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Right this moment: Miavana by Time + Tide versus Kisawa Sanctuary – which one is greatest?
I not often evaluate luxurious inns on my journey weblog. I’ve solely carried out it as soon as final yr, by evaluating the 4 Seasons Bora Bora with the St Regis Bora Bora. I did so as a result of most discerning vacationers who wish to journey to Bora Bora will probably be confronted with the dilemma of staying at both the 4 Seasons Bora Bora or the St Regis Bora Bora, the 2 most unique 5-star inns on the island. Right this moment, I’m including one other resort comparability to my weblog: Miavana by Time + Tida in Madagascar (which debuted in 2017; learn my overview right here) versus Kisawa Sanctuary in Mozambique (which debuted 2019; learn my overview right here). Each ultra-luxe properties rank among the many world’s greatest seaside resorts and so they share loads of similarities (spectacular seaside setting, monumental personal villas, nature-focused excursions, top-notch service, and so on …). Furthermore, each resorts are considered the final word seaside getaway after a safari in Southern Africa and they’re in the identical worth vary (we’re speaking right here about room charges that begin at 5000 euros per night time, though that features all meals, drinks in addition to a choice of actions. The query is: which one is greatest, Miavana or Kisawa? So, right here’s my detailed comparability of each resorts.
Have you ever ever stayed at Miavana and Kisawa? If that’s the case, what was your expertise and which resort did you like? Go away a remark.
For ease of navigation, I’ll evaluate the next elements of Miavana and Kisawa (asserting a winner in every class):
1. LOCATION
Miavana by Time + Tide calls the Indian Ocean island of Madagscar its house. Mysterious and shrouded in fantasy, Madagascar is among the most original, iconic and biodiverse locations on earth. The ultra-luxe property is positioned on the distant island sanctuary of Nosy Ankao, off the north east coast of Madagascar. Nosy Anko is the most important of 5 islands within the Ankao archipelago, providing turquoise Indian Ocean waters, pristine seashores, and untouched wilderness. Nosy Ankao has an attention-grabbing historical past. A transient location for seasonal fisherman, the island’s one small village misplaced its complete inhabitants (of round 10) after they ate turtle meat which was poisoned by seasonal algae. Within the Nineteen Nineties the island was utilized by ‘pirates’ as a strategy to keep away from police management on the roads in northern Madagascar. Right this moment, the island is the unique house of Miavana (apart from the native village whose inhabitants now work on the resort).
Kisawa Sanctuary is positioned in Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, a area which broke away from the mainland hundreds of years in the past and now harbors one of many planet’s richest but least explored subtropical ecosystem. The waters that lap the archipelago are stuffed to the brim with an array of reef fish, sea turtles and sport fish. An assortment of endangered marine life have additionally been documented right here reminiscent of whale sharks, manta rays, leatherback turtles, humpback whales and the very uncommon dugong. Declared a Nationwide Park in 1971, the Bazaruto Archipelago is made up of 5 islands: Santa Carolina, Bangué, Benguerra Island, Magaruque, and Bazaruto. Kisawa is about on Benguerra Island, the second largest island within the Bazaruto Archipelago, which extends over a mere 11 km (6.8 mi) in size. With simply two intimate ultra-luxe lodges adorning its shores (Kisawa Sanctuary and &Past Benguerra Island), the island presents an invite to flee the cacophony of on a regular basis life.
Winner: Miavana (due to its personal island setting).
2. GETTING THERE
Miavana enjoys a distant setting, which is a part of its attraction. That stated, getting there implies a protracted journey: you should take a flight to one of many two airports in Northern Madagascar (Nosy Be or Diego Suarez), that are solely served by a small variety of airways, adopted by a 30 min (from Diego Suarez) or 60 min (from Nosy Be) helicopter flight. The helicopter flight itself presents breathtaking vistas although of the wild landscapes of one of many world’s final wilderness frontiers, together with chicken’s eye views of humpback whales within the ocean under if you’re fortunate. Miavana has full-time helicopter pilots available that use the resorts’ privately owned Robinson R66 helicopters, that are painted turquoise with white stripes to match the resort’s interiors.
