The pastel hues of sunrise casts soft colours across the white, sandy beach as the brilliant, turquoise waters gently lap up against up the shore. It’s another picturesque morning in Maputo National Park as Lilian Spijkerman, Peace Parks Foundation’s Chief Development Officer, transports us to a whole new world.
Lilian and Colin, Peace Parks’ Chief Investment Officer, are on a fact-finding mission in Mozambique which entails visiting all the transfrontier conservation parks that Peace Parks Foundation are involved in developing. After their visit to Zinave National Park, Lilian and Colin find themselves waking up in paradise at the 5-star beach lodge, Anvil Bay.
Before their busy day of visiting new and exciting infrastructure development sites, Lilian gives us a quick tour of her beautiful beach bungalow which is discreetly tucked away in the coastal dune forest. Anvil Bay was constructed with the environment at the top of mind, making sure to preserve the raw, natural beauty of this piece of paradise – a concept that Peace Parks and partners have implemented into the design and construction of Membene Lodge – a new lodge and campsite due to open in the not-too-distant future.
After showing us around her secluded beach cottage, Lilian meets up with Colin and Peace Parks’ CEO, Werner Myburgh, for an incredible morning exploring Maputo National Park and its diverse range of habitats, from above. Uwe Muhl, Peace Parks’ Chief Helicopter Pilot, gives the crew a flight to remember.
Maputo National Park is a spectacular area that comprises coastal and mangrove forests, pristine coastlines, wetlands, lakes and grasslands. Thanks to extensive rewilding efforts, the varying habitats allows for a host of different species to call this park home and it is this diversity that allows for it to be listed as being one of the top 36 most biodiverse yet endangered hotspots in the world.
With wildlife populations flourishing under the protection of dedicated rangers and stunning tourism accommodation options available to visitors, this natural area is now being looked after for generations to come.
