Guludo is a tropical, barefoot beach paradise; 12km of deserted powder-white sand nestled between the dazzling azure Indian Ocean and wild African Bush, in the Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique.

Accommodation provides everything you need and nothing you don’t; with high roofs, gentle sea breezes, alfresco en-suite bathrooms and a stunning “loo with a view”; barefoot luxury has never felt more indulgent. Our award-winning bandas have been designed to ingeniously blend luxury with a mix of traditional and contemporary styles and with the highest of environmental and social integrity.

The essence of Guludo is relaxation and discovery. Time is spent drifting over magnificent coral reefs, watching humpback whales, visiting islands and mingling in the local village. Guludo has a full PADI dive centre with excellent equipment and tuition which caters for novices through to experienced divers. Other activities include; Rolas Island, Ibo Island, Elephant lookout, Sunset Sails, Whale watching, Beach Archery, Village football, Beauty on the Beach, Pangane Beach and visiting community projects.

Guludo is also responsible tourism at its finest, even while snoozing in your hammock you are helping to relieve poverty. Guludo’s well established charity, Nema Foundation, works with local communities focusing on education (feeding 800 school children a day, building primary schools, giving scholarships), health (tackling malaria, HIV, malnutrition and infant mortality), water (30 water points now complete), enterprise (4 successful craft groups) and conservation (marine and agricultural).

This is a working policy which changes and evolves as the lodge matures and learns more about the surrounding area. The aims of the policy are;

1. Adhere to Mozambique's environmental legislation

2. Continuously improve our environmental performance

3. Reduce pollution, emissions, non-renewable energy use

4. Minimise and manage waste responsibly

5. Recycle materials where possible

6. Use water and energy efficiently

7. Minimise the use of harmful chemicals and toxic products

8. Raise awareness, encourage participation and train employees in environmental issues

9. Liaise with the local community on environmental issues

10. Purchase products selectively with emphasis on reduced packaging, sourcing from renewable and sustainable sources and of low environmental impact

11. Participate in discussions about environmental issues and inform guests of our environmental policies and provide information on environmental issues

12. Protect and conserve the natural environment and wildlife in and around Guludo Beach Lodge

Please contact us for our full environmental policy explaining how we achieve these 12 aims on the ground in Guludo.

Fair Trade in Tourism

The very core reason Guludo Beach Lodge exists is to be a catalyst that enables poor communities to work their way out of poverty while protecting the environment. Our model for achieving this includes a commercial business (Guludo Beach Lodge) and a charity (Nema Foundation).

The business acts as the foundations for the charity; creating the driving force, income and logistical support as well as a market for new SMEs.

The business alone has a powerful impact on achieving our goals through the way it is run. The best way of describing how Guludo operates is to say all our decisions are made using fair trade principles. This section of our website describes:

The Fair Trade Concept
Fair trade is generally associated with tangible goods and products such as coffee, chocolate, and sugar in which farmers and producers in the developing world receive better prices, work in better conditions, and initiate more sustainable production methods for their goods. Fair trade addresses injustices associated with conventional trade in which poor producers are often discriminated against within a global marketplace. The idea of fair trade is establishing itself in the tourism industry as well. It is an industry where workers must also receive fair wages, good working conditions, and become empowered with commercial opportunities.

Fair Trade in Tourism
Fair Trade Tourism is tourism that ensures local people actually benefit from the tourism industry that thrives on their culture, history, land, natural resources, and labour. This can mean employing people locally, paying fair wages, providing safe and happy working environments, and allowing for opportunities in skill/knowledge growth. In the case of our lodges, it can also mean making purchasing decisions locally so as to increase economic benefits to people within our region of operation as well.

Fair Trade at Guludo Beach Lodge
Here are examples of how our fair trade principles are used in our business (as identified by the UN WTO, 2004):

Employment: We employ 50+ local people from Guludo village and other surrounding villages. We pride ourselves in training and advancement of our staff as well in our encouraging of other lodges in the area to employ locally as well.

