Mozambique is more of a beach destination, than a safari destination, although the Gorongosa National Park is an emerging wildlife destination. With its pristine beaches, tropical white sandy beaches and warm tropical waters teeming with sea life, Mozambique is the perfect destination for some Rest and Relaxation after your safari in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana or Zimbabwe.

There are several beach destinations in Mozambique ranging from the tropical islands off the coast of Vilanculos, to the islands in the north and the long stretches of beaches in the south, each offering something unique. Mozambique is the perfect honeymoon destination when coupled with your safari in neighboring countries. For those looking for something a little more unique and adventurous why not explore the deserted islands and beaches of the north whilst on a dhow safari enjoying fresh seafood cooked over an open fire whilst camping on a deserted tropical island!

A safari to Mozambique offers guests some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling with colorful reefs teeming with marine life. Turtle, manta-rays, dolphins, eels, tropical fish and sharks all frequent the seas around Mozambique. For those looking for some deep-sea fishing, Mozambique is the perfect destination for that. Marlin, Tuna and other game fish frequent the oceans that surround the islands. At certain times of the year whales can be seen offshore as the migrate past Mozambique enroute to the Antarctic.

For guests wanting to be active whilst on their Mozambique safari, there is sea-kayaking, sailing and stand-up paddle boarding.

Mozambique Holidays

Mozambique is the ultimate beach destination for your African safari. Located to the East of South Africa, it connects perfectly with a safari to the Sabi Sands, a safari to Zambia, a safari to Zimbabwe or a safari to Botswana. It is the perfect beach destination for a honeymoon safari, a family safari or anyone looking for some rest and relaxation after their wildlife safari. Have a look at some of our Mozambique safari ideas and then get in touch and let’s start planning your dream safari to Mozambique….

Where are the best areas to go to in Mozambique?

The Best beaches and islands of Mozambique

Mozambique is blessed with an incredible coastline and offshore islands that offer picture-postcard settings. Powder white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, turquoise waters and coral reefs teeming with tropical marine life, what more can you ask for as a beach destination after your African safari adventure. Below are our top beach and island destinations in Mozambique.

Bazaruto Islands
The Bazaruto Archipelago is made up of 4 large islands: Bazaruto, Benguerra, Santa Isobel and Santa Carolina, all of which lie off the coast of Vilanculos which is the main access point for the islands and island lodges. The Bazaruto Islands are your typical tropical island paradise with white sandy beaches, palm trees, calm, warm turquoise waters and offshore reefs teeming with colorful tropical fishes. The Bazaruto Islands are the perfect place to relax and unwind after your days on safari in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe or Namibia.

Bazaruto and Benguerra are the only 2 islands that have any villages and lodges, with Santa Isobel and Santa Carolina being uninhabited. Benguerra Island is home to our top choice of beach lodges, Azura Benguerra. This stylish beach lodge offers a wide range of luxury bungalows right on the beach. With world class service and food to match, Azura Benguerra is the perfect choice for honeymooners or anyone looking for a private, relaxing beach holiday in Mozambique.

Guests staying at any of the beach lodges on Bazaruto or Benguerra have lots to do during their beach holiday. From snorkeling some of the best reefs in the world, horse riding, village tours, sailing, island picnics, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, dhow trips or simply relaxing on the beach.

Vilanculos
The town of Vilanculos is the main access point from South Africa to the Bazaruto and Benguerra Islands. The town offers some great culture and markets, but there is only one property here that we would sell. Santorini Villas are on the northern side of the town on a cliff overlooking the ocean and islands. Being on the mainland, the beach is not as pristine as those of the islands and any diving or snorkeling requires day trips out to the islands which come at an additional cost. The villas, however, are stunning and perfect to just relax at and enjoy the serenity of the place. The food is incredible with most of it being locally sourced.

Ibo Island and the Quirimbas Archipelago
In the north of Mozambique lies the Quirimbas Archipelago, including Ibo Island. Most of the islands in the Quirimbas Archipelago are uninhabited, although some of the larger islands here have exclusive luxury beach lodges on them, offering guests some of the most exclusive beaches in the world. Ibo Island is one of the larger islands in the chain and has been used as a trading post for hundreds of years. Today Ibo Island has a lost world feeling to it where local fishermen cast their nets and lines as has been done for centuries before them, using traditional dhows to access deeper channels. The architecture of Ibo Island dates back several centuries when pirates and slaves moved through these waters.

