Mozambique Travel Guide

Azulik, San Sebastian Peninsula, Vilanculos

Mozambique is essentially a beach destination and while most of the beaches are excellent, the places that have the infrastructure to support tourism are:

• Ponto da Ouro
• Ponta Mamoli
• Machangulo Peninsula
• Inhambane & Pomene
• Vilanculos & the Bazaruto Archipelago
• Ilha da Mozambique
• Nacala
• Pemba
• Quirimbas Archipelago

If you want a Mozambican island experience, the Bazaruto and Quirimbas Archipelagos are your best choices while the mainland has a wide variety of holiday options to fit most budgets.

While it is possible to sun yourself on the beach for 3 nights, we recommend that you stay a little longer to unwind and stays up to 14 nights are not uncommon. It is essential to select the property you stay at for longer periods carefully as some properties have very few additional activities besides sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling.

Mozambique is tropical with temperatures very seldom going below 15°C. Being 2470 km from north to south the further north you travel, the closer you are to the equator and the hotter the weather.

The country experiences two seasons, a wet season (October to March) and a dry season (April to September.

While there is some variation between the north and south, the wet period is mostly between December and March and is also accompanied with high humidity, sometimes uncomfortably so.

The dry period offers clear skies, little rain and lots of sunshine.

February and August are traditionally the windiest months and visibility during dives may be reduced greatly. January and February are also the months that cyclones may be experienced although this is not a very common occurrence.

Central and South Mozambique climate chart

Northern Mozambique climate chart

Citizens of SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries do not require a visa to enter Mozambique. All other countries do require a visa which must be obtained beforehand if the country has Consular representation. A visa can be obtained on arrival by citizens of those countries that do not have consular representation.

Mozambique is a malaria risk area. Anti-malaria medication is recommended, and you should consult your doctor in this regard. To minimise the risk of contracting malaria, wear long trousers and cover your arms in the evening, and apply mosquito repellent.

A Yellow fever vaccination is required if you are coming from an endemic country. The following vaccinations are recommended, but not compulsory:

• Hepatitis A & B
• Typhoid
• Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (TDAP)
• Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR)
• Chickenpox
• Shingles
• Pneumonia
• Influenza
• Rabies
• Meningococcal meningitis

You can self-drive through Mozambique, but you will need a 4×4 vehicle to get to most places on the coast as once you have left the reasonably good north/south tar road, the roads become sandy. Just north of Vilanculos to Beira it is not recommended that you self-drive as the roads are very bad. From Beira to Pemba, the main road improves and a 4×4 vehicle is needed to get to the coast.

Chapa’s (is it a bus or a truck?) are the local means of transport from town to town. They are primitive and uncomfortable. Taxis are available in the bigger centres, but by far easiest way is to fly into one of the main centres and have your lodge transfer you from the airport.

Machangulo Peninsula & lodge

Easily accessible from Maputo, the Machangulo Peninsula is a stone’s throw from Inhaca Island. It is surrounded by marine reserves which offer excellent diving, some of the best in Mozambique. Machangulo is certainly off-the-beaten track as it is the only lodge in the whole area. Fishing; shore, rock and deep-sea are excellent and with the range of activities on offer, this is a pace for the whole family.

Bridge over Maputo Bay

Maputo is a truly African city, a combination of a few modern buildings, old colonial structures, quiet leafy suburbs, slums, industrial areas, a harbour and beachfront all in close proximity. Most roads in the city are untarred and in the rainy season are muddy and smelly. Recovering from a devastating civil war, Mozambique is trying to claw its way into the 21^st century and nowhere is this more evident than is Maputo. It is a city that is constantly on the go, vibrant is its own way, poor and not very attractive.

While it does have a beachfront, the water quality is poor, so we recommend that you make use of the hotel pool instead.

Whale Sharks are often seen in Tofo Bay

The area is made up of several bays and peninsulas, all with long sandy beaches. Inhambane and Maxixe are the largest coastal towns in the area, but most of the lodges and resorts are in the surrounding areas and often stand alone on their section of this part of the Mozambican coastline.

Bays like Tofo (known for its whale sharks), Barra Beach, Inhambane Bay (has a small number of dugongs in its waters), Pomene Peninsula with its water chalets, Travessia and Massinga offer a myriad of activities, both on and off the water.

Vilanculos Beach

Just outside the vibrant town of Vilanculos and scattered along the beach and cliffs along the coast you will find holiday lodges, hotels and resorts. Vilanculos looks over the shallow water that separates the mainland from the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago. The coral reefs around the Islands and the islands themselves protect the beaches of Vilanculos where the water is calm and hardly ever experiences large waves.

