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Building The Lodge - Our Journey

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The story of Ibo Island Lodge, started many years ago. As the leader of a charity trans-Africa expedition that was filmed and broadcasted by the BBC, Kevin remembers that Pemba provided a much needed break from expedition travels. Back then Pemba was nothing more than a bustling rural village on the edge of one of the worlds lost treasures - the Quirimbas Archipelago ... We boarded a wooden traditional sailing dhow bound for exploration! As we sailed from one tropical island to another we saw little in the way of development or tourists.

Finding Our Island

The only other people we encountered were local Mozambican communities and fishermen. We found ourselves to be in the middle of an exotic paradise with 27 uninhabited coral islands to explore, each surrounded by white beaches and the warmest of seas - and we were quite alone! Our journey eventually took us to a small wondrous island called Ibo, and its mysticism unfolded before us: an ancient city on a small island in an all but forgotten archipelago! It was a revelation that was to change the course of our lives...

After the expedition was complete and with the addition of James Ashton – Fiona’s brother, we returned to Ibo Island and spent many months living there, getting to know and understand the local traditions and people, and exploring the length and breadth of the Quirimbas Archipelago. It was then that the dream of Ibo Island Lodge was born".

Pioneering Tourism In The Quirimbas Archipelago

In 1995 Kevin and Fiona became the first tour operators to promote the as yet undiscovered beauty of the Quirimbas Archipelago and northern Mozambique. From these humble beginnings grew a company that is today a leading specialist tour operator operating in 14 African countries. But their true destiny was to build the Ibo Island lodge of their dreams...

"The enormous task of Ibo Island Lodge began with the rehabilitation of the Bella Vista mansion," remembers Fiona. "Then there were no boats or planes to fly equipment in and very few 'roads' to speak of." Ibo is a long way from anywhere, and everything from the smallest pocket of nails to our cement had to be transported to the island by traditional sailing dhow.

A Renewal

The renovation has been an adventure in itself and everything continues to be painstakingly completed in a traditional manner so to preserve the heritage and culture of Ibo". Part of Ibo Islands charm today is that it has fallen into decline, and still retains boundless secrets, history and culture set amongst swaying palm trees, an undeniably unique atmosphere, and a marine world relatively unexplored.