Sheltered above the red cliffs of Kingfisher Bay in Mozambique?s coastal town of Vilanculos, Santorini rises like an ember above the caerulean waters of the Bazaruto archipelago.

The time for a family trip has never been more de rigueur and together with my husband and our 12-year-old daughter, we depart for Mozambique on a Thursday morning. We are equally excited to learn that our Airlink flight from Johannesburg to Vilanculos is on the Avro RJ85 and after 1 hour and 20 minutes, the captain announces that he will be flying in over the sea. As we start our descent, each window seat passenger gasps with delight at the unparalleled views of the Indian Ocean.

At Vilanculos airport, an immigration official stamps our passports and after collecting our luggage, we are met by Tatenda Mutembo, who drives us to our destination in the Santorini branded 4×4 safari converted vehicle. At the lodge, we are met at the main Villa by management team Heidi Rabbetts, Wynand van der Watt, Lucy Bowes, Norman Walker and the wanted relief of cool refresher towels and a welcome drink.
We are taken to our accommodation for the next three nights, The Chapel, a stand-alone villa on the northern fringes of Santorini?s main villa. Our host, Calistro Boane, shows us around our impressive dwelling; a two-bedroom villa with a lounge area, dining section, kitchen, patio and rim-flow pool.

A table for three is set up outside on the patio and with uninterrupted sea views, you might forget to eat. O...