Our pick of island resorts in the Quirimbas Archipelago is the Azura Quilalea which is a rustic, yet luxurious private beach lodge on a coral outcrop with some of the best diving and snorkeling right from the beach.

A unique experience that guests can enjoy in the Quirimbas Archipelago is a multi-day Dhow safari. Sailing between uninhabited islands on a traditional dhow, eating fresh seafood bought from local fishermen and cooked on an open fire on the beach, this is an amazing way to explore the tropical islands of the north. As you sail between the islands, the crew will find a secluded island and beach to setup camp for the night.

Benguerra Island and the Bazaruto Archipelago

Some of the most pristine islands, beaches and coral reefs in Africa

​Shallow sandbars, turquoise waters and white sandy beaches is what comes to mind when you think of tropical islands and this is exactly what the Bazaruto Islands have to offer. Just off the coast of Vilanculos, the Bazaruto Archipelago are made up of 4 islands with Bazaruto and Benguerra being the only 2 that have villages and lodges on them.

Benguerra Island has several remote beach lodges to choose from, all of which are luxurious and offer the best in relaxation. Azura Benguerra is our pick of some of the best beach lodges in Africa. Set on a long stretch of white sandy beach of a quiet bay, Azura Benguerra has a few different beach bungalows to choose from. Each of them is only a couple of steps from the beach and ocean and each has a private plunge pool. The service and food at Azura Benguerra are first class with only the freshest seafood and vegetables.

From any of the lodges on the Bazaruto or Benguerra Islands, guests can explore the marine park and neighboring islands. Some of the best snorkeling happens at 2-mile reef or the aquarium. Colorful tropical fish, eels, turtles and occasionally reef sharks frequent the shallow reefs making this ideal for novice snorkelers. Off the islands are several world class diving spots perfect for novices and experts alike.

As the islands sit on a sandbank that quickly drops off into the big blue depths beyond, the Bazaruto Islands offer some of the best deep-sea fishing in Africa with fishermen regularly catching tuna, barracuda, sailfish and marlin. Between the months of July and October humpbacked whales migrate past the islands and throughout the year dolphins can be seen in the shallows between the islands and mainland. The sandbars and seagrasses that line them are the only place in Africa where you can dugongs in the wild.

Guests staying at any of the luxury beach lodges have a wide range of activities to keep them busy during their stay. Alternatively, guests can simply relax on the powder white beaches. For guests that want to explore, there is horse riding along the beach, sailing, kitesurfing, traditional dhow trips, island hoping trips, snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, village visits and island picnics.

Within easy reach of Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park, the Bazaruto Islands are the perfect beach destination to add onto your safari to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia or Zambia. From Vilanculos, guests can access the islands, usually by helicopter or by boat transfer.

When is the best Season to go to on a beach holiday to Mozambique?

Mozambique Seasons

We get asked by a lot of our guests “When is the best time to visit Mozambique?” and so we will try and answer that here as best we can, as it is often more complex than that. Mozambique has a coastline of over 2,000km stretching from South Africa in the south right up to Tanzania in the north, however Mozambique mainly follows a Southern African weather pattern.

As with other Southern African countries, Mozambique receives majority of its rainfall starting in November and lasting up until March. The main rains, however, start in December and are subsiding in March. Most of the rain that hits Mozambique comes in on the southeast trade winds, which means that Madagascar takes most of the brunt of any tropical storms that head towards Mozambique. It must be said, though, that Mozambique does get its fair share of cyclones that move down between Madagascar and Mozambique, affecting the coastline and islands. These cyclones often push through and affect the eastern side of South Africa and Zimbabwe. In the grand scheme of things, Mozambique receives little rainfall and so can be visited at anytime of the year. The summer months of December to March can be hot and humid though with average high daytime temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F) with high humidity.

By April, the dry season starts to kick in with nighttime temperatures starting to get a little chilly, dropping to an average of 20°C (68°F). By May winter has started and temperatures during the day average around 27°C (81°F) and by night the average is around 18°C (64°F). June, July and August are mild in terms of temperatures with pleasant daytime temperatures averaging around 26°C (79°F), while nighttime temperatures average 16°C (61°F), so bring warm clothes for mornings.

By September and October, the temperature starts to rise again as summer starts. Average daytime temperatures are around 28°C (82°F) while nighttime temperatures average 20°C (68°F). Being on the warm Indian Ocean, the sea temperatures remain warm throughout the year, barely dropping below 22°C (73°F) in winter, so it is possible to swim throughout the year. During summer, the sea temperature rises to a maximum of 26°C (79°F).