IBO ISLAND LODGE: BUILDING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 2006
Ibo Island lodge's development starts gorgeously each morning around 5am when the sun rises and a colony of masked weavers commencing their exited nest building accompanied by a chorus of cheeping and chirping. This is the time that we enjoy a strong cup of Ibo coffee (ancient Arab plantations still produce the unique Ibo crop which is fire roasted and hand ground) setting us up for the day ahead....
The highly anticipated opening of Ibo Island Lodge - the hottest new addition to the luxury Lodges of the Quirimbas Archipelago, is drawing closer and the immenent pressure is on.The development plan aims to bring all departments to completion at the same time: Construction, carpentry, upholstery, hospitality, English language training, activity and guide training, menu development, landscaping and a range of community projects to name but a few. Ibo Island lodge consisting of three magnificent mansions, each over a century old, and walls a meter thick.Fallen into ruin - almost forgotten, and utterly acute the island contains boundless secrets, history, culture and a marine world totally unexplored. It is the first grand scale rehabilitation on the island and we are glad to report its going well.
The project has a strong community mentorship and social up-liftment component. Many of the local people, who are working during the construction phase, will be part of the lodge team from opening onwards.A women who carted stone and sand on their heads, complete with babies wrapped on backs, displaying extraordinary strength, humor and balance, are now learning how to tend to rocket, green peppers, basil, carrots, ginger and garlic in the lodge's garden project.Those finishing off grand 4 -poster beds in the carpentry department are in training to become barmen, waiters and housekeepers. Guided walking safaris into the National Park, historical and cultural tours, kayak routes and mangrove excursions are all being developed.Much to the delight of the whole team here on Ibo, the menu and kitchen training commenced at the beginning of August.It is quite inspiring after just a couple of weeks, to hear the kitchen team discussing the compensation of each other's Creme Brule.Most of these people are born and bred Ibo folk who had never been inside a kitchen before. Remarkable! Our fourteen-meter solid teak traditional dhow, which has been built during the last three years on Ibo, was finally launched using only manpower and ropes alone.According to the community elders on Ibo, it is by far the largest dhow during the last fifty years to be hand crafted on Ibo. Dhow sailing safaris, scuba diving, island hopping and sunset cruises are all being developed aboard this beautiful boat for early 2007.Living and working on Ibo Island during these exciting times is quite extraordinary. One of the Quirimbas National Parks newest protected zones is directly in-front of the lodge and is already encouraging a centralization of life.Large flocks of sacred ibises, yellow bill storks and many more species of birds are now daily occurrences, and at night its common to hear pods of dolphins hunting for fish - their tails producing a distinctive cracking sound as it recoils off the old Ibo harbor wall.All visitors are intrigued by the development of Ibo Island Lodge, not to mention the island's beauty, calmness, history, and very special surroundings.We look forward greatly to unveiling Ibo Island Lodge as the latest luxury product in the Quirimbas Archipelago.
Ibo Island Lodge will be exhibiting on the Mozambique stand at the forthcoming World Travel Market,due for completion in December 2006.
Reminders
Don't forget to visit our Quirimbas Archipelago website for great info on tours,lodges accommodation and other destination info on the Quirimbas Archipelago as well as specially designed itineraries and discounts, at the following address:http://www.quirimbas-mozambique.com
To book a Quirimbas Archipelago holiday,vacation or any other safari to another destination please email our consultants at:info@island-safari.com
Also don't forget to visit the main Island Safari at the following address:http://www.island-safari.com
Thank You
The Island Safari Team
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