From self-catering lodges, large resorts, more boutique honeymoon hotels to the magnificent 5 star Santorini set high on a cliff just north of the town, most budgets are catered for. Surprisingly, with the number of tourist establishments, the beaches are not very busy allowing you to bake in the sun quite comfortably. Some of the hotels are well known for their excellent standard of cuisine.

The vibrant town is a short drive or less than a 30min walk away (depending where you are staying). You can visit the local shops, the outdoor stalls, have a cup of coffee in a coffee shop or just take in the vibe of the village.

Close to Vilanculos is the San Sebastian Peninsula which forms part of The Sanctuary, a conservation and eco-tourism initiative that includes both land and ocean reserves. The reserve protects some of the areas where the dugong is found and also boasts antelope, giraffe and other species that have been reintroduced into the area.

The activities available are almost endless, varied and for the whole family.

Benguerra Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago

The Bazaruto Archipelago is made up of the two main islands of Bazaruto, the largest, Benguerra and 4 smaller islands, namely Margaruque, Santa Carolina (Paradise Island), Banque and Pansy Shell Island. The islands lie within the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, a 1583 km² area that was established to protect the marine wildlife, including turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, dolphins, whales, sharks and the only viable population of Dugongs, numbering about 250 individuals, along the coast.

The islands have beautiful sandy beaches, sand bars, azure blue seas, sand dunes, coral reefs and freshwater lakes, complete with crocodiles. The activities available are almost endless, varied and for the whole family.

Serengeti of the South, Gorongosa’s wild dogs

Unique in that it is the first private ecotourism initiative in the world, the “Serengeti of the South” is starting to open up again for tourism. With lakes, mountains, swamps and huge savannah plains this National Park, at the end of the south-eastern most spur of the Rift Valley, is truly beautiful. As the most ecologically diverse park in the world, Gorongosa has huge tourism and conservation potential.

Old buildings of the city

Once the capital of Portuguese East Africa, Ilha de Mocambique, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to about 14000 people. Dating back to the 15^th century, it has a rich history which today can be explored by visiting the Palace of Sao Paulo, the church of the same name, the museum and walking through its streets. The island is roughly divided in half, one half being the original slave quarters and the other the ruling elite.

While the island does have beaches, these are crowded and unattractive. A short sail away, on a stunning peninsula lies Coral Lodge. With mangrove swamps, a private lagoon, a long sandy beach, corals reefs and a local village a short walk away you are spoilt for choice of how to fill your days here. A historical day trip to Ilha de Mocambique is a must for all visitors to this unique part of Mozambique.

Nuarro Lodge near Nacala

A town on the Mozambique coast boasts the deepest port on the East African Coast which serves, via railway, countries in the interior like Malawi.

Nuarro Lodge is located north of Nacala on a dune overlooking Nanatha Bay. With coastal bush backing the property and the ocean in front, it is a true bush & beach destination. The lodge lends itself to mountain biking amongst the bush and Baobabs, snorkelling, scuba diving, sun-bathing, kayaking, dhow sailing and paddle-boarding. As it is quite remote, it is ideal for a quiet, and if required, romantic getaway.

Mequfi resort near Pemba

Pemba has seen rapid development in recent years as it is the staging point for the exploitation and development of the huge gas reserve found out to sea in the area. This has led to a small fishing village being transformed into a small busy city. If you travel for about 20min or more, either south or north, you will find some beautiful lodges and resorts that bely the fact that a busy city is just a short distance away. With the calm, blue Indian Ocean, long sandy beaches and warm tropical waters, a stay here can be truly special.

Azura Quilalea private island

The Quirimbas Archipelago is a series of 32 islands, not all inhabited, dotted around the northern Mozambique coast. Eleven of the islands are part of the protected Quirimbas National Park, which while being mainly a marine park, also extends to include a large portion of land on the mainland. With most of the islands being protected by coral reefs, the warm waters are calm and great for diving, snorkelling, kayaking, paddle-boarding and relaxing on the white sandy beaches.

The sea floor drops away in certain areas and provides the perfect conditions for deep-sea fishing. At certain times of the year whales can been observed adding to the already impressive list, which includes turtle breeding excursions, of activities you can enjoy.

Ibo Island, Azura Quililea and Vamizi Islands are those most developed for tourism and rival the Maldives for beauty and experience.