Kisawa Sanctuary

Wherever there’s an unspoiled island paradise, there’s a luxury resort waiting to be born. In this case it’s the Bazaruto Archipelago, a marine reserve off the coast of mainland Mozambique. The island of Benguerra is everything you want from an escape, from the mild climate to the sandy beaches and the picturesque hillsides and dunes. And Kisawa Sanctuary, frankly, is everything you need from a resort: a thoroughly sustainable operation whose aesthetics combine modern construction methods and traditional crafts alike.

The result is nothing if not photogenic, and it’s a treat for the other senses as well — it’s laid out as a collection of mini-compounds, or Residences, each one comprising one, two, or three private bungalows. The spaces smoothly transition between indoor and outdoor, and each Residence comes with its own kitchen and its own infinity pool. Activities range from spa treatments to scientific expeditions and everything in between, and you can camp among the dunes if you’d like a break from your bungalow. In its sense of nature-immersed luxury it’s reminiscent of the best safari lodges, but in a desert-island setting.