Attending to Kisawa Sanctuary is loads simpler as in comparison with Miavana. The resort is accessible by helicopter from the close by airport of Vilankulos, which receives day by day industrial flights from Johannesburg (JNB) and Maputo (MPT). After touching down in Vilankulos, a Kisawa airport host meets and assists friends by way of immigration, and introduces them to the third-party helicopter firm. The flight to the resort takes solely about 5 to 10 minutes and presents unimaginable vistas of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Alternatively, friends can even attain Kisawa from Vilankulos by personal boat, a journey which takes about half-hour and which can be organized upon reserving.
Winner: Kisawa (as a result of getting there’s much less time consuming). When your journey originates in Johannesburg, it should take a 90 min flight to Vilankulos adopted by a ten min helicopter flight to succeed in Kisawa in comparison with a 3 hour flight to Nosy Bay, adopted by a 60 min helicopter flight to get to Miavana. Kisawa additionally has the benefit that it may be reached with out backtracking through Johannesburg Airport after a safari since Airlink presents direct flights from Kruger Worldwide Airport to Vilankulos on chosen days; attending to Miavana after a South African safari will at all times contain a bit extra planning: Airlink solely flies twice per week to Nosy Be and these flights leaves within the morning (so you’ll have the spend the night time earlier than the flight in Johannesburg).
3. VILLAS
Miavana options 14 supremely luxurious seaside villas, providing one, two and three bedrooms. House is not any situation as these palatial villas are monumental in dimension. And what’s extra, they’re dotted on the island’s western aspect alongside the magnificent seaside, affording spectacular views of the ocean, mainland Madagascar (on the horizon), and the sundown. Every villa incorporates a personal pool, lush backyard, trendy eating and dwelling space, well-stocked kitchenette, main bedroom with ensuite rest room, and a school room which might be transformed right into a youngsters’s bed room. Every villa additionally comes with its personal bicycles and electrical buggy to discover the island.
Kisawa Sanctuary options 12 monumental personal residences that are a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom luxurious villas. Among the residences are positioned on the calmer cove (lagoon) aspect whereas others shelter within the dunes on the ocean aspect, but all are rigorously positioned inside their very own secluded plot of at the very least one acre of beachfront, sand dunes and forest. Since there’s a lot area between dwelling, most privateness and optimum appreciation of the pure surroundings are ensured. Every villa incorporates a lounge, bed room with kingsize mattress, two dressing rooms, an outsized rest room, and a separate paviolion housing a shaded lounge & eating space, out of doors kitchen, and personal swimming pool. Every residence has its personal devoted Mini Moke all through the visitor’s go to.
Winner: The large villas at Miavana and Kisawa are equally spectacular, so there’s no clear winner right here (though I did favor Kisawa’s Mini Mokes in comparison with Miavana’s electrical buggies).
4. STYLE & DESIGN
Miavana incorporates a glamorous decor and structure, designed by Johannesburg-based architects Silvio Rech & Lesley Carstens. Actually translating ‘to reconcile’, Miavana’s design blends barefoot seaside luxurious with mid-century modernism, which is a welcome reduction for the heavy Balinese model with thatched pavilions that you simply discover at many different tropical seaside resorts. The ethereal and lightweight, Le Corbusier impressed interiors characteristic impartial tones of ivory and lightweight brown, matching the resort’s seaside, rock partitions, and decks. The minimalist magnificence is counterbalanced by just a few sprinkles of turquoise (e.g. curtains, daybeds, deckchairs) that deliver a decisive island vibe.
An African impressed design is among the pillars of Kisawa. Born out of a need to mix in, relatively than interrupt, Kisawa’s method to craftsmanship and design primarily concerned the native folks from Benguerra and the neighbouring islands. Consequently, the expert work of native weavers, thatchers, carpenters and textile makers is showcased with satisfaction all through the property. Celebrating the wealthy cultural historical past of Africa, distinctive artwork and antiques had been sourced from throughout the continent, making certain the preservation of heritage artefacts and their remaining provenance. These invaluable works sit alongside domestically made bespoke furnishings, all coming collectively to supply a considerate and genuine sense of place, and a reference to the pure surroundings.
Winner: Miavana. I most well-liked the modernist model of Miavana as in comparison with the African design of Kisawa, however that’s only a matter of non-public style after all.