Supplying goods and services locally: We procure nearly everything needed in the day-to-day running of our lodge from a 5 km radius; often at higher cost than in if bought in the city. Supporting and encouraging local entrepreneurship (with its powerful multiplying effect in the region) is central to our ethos. This has been carried through from design of the lodge to operation with construction using local skills and materials, all furniture and furnishings produces by local artisans on site and even uniforms made with locally bought fabric by a local tailor.

Direct sales of goods and services to visitors by local people: We strongly encourage enterprise development and the direct sale of local goods to our guests. Several groups have been set up in the local area, including two palm weaving, a ceramic and bamboo weaving by our charity, Nema and many more are planned for the future. These groups sell directly to guests and us. Guests are encouraged to buy goods from these groups and shops to encourage further trade when visiting the local village. Nema is currently in the process of funding a local craft centre with a central shop to promote sales and create an area to work.

Establishment and running of tourism enterprises by the local community: We are constantly developing existing and new activities with community members for our guest to partake in. The lodge has been supporting a community group in creating a “lookout” where elephants are often seen. Almost all the lodge’s guests visit this lookout, each time a fee goes directly to the group. In addition, a couple of traditional dance groups have been established which regularly visit the lodge. A small group of women have created a “beauty on the beach” group, giving our guests traditional face masks, hair treatment as well as teaching guests how to make pots.

Taxes or levies on tourism revenues or profits: % of all lodge revenues go directly into our Nema charity. Many of our guests also contribute philanthropically.

Voluntary giving of resources: Both our guests and our company give money, goods (including pencils, clothing, books, etc.), and time to the local community. We also supply vehicles, fuel, and lodge resources.

Investment in infrastructure which provides livelihood benefits to the local community: Our Nema charity is currently involved water point rehabilitation project repairing (and sometime digging new) 26 water points. Nema is currently building two new primary schools and hopes to build a secondary school next year. Furthermore, we work with the local community to address their needs including the investment in a new craft centre and shop.

Monitoring our Progress & Impact: We monitor our progress through a comprehensive checklist of environmental, social, and economic checklist of actions which we feel exceeds most industry standards. Our checklist sets baselines and targets for improving every year.

1. This document describes the terms and conditions under which Bespoke Experience Limited (referred to as Bespoke) will provide you with accommodation at one of its community-based tourism lodges and access to its activities. By making your deposit you will be accepting these Terms and Conditions for yourself and on behalf of all members of your group.

2. Air travel: Bespoke is not responsible in any way for your travel to the country in which your holiday will take place. Your booking form will state the name of the location at which you will be met (referred to as the “meeting point” in this document). Bespoke's responsibilities commence when our representative meets you at the meeting point, the location from which you will be transported to Guludo Beach Lodge.

3. Insurance: You are responsible for taking out comprehensive travel and medical insurance (including dive cover if required) to cover all members of your party for the duration of your holiday. This should include insurance to pay for your holiday if for any reason you or a member of your group does not arrive at the Meeting Point, and also to cover any cancellation fees and losses of money or property during your holiday.

4. Bookings: Details of Bespoke holidays and prices can be found on the internet at www.guludo.com (Although every effort will be made to guarantee the price stated in the booking form, prices may be subject to change, especially in the event of alteration in currency exchange or if the holiday is booked more than 12 months in advance.) If you have any doubts about the suitability of your chosen holiday, you should email or phone Bespoke to discuss it. Booking and paying for your holiday is done in three stages:

A Provisional Reservation: You may make a Provisional Reservation via the web site, via email or over the phone. Once Bespoke has accepted your reservation, Bespoke will hold this reservation for you for three days or for such other period agreed with you in writing. At the end of this period the reservation will be cancelled unless the deposit has been paid.

Paying the deposit and Getting a Firm Booking: A contract between you and Bespoke (incorporating these Terms and Conditions) exists when Bespoke receives and accepts your deposit of 25% of the total price due for all the members of your party within the specified provisional reservation period. Within 14 days of receipt of your deposit we will send to you confirmation of your firm booking and a receipt for your deposit and an invoice for the outstanding balance and when it is due. We will also send to you details of your holiday: you should check these carefully. When you send your deposit you confirm that you accept these terms and conditions. Please note that the deposit is not refundable.
When you book your holiday less than 60 days before your holiday start date, you must pay the full amount to secure your booking.

