Dhows, dugongs and empty sandbars in the Bazaruto Archipelago: the Indian Ocean beach that pairs with a Kruger safari.
Mozambique has more than 2,000 kilometres of Indian Ocean coast, but the part we send people to most is the Bazaruto Archipelago. Its islands, protected as a national park, are ringed by sandbars, sea-grass beds and reefs, and the lodges on Benguerra and Bazaruto are small, barefoot and private.
It works well after a Kruger or Sabi Sand safari: a short flight from Johannesburg to Vilanculos, then a boat or helicopter to the island. Further south, Tofo is known for swimming with whale sharks and manta rays.
The honest caveats: Mozambique is a malaria area, the far north is subject to FCDO warnings, and cyclones can strike from January to March. We keep to the southern coast and the dry months.
The experiences we plan most often, with the months they are at their best.
Traditional dhows still sail between the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago. Time a trip to low tide, when sandbars appear between Benguerra and Bazaruto, and stop for snorkelling at Two Mile Reef. Private sails with lunch on a sandbank are easy to arrange from the lodges.
The Bazaruto Archipelago is thought to hold the largest dugong population on the east African coast. Sightings are never guaranteed, but boat trips across the sea-grass beds, sometimes with a spotter plane or helicopter, give you a real chance. Calm, clear days between May and October are best.
Off Tofo, near Inhambane, plankton-rich water draws whale sharks and giant manta rays for much of the year. Ocean safaris head out from the beach to snorkel alongside them, and divers visit Manta Reef. Encounters vary with conditions, so allow two or three days.
From about July to October, humpback whales migrate north along the coast to breed. They are often seen breaching from the beach at Tofo and from boats around Bazaruto. Whale watching is a highlight of the dry season, when seas are calmer.
Maputo is worth a night on the way through. Wide avenues of acacias and jacarandas, Portuguese colonial buildings, the Mercado Central and lively restaurants serving prawns with peri-peri give it a character quite unlike other southern African capitals. Go with a local guide.
Bazaruto's high dunes look out over the whole archipelago, and on the mainland near Vilanculos you can ride horses along the beach and into the shallows. Island lodges also offer kayaking, fly fishing and sunset walks along empty shore.
On Benguerra and Bazaruto, choose between a handful of private island lodges with villas on the beach; all are reached by boat or helicopter from Vilanculos. Around Tofo, stay in a small beach lodge for diving and ocean safaris. For a night in Maputo, choose a hotel on the seafront.
We match each trip in Mozambique to hotels, lodges and villas chosen for the way you travel. Tell us what matters and a specialist will suggest two or three that fit.
Ask for hotel suggestionsMozambique's coast has a warm, dry season from April to November and a hot, humid, wet season from December to March, when cyclones are possible. The dry months have calmer seas, clearer water and lower humidity, which makes them the time for island stays.
Whale season, roughly July to October, is our favourite window, and it pairs well with the dry-season peak in Kruger and the private reserves. May and June are quieter, cooler and good value.
A night in Maputo, three nights of ocean safaris at Tofo and four on a private island in the Bazaruto Archipelago. 8 nights.
Connect in Johannesburg for Maputo. Walk the old town with a guide and eat prawns on the seafront.
Fly or drive to Inhambane and continue to Tofo for ocean safaris with whale sharks and mantas, and whale watching in season.
Transfer north to Vilanculos and cross to Benguerra for four nights of dhow sailing, snorkelling and quiet beaches.
Boat or helicopter back to Vilanculos and fly to Johannesburg for the overnight flight to London.
Practical notes checked against their sources. For entry and safety, the FCDO advice for Mozambique (opens in a new tab) is always the authority.
There are no direct flights from the UK. Connect in Johannesburg, from where Airlink flies to Vilanculos in about an hour and a half, and to Maputo.
UK passport holders currently need an electronic travel authorisation before travelling to Mozambique. Read the FCDO entry requirements (opens in a new tab) before you book, and the regional safety advice on the main FCDO page.
Read the FCDO entry requirements for Mozambique (opens in a new tab)
Mozambique is a malaria area. Check TravelHealthPro (opens in a new tab) well before you go. The sun is strong on the water, so bring high-factor sun cream and a rash vest for snorkelling.
The currency is the metical. In tourist areas, prices are often quoted in rand, and US dollars are widely exchanged. Island lodges are prepaid, and cash machines can be unreliable, so carry some cash.
Vodacom has a good network in towns and along the coast, and SIM cards are sold in Maputo and Vilanculos. Island lodges generally have wifi, though it can be slow.
Tips are appreciated by lodge staff, dhow crews and dive guides. Most lodges have a shared staff box, and tips can be left in meticais, rand or dollars. We include current guidance with your documents.
The easiest route is a Kruger or Sabi Sand safari first, then a flight from Johannesburg to Vilanculos and a short boat or helicopter hop to the islands. Four or five nights on the beach after three or four on safari makes a balanced 10 days. Both are best in the dry months.
The southern coast, including Maputo, Tofo and the Bazaruto Archipelago, is visited by many travellers each year. The FCDO advises against travel to much of Cabo Delgado province in the far north, which includes parts of the Quirimbas, so we do not plan trips there at present. Check the FCDO page before booking.
Cyclones are possible from about January to March, and the wet season runs from December to March. Many lodges stay open, and most weeks pass without incident, but for island stays we prefer April to November, when the weather is more settled and the sea is clearer.
Yes. The island lodges of the Bazaruto Archipelago are small and private, with beach villas, plunge pools and dhow trips for two. Combining a few nights on safari with an island stay gives a honeymoon both drama and rest, without the long flights to the Indian Ocean islands.
Tell us a little and a specialist will reply with ideas, dates that work and a price. Best months: May to October.
Cape Town, the Winelands and a private Kruger reserve in one trip, with direct flights and barely any jet lag.
Swahili Stone Town, spice farms and white-sand beaches on the Indian Ocean: the natural finish to an East African safari.
One island with lagoon beaches, forest gorges and Creole cooking, where the coast you choose matters as much as the hotel.
Granite boulders, forested peaks and islands you can hop between by ferry: the Indian Ocean for people who like to explore.
