The original Marlin Lodge attained near legendary status, with many South Africans still retaining fond memories of enjoying their holidays there during the 90’s and 2000’s. Unfortunately that all came to a grinding halt in 2012 when a large part of the lodge was destroyed by a fire and it closed, seemingly for good. The great news though is that Marlin re-opened in mid-2025 – and even better is that it now falls under the Azura Retreats umbrella, where it is the sister-lodge to perhaps the most popular of all of the lodges that Barefoot Breaks sells: the fabulous Azura Benguerra! This has definitely elevated the old Marlin experience to new heights, with Azura’s well earned reputation for style and superb personal service as well as offering fantastic dining experiences now also visible here - it definitely ticks all the boxes for people looking for a memorable island holiday!

Azura Marlin Beach occupies the same excellent position as the original lodge, a lovely protected position along a long white sand beach on the south-west coast of Benguerra island – this means that it is sheltered from the strong south-east trade winds that typically blow during the winter months. It also avoids any of the strong ocean currents that can be found in some of the other parts of Benguerra, thereby offering ideal swimming even at high tide.

Azura Marlin Beach has re-opened with 10 villas initially with plans for another 12 suites to follow down the line. One of the advantages of the location is that all of the villas here are built in a slightly elevated position on top of a small dune above the level of the beach – this allows both better views out over the waters of the archipelago to the sun setting over the mainland in the distance, as well as exposing the villas to the refreshing summer breezes, making it more comfortable to relax on your deck whilst you enjoy the views.

The style of the rooms here successfully blend modern features with traditional Mozambique/Portuguese colonial style and they’re all hugely spacious too. The 10 villas are split into 6 Beach Villas (100sqm), 3 Beach Villa Grandes (which are larger at 132 sqm and also add private plunge pools) and finally the huge Villa Vista at 380 sqm, which boasts 2 bedrooms, a spacious indoor lounge area as well as a large exterior deck complete with private pool. All of the rooms boast very similar style and features, including double vanities and indoor and outdoor showers, but the private pools of the Beach Villas Grandes would definitely make them our favoured pick!

We tend to find that with lodges featuring private plunge pools at all their rooms, that people understandably tend to stick to the comfort of their own private spaces, emerging for meals and the odd excursion. The fact that the bulk of the rooms here don’t have plunge pools means that we anticipate that Azura Marlin Beach will likely have a more social and funky vibe, with many guests tending to spend a lot of their time around the main lodge pool. The lodge is also specifically catering for this and they are looking to facilitate and encourage this more social environment, with the main public areas being designed in such a way that there will be lots of chill spaces where guests can relax and hangout, including 4 poster day beds. Another big plus is that guests here at Azura Marlin Beach also have access to the very popular and funky Peri Peri Beach Club which lies on the beach further up the island’s west coast and which is also part of the Azura stable!

This slightly younger and more casual and sociable vibe is also encouraged by the fact that Azura Marlin Beach is priced at a more affordable price point than Azura Benguerra – in fact it is pretty much the most affordable lodge experience out on the islands of the archipelago, so you can enjoy the gorgeous island location at a level much closer to the prices of the lodges on the mainland. As far as activities are concerned, deep sea fishing is a big speciality here, whilst there will also be a full PADI dive centre. Fabulous snorkelling is of course available on the famous Two Mile Reef with stunning picnics on deserted beaches being another option – back at the lodge, a Massage Pavilion offers relaxing massages (or you can access the full Spa facilities at Azura Benguerra)

Whilst being more reasonably priced, Azura Marlin Beach still boasts the personal room butlers that are a big part of making a stay at Azura Benguerra such a special experience! In fact with half the number of rooms as its sister lodge, we may even enjoy almost an even more personal service experience here. And the dining experience is a highlight too, with the imaginative dining locations and stunning food that are a hallmark of Azura also featuring here! Ultimately this exciting new island paradise looks to be perfect for couples or families who are looking for something a little more laid back, young, fun and funky!