Paying the Balance Due: The balance of your holiday cost must be paid 60 days before you are due to start your holiday. If you fail to make this payment, Bespoke has the right to cancel your booking.

Cancellation: Cancellations must be made in writing and received by us before the departure date. If you have to cancel your holiday after paying for it, the amount refunded to you depends upon the cancellation date:

More than 60 days before arrival 25% cancellation charge (i.e. total deposit)
60 days or less before arrival 50% cancellation charge
30 days or less before arrival 100% cancellation charge

5. A request for any special requirements must be made in writing (preferably by e-mail) and when we are able to offer the requested service, we will confirm this in writing. We cannot always guarantee special requirements, and without such written confirmation Bespoke has no obligation to fulfil your request. If you wish to amend the booking after the contract is formed, we will try to meet your request, but will be under no obligation to do so.

6. Guests under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by a person over the age of 18 years.

7. Refunds and Compensation: In common with most other resort managers, we are not able to pay compensation where services cannot be provided, and the limit of our liability in all cases is the cost of your holiday. Where we are unable to provide services, which have been paid for either because they are inclusive within the price paid or because they have been paid for in addition to the holiday price, an appropriate refund will be made. Bespoke limit the amount for any claim of whatever kind that does not involve personal injury, illness or death to a maximum of the price paid by or on behalf of the persons affected.

8. Holiday cancellation by Bespoke: A full refund will be paid to you if for any reason it is necessary for Bespoke to cancel your holiday and Bespoke is unable to offer an acceptable alternative.

9. Accuracy of Web Site and Brochure Details: It is possible that some facilities may not be available due to weather or other local problems. Where we know about this in advance we will do our best to inform you before you arrive. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information we provide, we cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions and reserve the right to vary, amend or cancel any of the arrangements featured, should we find such alterations necessary. As we always have your safety in mind, we and our staff are to have complete discretion to vary or cancel diving/sports programmes according to weather conditions and the experience of group members.

10. Claims against Bespoke: Bespoke and its suppliers' obligations to you are to provide you with services and facilities with reasonable skill and care. It is your responsibility to show that reasonable skill and care have not been used if you decide to make a claim against Bespoke.
Bespoke will not be responsible for claims for illness, death, injury or loss resulting from;

(a) the fault of the persons affected or members of their party or

(b) the fault of a third party, which could not reasonably be predicted or avoided or

(c) an event which could not have been avoided or predicted using all reasonable care or

(d) the fault of anyone not working for Bespoke or

(e) any activity not forming part of the Bespoke contract with you.

Claims will be based upon services and facilities contracted to you by Bespoke which are carried out under the laws and regulations of the country in which your claim or complaint occurred even if these laws and regulations differ from those in the UK.
Travel on Bespoke's vehicles and boats is covered by Bespoke's third party and vehicle insurance.

11. Your Responsibility: Everyone on a Bespoke holiday deserves an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. We may end your holiday if a senior member of our resort staff believes that your actions could be unsafe or dangerous, or upset other guests, our suppliers or our own staff. This means that you could be prevented from using your accommodation or Bespoke transport. If this occurs Bespoke will not pay you any refund or compensation and will not refund any expenses you incur as a result.

12. If you are not satisfied with your holiday you must inform the resort management immediately so that we can do everything possible to rectify the problem. If you are still not satisfied you must send your complaint in writing to Bespoke within 14 days from your agreed return date home.

13. Your contract with Bespoke is governed by English law. Any dispute will be dealt with by the courts of England and Wales or by the courts of Northern Ireland or Scotland if you live in those countries.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

Full payment is required 60 days prior to arrival
25% cancellation charge if cancelled more than 60 days before arrival
50% cancellation charge if cancelled 60 days or less before arrival
100% cancellation charge if cancelled 30 days or less before arrival
No refund will be given to guests for late arrivals or leaving prior to booked departure date
3.5% commission applicable to all payments made by credit card