5. COMMUNAL AREAS
Miavana incorporates a magnificent beachfront public space, known as the ‘village’ or ‘piazza’. The piazza’s central stage is an open-air lounge and eating pavilion beneath an intricate palm-leaf-woven roof. Seemingly floating on a clear-blue water pond, this pavilion is flanked on one aspect by a bar which mimics a ruined fort (with rooftop terrace) and by an excellent, curved infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean on the opposite aspect. The piazza additionally boasts a seaside pizzeria and an elegant indoor restaurant with well-stocked wine cellar. The latter is topped by 4 domes, every pierced with a round glass skylight, permitting celestial beams of sunshine into the area.
Apart from a fantastic pool space, which is positioned proper subsequent to the spa & gymnasium within the dunes overlooking the Indian Ocean, Kisawa doesn’t have a communal visitor space. Most friends of Kisawa will keep at their villa throughout their vacation, solely venturing out for dinners, spa remedies and excursions (however that’s additionally the case at Miavana).
Winner: Miavana
6. SPA
Positioned amongst the dunes on the coronary heart of Kisawa, is a wellness middle devoted to rest and wellbeing. The spa – which works by the title Pure Wellness Middle – presents particular person remedies or personalised packages rooted in Ayurvedic drugs – one of many world’s oldest kinds ofholistic drugs, combining therapeutic massage therapies, vitality and sound therapeutic work, meditation, acupressure, yoga, reiki and breath work. For remedies, the spa makes use of 5 signature important therapy and blended therapeutic massage oils which have been developed in collaboration with licensed natural therapeutic oil specialists in Thailand. A cutting-edge Japanese Iyashi dome sauna makes use of mild infrared warmth to advertise therapeutic. Subsequent to the spa is a completely geared up gymnasium, the place Pilates reformers can be found for friends to make use of alone or with skilled tuition.
Miavana by Time + Tide lacks a spa facility. Spa remedies might be offered although by expert therapists within the privateness of your villa. The resort does have a gymnasium although.
Winner: Kisawa
7. FOOD
As you may anticipate for a resort of this caliber, meals at Miavana is scrumptious (with all meals and most drinks included within the nightly price). Day by day, the resort’s excellent culinary workforce creates beautiful meals that deliver collectively the best native substances with world class ability. Dishes vary from gentle and contemporary to indulgent and delectable, with flavors pulled from across the globe. Every day menus are designed in keeping with the newest island harvest and particular consideration is given to any dietary necessities you’ll have. Friends can select to dine within the privateness of their villa or beneath the celebs within the resort’s beautiful principal piazza.
All-inclusive Kisawa Sanctuary has 4 on-site eating places, which is insane whenever you notice that there are solely 12 villas. Nonetheless, not all eating places are open every night time, though that’s not likely a difficulty (the employees will suggest a meal plan for every day in keeping with the opening occasions of the eating places). On the 4 culinary places, the ethos stays the identical: a dedication to domestically grown produce, the apply of natural, seasonal gardening strategies, working a zero-waste coverage and utilizing no processed substances. Kisawa has constructed a community of farmers and fishermen from inside the Inhambane province, making certain contemporary native produce day by day. Led by Culinary Director Jospeh Moubayed, the a number of venues supply all kinds of dishes, with a concentrate on Mozambican and African flavours.
Winner: Miavana. Though Miavana has just one restaurant in comparison with the 4 eating venues at Kisawa, I did favor the meals at Miavana (which is actually high-quality eating and complex). Whereas meals at Kisawa is unimaginable good, the resort’s delicacies focuses on wholesome and locally-inspired home-style cooking however I’d not describe it as really fine-dining (apart from the principle eating venue, which serves a extra subtle delicacies).
8. BEACH
Fringed by an exceptionally stunning white sand seaside, Miavana represents an insanely stunning island haven the place friends can get pleasure from distinctive bespoke experiences in final privateness. The limitless, untouched, pristine seaside is lined by a background of palm bushes and supply views throughout the Indian Ocean in the direction of the mainland of Madagascar. The seaside right here is protected by a sprawling coral reef, so it makes for mild waves and tranquil waters that are good for a swim. The island on which Miavana is positioned is flat, apart from just a few dunes at its middle (which aren’t seen from the seaside).
