Aujan Group starts work on $100m Mozambique resort

Speaking on the sidelines of the Gulf Africa Investment Conference being held in Riyadh, Adel Aujan, Chairman of Aujan Group said: "Occupancy is picking up in our existing resorts, and we are convinced that Mozambique is on track to be one of world's leading luxury tourism destinations."

"Mozambique is shaping up to be Africa's brightest rising star, with rich resources and outstanding potential for tourism," he said. Through a subsidiary, Rani Resorts, the Aujan Group operates five luxury hotel destinations in Mozambique, including the flagship Indigo Bay Resort & Spa, ranked by Tatler magazine as of the top 100 spas in the world.

Construction on Paradise Island will begin in 2011 and the resort will open to guests in 2013. "The architectural concept for the new hotel is retro, in keeping with the original establishment on the island that was so popular with glamourous jet-set of the 50s and 60s", said Kamel Abdallah, Chief Executive Officer of Rani Investment. The island, also known as Ilha Santa Carolina, is regarded as the 'gem' of the islands forming the Bazaruto Archipelago a proclaimed marine national park - and boasts sensational beaches and magnificent scenery.

With an airstrip for easy access to the mainland, Paradise Island will consist of 80 room hotel and 50 holiday villas and apartments, restaurants, a Clube Naval, kids club, spa, shops, a dive and fishing centre, flood-lit tennis courts and an innovative Qolf chipping course.

Only two hour's flying time from Johannesburg and less from Maputo, the Bazaruto Archipelago is increasingly becoming a sought-after destination for international tourists.

With the advent of Paradise Island, Rani Resorts will increase its portfolio of island and safari destinations to six in Mozambique and eight overall. Apart from the flagship Indigo Bay Island Resort and Spa on Bazaruto Island, the company comprises Matemo Island and Medjumbe Private Island in the Quirimbas Archipelago in the north of the country, Pemba Beach Hotel and Spa in Pemba, the capital city of the northern province of Cabo Delgado and Lugenda Wilderness Camp - an exclusive tented wilderness camp in the Niassa Province. Rani Resorts also owns the boutique hotel, The Stanley and Livingstone, at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and the intimate 3-star retreat Old Ursula Camp, situated within the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve.