Holiday breaks to Mozambique are about getting away from it all – unassuming beach dwellings on obscure coastal stretches, fresh seafood over coals from the local market, cold 2M’s and blazing sunsets. They’re special – but if you’re looking for ‘extra special’, then Azura Benguerra is the answer.

You’ll sample all of the above, but in a super-luxurious setting that allows for total relaxation – and then some. A short, 80-minute hop from Kruger International Airport to Vilanculos on an Airlink flight and then a stunning 10-minute Archipelago Charters helicopter ride across the bay to tiny Benguerra island makes reaching paradise, simple. The helicopter flight highlights the azure waters and confirms the seclusion of the island – and relaxation begins, the second you land. Bags are dispatched to your room, welcome drinks are on hand after crunching down the shell-lined path to the reception area, and enjoyed on the deck, with uninterrupted rolling wave views.

The team at Azura Benguerra are attentive without being fussy and are great at keeping tabs on favourite drinks, dietary requirements and aren’t shy of suggesting new things to try. Each group is assigned a host who will cater for every whim during your stay – looking after you at meals, bringing the cocktail of the day to your room for a private sundowner session and even setting up the most spectacular ‘wet sand dinners’ on the beach, surrounded by palm fronds and lanterns, with all the trappings of a starred restaurant meal. The food at every meal is beautifully-presented and makes the best of local seafood. Fresh bread and pastries, vibrant salads, dazzling fresh fruit platters – and sneakily-strong caipirinhas – are the order of the way, whether dining in the Jellyfish Restaurant or lounging waterside. The team at the bar will be only too happy to show you how to play Txusha – a strategic board game which sees you move cleverly to capture your opponent’s shells – though they won’t go easy on you, either! Meals are inclusive, as are an impressive array of drinks, from spirits to wine and cocktails to champagne.

There are just 18 villas at Azura Benguerra – each with a private pool, indoor and outdoor showers, day beds, double vanities… The list goes on and on.

The Presidential Villa has its own helipad and comes with a host and chef – you and your five guests needn’t make the 150m trek down the beach to the restaurant and bar area to mingle with the plebs if you don’t want to. And why would you, when you could lounge in the wine bar, loll in the massive infinity pool or shoot the breeze in your own treehouse, with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and adjacent Bazaruto Island? The Infinity Beach Villas – close enough to the reception area for a quick stroll to dinner, but far enough away to ensure privacy – offer a spectacular base for your getaway. Sitting on the deck, sipping your hand-delivered cocktail as the sun dips below the horizons of first your private plunge pool and then the Indian Ocean is a great way to end any day – and also a test of willpower ahead of a return to the real world.

As tempting as it is to never leave your luxurious villa, there are plenty of excursion opportunities – scuba diving, snorkeling in the clearest of waters off ‘2 Mile Reef’, dune climbing on Bazaruto for spectacular 360 degree views, a sumptuous beach picnic on Benguerra’s North Point Beach and even a visit to the local school, which Azura supports through their Rainbow Fund, which currently supports the education of 400 children on the island. Manager Faizel has made the Rainbow Fund his pet project and speaks as passionately about helping to build the local school and supporting the local dance troupe which performs for visitors on the beach on Saturday evenings as he does when giving the most comprehensive stargazing talk I’ve ever experienced – everyone on the team at Azura Benguerra is passionate about their work and accommodating, to a fault. Even the ladies in the spa are super-enthusiastic as they wage what appears to be a personal vendetta against tense muscles. You’ll leave Azura Benguerra completely relaxed – the only thing you’ll be thinking about is how you can make more time to return.

For more information, visit Azura Retreats.

How to get there:

Airlink offers a wide network of regional and domestic flights within Southern Africa and operates as a franchisee to SAA. Direct scheduled flights between Johannesburg and Vilanculos as well as from Nelspruit to Vilanculos, offering a same-day bush and beach experience.

Flight Bookings: Online, booking agent or SAA Central Reservations +27 11 978 1111.