Set inside an enormous protected conservation space, Kisawa Sanctuary straddles 5 km (3 mi) of unspoiled shoreline that includes a glamorous white sand seaside that’s lined by large sand dunes. Within the japanese, ocean-side a part of the property, the wild seaside incorporates a highly effective surf and crushing shorebreak, whereas the southern and western lagoon-side a part of the sanctuary incorporates a extra calm seaside, lapped by mild waves. When strolling on the seaside, solely a handful of Kisawa’s thatched roofs are seen amid the African bush, creating an nearly surreal castaway expertise.
Winner: Kisawa. The seaside at Kisawa ranks among the many most stunning seashores I’ve ever seen at a resort throughout all my years of touring across the globe. The fantastic thing about the property’s dunes, white sands and indigenous forest is jaw-droppingly spectacular.
9. EXCURSIONS
Nosy Ankao – house of Miavana – kinds a part of almost 15,000 hectares of marine area that together with the adjoining mainland makes up the Loky Manambato Protected Space. It signifies that actions on the resort are limitless. There are alternatives to snorkel or dive the encircling reef or enterprise out deep-sea fishing past it. Guided boat excursions across the bays, lagoons and seashores present invaluable perception into this beautiful and various ecosystem. Dolphin watching is feasible from October to Might, whereas humpback whales might be noticed between July and October. 4 species of turtle are present in these waters and they are often seen nesting between Might and mid-July. One other spotlight to not be missed is a guided trek in Miavana’s native forest searching for the highly-endangered Topped lemur, a primate often known as Madagascar’s most iconic animal. Should you really feel the necessity to ‘get off’ the island, then helicopter journeys to the mainland might be organized at an extra price. This consists of excursions round northern Madagascar, which is house to fabulous landscapes and two well-known Nationwide Parks.
Set amid a nationwide marine park within the pristine Bazaruto Archipelago, Kisawa has entry to a few of the most on the earth. The resort’s schedule of visitor experiences – which adjustments month-to-month to mirror the season and visiting wildlife – ranges from journey and water sports activities to conservation and neighborhood constructing centered actions. For instance, Kisawa presents totally different ranges of PADI licensed personal and group diving experiences that vary from naked pores and skin snorkelling with turtles and reef fish to deep sea diving with black, blue and striped marlin, sail fish, yellowfin tuna, bull and tiger sharks and manta rays. Additionally from July to October, the Mozambique Channel turns into the best breeding and nursing floor for humpback whales, and friends can witness these majestic mammals breaching & rolling in unique expeditions. One other extremely advisable tour at Kisawa Sanctuary is an exploration by personal boat of the Bazaruto Archipelago, which incorporates stops at idyllic seashores and towering sand dunes.
Winner: Miavana. Each Miavana and Kisawa supply a variety of beautiful excursions, but it surely’s laborious to beat Miavana’s personal helicopter excursions (Kisawa additionally supply a restricted vary of helicopter excursions, however these excursions are contracted to a 3rd social gathering helicopter firm).
10. WEATHER
While a vacation in Madagascar – house of Miavana – might be loved year-round, the principal moist season is from December by way of to the month of March. Typically involving cyclones, it’s most likely greatest prevented! The most effective time to go to Madagascar is subsequently between the months of April by way of to November, with July to September thought of the prime months to go to with dry, sunny, albeit typically windy climate.
The most effective time to go to Kisawa Sanctuary and the Bazaruto Archipelago is in the course of the dry season, which runs from April to November. These are the cooler however drier winter months, with sunny climate and nice temperatures in the course of the day (nights can get a bit chilly although in July and August). From December to April, the Bazaruto Archipelago is sort of scorching, which can make touring uncomfortable. From February to March is hurricane season, so when you do go to throughout this time, be ready for infrequent downpours of rain.
Winner: Miavana and Kisawa get pleasure from the same local weather and seasons, so there’s no clear winner. Through the drier and sunnier winter months (June to September), temepratures generally is a bit colder at Kisawa, particularly at night time, whereas Miavana might sometimes undergo from extraordinarily windy circumstances.
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