropic trust established for the benefit of the local community. With funding from the World Bank and the Bell and Ford Foundations, the CTC has built and operates Anvil Bay beach camp, creating great benefit for the community in terms of skills transfer, construction and hospitality jobs and the purchase of local materials, produce and services. In an area with little previous economic opportunity, a sustainable enterprise now exists.
All benefits from your holiday accrue to the community while concession fees go to support conservation efforts in the park making Anvil Bay the perfect responsible tourist destination.
Conservation
Maputo Special Reserve was originally established to protect Southern Africa’s last remaining coastal herd of elephant, later being expanded to include the protection of other large mammal species, with a number of successful reintroduction and translocation projects in recent years.
It is a spectacular area that combines lakes, wetlands, sand forests, grasslands and mangrove forests with a pristine coastline an important part of the wider Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Biodiversity Hotspot, formally joining the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve to become the new Maputo National Park in 2021.
Footprint
The low impact and light footprint thatch and canvas were built largely with local natural materials and designed to take advantage of the cooling ocean breezes. The camp is solar-powered and outdoor lighting has been kept to a minimum in order to better see the majestic African night sky and so as not to disturb the turtles in nesting season.
Example trips
Get inspired
Browse our example trips and get in contact to start planning your very own adventure.
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Example trips
Get inspired
Browse our example trips and get in contact to start planning your very own adventure.
What makes us different
Why Niarra
Niarra Travel is a forward-thinking travel company headquartered in London born out of a passion to do things differently.
In Swahili, a Bantu language spoken by millions in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, the name Niara means "with utmost purpose" and our team are united by a passion for exploration and a belief that the right kind of travel can make the world a better place.
Our Travel Researchers are here to create incredible trips with a positive impact for you.
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Unforgettable experiences
Creating your trip is entirely collaborative and our Travel Researchers are here for every step.
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Positive impact
Curated sustainable experiences and accommodation that maximize the benefits to local people and place.
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Fairness and transparency
An open, competitive pricing structure that ensures more money goes to where it's needed in the destination.
