• Singita will invest $60m to build a 60-bed lodge on Santa Carolina Island and $42m in projects across the Bazaruto Archipelago.
• The Investment comes as Mozambique’s tourism sector struggles to recover following months of unrest after last year’s contested election.
• The public-private partnership includes a 25-year concession granted by Mozambique’s National Tourism Institute.

South African operator Singita has committed $102 million to redevelop Santa Carolina Island in Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, according to data from Mozambique’s tourism agency. The company will allocate $60 million toward a 60-bed lodge and a further $42 million to projects across the wider archipelago.

The Investment comes at a time when tourism activity in Mozambique has been slow to recover after several months of unrest linked to the disputed national elections. According to officials cited by Bloomberg, the sector has experienced prolonged disruptions and delayed rehabilitation of affected destinations.

Santa Carolina, also known as Paradise Island, has experienced prolonged underinvestment, including the closure and abandonment of its central hotel. Authorities said they expect the Singita investment to restore accommodation capacity on the island as public-sector upgrades remain limited following last year’s instability.

The $42 million earmarked for the Bazaruto Archipelago will focus on tourism-related projects and conservation activities in the protected marine area, according to information shared with Bloomberg and Travel and Tour World. The archipelago is one of Mozambique’s designated national parks and requires continuous maintenance due to its environmental status.

The Investment includes 240 direct jobs and 260 indirect roles. Santa Carolina’s existing hotel has been abandoned for years, leaving the island without operational tourist facilities despite being located within a national marine park. The Santa Carolina investment places Mozambique alongside the five African markets where Singita already operates conservation-focused lodges: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Rwanda, and Tanzania. It is the company’s first expansion into a marine protected area.

By Cynthia Ebot Takang