Great Escapes
The pandemic is not stopping these hoteliers from unveiling their passion projects on far-flung tropical islands—let the owners’ optimism inspire you to book trips to these hideaways in the not-too-distant future
KISAWA SANCTUARY Benguerra Island, Mozambique
Spanning 300 hectares of virgin territory in Mozambique, Kisawa Sanctuary on Benguerra Island is the first hotel established by entrepreneur and philanthropist Nina Flohr. The stylish royal— her official title is Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark—is best known for her work as creative director of her family’s private aviation company, Vistajet, and she brings her knowledge of luxury to this landmark project, which is currently in its soft-opening phase.
Kisawa has 12 bungalows from one to three bedrooms. Each has an open-air deck, private pool, outdoor kitchen and its very own stretch of beach, providing guests with plenty of room to immerse themselves in nature. Each bungalow is decorated differently, but all of them showcase traditional craftsmanship, with local weaving, carpentry and textiles featured inside. The hotel’s culinary programme
is also commendable: it offers organic, seasonal produce grown at the resort or bought from a network of local farmers, operates a zero-waste policy and does not use any processed ingredients in its dishes. A natural wellness centre that specialises in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine is due to open in July. kisawasanctuary.com
CAP KAROSO Sumba, Indonesia
Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, but Sumba has captured the hearts of first-time hoteliers Fabrice and Evguenia
Ivara, who are opening
Cap Karoso there later this year. The French couple embarked on the project in 2018, moving to Singapore to oversee the build of the 47-room hotel and 20 villas in southwest Sumba.
“When we arrived, the wild feeling of the place was such a refreshing contrast to the world of globalisation— with buffaloes on the roads, indigenous tribal traditions and pristine beaches,” says Evguenia—and this is exactly the experience she wants to share with guests. But that does not mean sacrificing modern technology or creature comforts. The Ivaras are crafting a space that’s sophisticated rather than spartan: rooms are decorated in a minimalist style, the hotel’s greenhouse will grow produce to be eaten on site, and the couple have also built a solar park that provides 50 per cent of the property’s energy needs. capkaroso.com
L’ESCALE RESORT MARINA & SPA Mahé, Seychelles
While the hotel’s name literally means “stopover” in French, L’escale Resort Marina & Spa, which is surrounded by the lush forests and cerulean waters of the Seychelles, has been designed to encourage you to linger. Created by London-based Winch Design, each of the 25 rooms is decorated in calming cream hues and has a spacious terrace or balcony from which to savour views of the mountains or the Indian Ocean. The resort also features a two-storey wellness facility, Eden Holistic Spa, which is focused on the healing power of water.
The hotel is also easy to reach—it’s located on the Seychelles’ largest island, Mahé, and is only a ten-minute-drive from the airport. It also has a sprawling new marina that can accommodate up to 19 superyachts, in case you’re arriving by sea. L’escale Resort Marina & Spa launched earlier this year— perfect timing, as Seychelles opened its borders to all international travellers in March.