Why

Mozambique is located in the south-eastern corner of Africa and boasts a stunning stretch of pristine coastline and the warm Indian Ocean. With white-sand beaches, coral islands and protected marine parks, Mozambique is ideal for pairing with a Big Five safari experience in South Africa to create a truly ideal holiday.

Travellers can explore the bustling Maputo or relax on the palm-fringed islands such as Ponta do Ouro, Bilene, Xai-Xai, Inhambane, Vilanculos, the Bazaruto Archipelago, Pemba, and the Quirimbas Archipelago. Mozambique is a top destination for snorkelling, sunset cruises, horse riding, dolphin encounters, scuba diving, and basking in the sun.

Mozambique caters to solo explorers, couples, and families with a wide selection of world-class hotels, lodges and resorts offering gorgeous ocean views, exceptional hospitality, and sumptuous Mozambican cuisine.

When

The question of when to travel to Mozambique depends on many factors, your interests and the regions you plan to visit.

The country broadly follows South Africa’s weather pattern, with the rains falling largely between December and March. This may vary between the north and south of the country, with the rains lasting a few weeks longer in the north than in the south, but the pattern is the same. Humidity can be uncomfortably high during this period.

By around April or May, the rains subside, the sun comes out, and the humidity drops – better weather spreads gradually from the south to the north.

June to October is the dry season, with often-perfect tropical weather: clear skies, plenty of sun and almost no rain. This is the best time for most people to visit Mozambique. Although still tropical, June, July and August are Mozambique's coolest months; you'll need a light duvet at night, even though temperatures reach over 30°C by day. During September and October, it remains dry as daytime temperatures climb, though it cools down significantly at night.

November is a less predictable month of transition. Sometimes the rains start, although many days remain sunny and hot. The rains generally start earlier in the north of the country.

Where

Mozambique has become a favourite beach and island destination. The warm, crystal-blue waters of the Indian Ocean make it ideal for big-game fishing, diving and romantic getaways.

Two clusters of islands on the horizon include the Bazaruto Archipelago and the Quirimbas Archipelago – perfect for slowing down and enjoying the easy pace of island life, fresh seafood and sunset cruises aboard a traditional Dhow.

There’s more to Mozambique than laid-back island living. It also offers incredible wildlife experiences, with popular choices including the beautiful Gorongosa National Park.

Ponta do Ouro

Ponta do Ouro is a town in the extreme south of Mozambique, lying on the Mozambique Channel south of Maputo and just north of the border with South Africa. It is known for its beaches, dolphins, and offshore diving and deep-sea fishing. Must-see attractions include a small shop called Ponki, which sells authentic hand-woven kikois at affordable prices and the bustling downtown market. Fresh seafood is displayed in colourful cooler boxes, and you can buy enormous crayfish, lobsters, prawns, and fish.

Maputo

Maputo is the fascinating capital city of Mozambique. With its Portuguese colonial heritage, vibrant residents, markets and delicious seafood cuisine, there are plenty of attractions for everyone. Must-see attractions include the Natural History Museum, the Old Portuguese Fort, the Inhaca and Portuguese Islands, accessible by ferry, the Maputo Elephant Reserve, and the beautiful Maputo Central Railway Station, which Gustave Eiffel designed.

Vilanculos

Vilanculos is a small coastal town 700 kilometres from the Inhaca and Portuguese Islands. It is a piece of paradise with dazzling powder-white beaches, coconut palms, crystal blue waters, and a superb all-year-round temperate climate, making it the perfect hideaway for a holiday with a perfect mix of leisure and adventure. Adventure comes in so many forms – best marlin fishing in the world, snorkelling, boating, diving, kite surfing and just good old swimming. Dhow sailboat and motorboat trips are offered by many to fulfil your adrenaline rush or provide the amazing opportunity to swim with dolphins or sea turtles. Vilanculos is just pure bliss!

Tofo

Tofo is a coastal town in south-eastern Mozambique, near Inhambane. It's known for the curved Tofo Beach and nearby coral reefs, which attract sea life. Sea turtles and huge manta rays circle at Manta Reef. Tofo is one of the best destinations for divers to see whale sharks and is a surfer's paradise. Discover the small African street market where you can buy fresh produce and small odds and ends. If you are an angler, go fishing for King Mackerel, Dorado, Wahoo, Bonito and Yellowfin Tuna during peak season from June to August. Or hire a horse from the stables and ride along the beach in warm sea breezes. Alternatively, laze on the beach all day, swimming, tanning and reading long novels.

