Mozambique Holidays Ideas

Mozambique is the ultimate beach destination to complete your African safari. Located to the northeast 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 for 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 to start planning your dream safari to Mozambique….

Where to go in Mozambique

Mozambique is blessed with an incredible coastline and offshore islands that offer picture-postcard settings. There’s beautiful 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 these islands are located 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 sand, palm trees, and calm warm waters teeming with colourful tropical fish. The Bazaruto Islands are easy to access from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe or Namibia, making them an ideal beach location to end your African safari.

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 luxurious beach lodge offers a range of exquisite bungalows right on the beach. With world class service and food to match, Azura Benguerra is the perfect choice for honeymooners, couples or a group of friends 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. There’s snorkelling in some of the best reefs in the world, horse riding, village tours, sailing, island picnics, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, and dhow trips, not to mention simply relaxing on the pristine beach. You definitely won’t get bored on these islands!

Vilanculos

The town of Vilanculos is the main access point from South Africa to the Bazaruto and Benguerra Islands. The town offers some great markets, which offers excellent insight into Mozambique culture. There is only one property in Vilanculos that we would book for our guests.

The Santorini Villas are on the northern side of the town on a cliff overlooking the ocean and islands. Because it is on the mainland, the beach is not as pristine as those of the islands, and any diving or snorkelling requires day trips out to the islands which comes at an additional cost. The villas, however, are stunning and perfect to just relax in and enjoy the serenity of the property. The food at Santorini is also incredible, with most of it being locally sourced.

Ibo Island and the Quirimbas Archipelago

The Quirimbas Archipelago, which includes Ibo Island, can be found in the north of Mozambique. Most of the islands in the Quirimbas Archipelago are uninhabited, but some of the larger islands here are home private luxury beach lodges, which offer 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. Ibo Island has a forgotten world feeling to it. Here, the local fishermen cast their nets and lines as they have done for centuries, using traditional dhows to access deeper channels. The architecture of Ibo Island dates back several hundreds of years when pirates and slaves moved through these waters.

Our pick of resorts in the Quirimbas Archipelago is the Azura Quilalea. This is a rustic, yet luxurious private beach lodge on a coral outcrop, that offers some of the best diving and snorkeling available in Mozambique right from the beach.

A unique experience that guests can enjoy in the Quirimbas Archipelago is a multi-day Dhow safari. This involves sailing between uninhabited islands on a traditional dhow, eating fresh seafood bought from local fishermen that is 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 set up camp for the night.

Benguerra Island and the Bazaruto Archipelago - Some of the most pristine islands, beaches and coral reefs in Africa

The Bazaruto Islands are everything you think of when it comes to a tropical paradise. With shallow sandbars, crystal clear warm waters and perfect white sand, this is without a doubt one of the best tropical island locations in Africa.

Benguerra Island has several luxury beach lodges to choose from, but Azura Benguerra is our first choice, and regarded as one of the best beach resorts in Africa. The lodge is located on a long stretch of beach in a quiet bay. There are multiple beach bungalow layouts to choose from, all of which are only a few steps from the beach. The bungalows offer all your creature comforts and each one comes with a private pool. The food and service at Azura Benguerra is first class. Feast on beautifully prepared fresh seafood and vegetables that have been locally sourced.

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 in Mozambique takes place at “2 Mile Reef” and “The Aquarium”. Colorful tropical fish, eels, turtles and occasionally reef sharks frequent the shallow reefs, making this an ideal location 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 also 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 see dugongs (an incredibly rare type of manatee) in the wild.

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

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.

Mozambique Seasons and When to Visit

We think the best time to visit Mozambique is between September and October before the rains start but it is still nice and warm, but Mozambique is pleasant throughout the weather as the sea is warm throughout the year. Although Mozambique stretches right up to Tanzania, it predominantly follows Southern African weather patterns as opposed to Eastern Africa.

Mozambique gets most of its rains in the summer months of December to March. Although the country is mostly sheltered from cyclones by Madagascar, some do occasionally effect the coastline and islands. The summer months are hot, with temperatures reaching 30°C (86°F) during the day, and the high humidity makes it feel even hotter.

By April, the dry season has begun. Night time temperatures start 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 night time temperatures average 16°C (61°F), so bring warm clothes for mornings.

When September rolls around, the temperature starts to rise again as summer starts. Average daytime temperatures are around 28°C (82°F) while night time temperatures average 20°C (68°F). During summer, the sea temperature rises to a maximum of 26°C (79°F).