Bazaruto Archipelago

The Bazaruto Archipelago consists of six idyllic islands lying off the Mozambique coastal town of Vilankulo (Vilanculos): Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina (Paradise Island), Bangue and Pansy Shell Island. Mozambique Holidays to the Archipelago are some of the best on the African continent. Renowned as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, the Bazaruto Archipelago offers exclusive accommodation options, relaxation, and incredible sunrises and sunsets. The Bazaruto Archipelago is a protected Marine National Park with unique habitats and species; a paradise for divers who will discover groups of dolphins, humpback whales, whale sharks, sharks, manta rays and turtles.

Bazaruto Island

Bazaruto Island lies in Bazaruto National Park, off the coast of southern Mozambique. Resorts dot the island’s white beaches, and it’s known for marine life like turtles and dugongs. The clear waters of Two Mile Reef are filled with colourful fish, reef sharks, and moray eels, while the deeper area in Indigo Bay is home to sailfish and marlin. Traditional dhow boats run to nearby islands, Santa Carolina and Benguerra. Bazaruto Island is ideal for honeymooners, with only three resorts occupying the island.

Benguerra Island

Benguerra Island in Mozambique is the second-largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, which broke away from the mainland thousands of years ago. Benguerra Island is approximately 55 square kilometres in extent, giving guests ample privacy within this idyllic paradise. The island was declared part of a national park in 1971 and sustains a diverse population of fauna and flora, including forest, savannah and wetland ecosystems. Benguerra Island offers pristine beaches and unspoiled coral reefs filled with marine life. Benguerra is an underwater wonderland for divers, with a variety of tropical fish species and Africa’s only population of the rare dugong. The deep Mozambique Channel, which runs alongside the island, is well known for its game fish, and Benguerra Island offers some of the world’s best catch-and-release deep-sea fishing and fly fishing opportunities.

Quirimbas Islands

Stretching more than 100 kilometres along the Indian Ocean, the Quirimbas Archipelago is set just off the northern coast of Mozambique. Many of its islands are part of Quirimbas National Park, known for coral reefs and waters inhabited by dolphins, whales and endangered dugongs (sea cows). Secluded Matemo, Medjumbe, and Vamizi islands have long beaches and phenomenal dive sites. Mangrove-covered Ibo Island features colonial-era ruins, including forts. The Quirimbas Islands offer unique, unspoiled accommodation year-round for visitors.

Ibo Island

The ultimate Mozambique holiday destination, Ibo Island has a lost world appeal and a rich history - an island that was once an important trading post for the East Africa trade. Meet the people of Ibo, a fascinating cultural blend of European, Indian, Arabic, and Chinese influences. They still follow and respect the old Mozambican tribal customs and religions on this historical island. On Ibo Island, you can experience fully guided, tailor-made, mobile island hopping dhow and kayak safaris. It is the best way to explore the exotic islands, pristine mangroves, and exquisite coral reefs. It is also an ideal location to savour the incredible experience of swimming with wild dolphins in their natural environment or indulge in a private castaway picnic in a deserted tropical paradise known as Mogundula Island.  

Matemo Island

Surrounded by white-sandy beaches and the deep blue ocean, Matemo Island lies in the beautiful Quirimbas Archipelago, off the coast of Mozambique. Matemo Island offers the warm Indian Ocean, spectacular sunsets, unspoiled beaches, and the incredible marine life that inhabits the Quirimbas National Park. The beautiful and protected tropical waters around Matemo Island are among Mozambique's best-kept secrets. Diving is the ideal way to discover the magnificent marine ecosystem. The area is well known to offer some of the most spectacular fishing in the world. Other activities include snorkelling, sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing, and kayaking.

Pemba

Pemba Island, known as "The Green Island" in Arabic, is an island forming part of the Zanzibar Archipelago, lying within the Swahili Coast in the Indian Ocean. Pemba is a popular tourist destination for water sports and diving enthusiasts. Pemba Bay forms a huge harbour, and stunning coral reefs lie close to shore, providing wonderful diving and snorkelling adventures. The bay's surrounding landscape is characterised by forests of Baobab trees growing down to the shoreline. Dhow safaris are also a highlight and popular way to sail around the bay and beyond.

Gorongosa National Park

Gorongosa National Park is a protected area in Central Mozambique that has been featured in several National Geographic documentaries. A successful conservation story - Gorongosa’s forests and savannahs are home to lions, hippos, and elephants. Lake Urema and its surrounding wetlands and rivers attract scores of water birds. The multi-tiered Murombodzi Falls spill over jagged rocks on the slopes of Mount Gorongosa. Limestone gorges and bat-filled caves define the Cheringoma Plateau. Gorongosa offers open vehicle game drives through a diversity of habitats, wildlife, and outstanding birdlife. You will have the opportunity to look over spectacular floodplains and explore mystical fever tree and palm forests whilst searching for the resident wildlife. A remarkable diversity of antelope, numerous primates, and great birdlife are encountered. With a bit of luck, you could find lions, large elephant herds, buffalo, hippopotamus and some really enormous crocodiles.