Mozambique has 2,500 kilometres of coastline on the Indian Ocean and very few big hotels. Here the sea is enjoyed from lodges with just a few bungalows: the towering dunes of the Bazaruto archipelago, the beaches of Inhambane where manta rays and whale sharks pass by, the Machangulo peninsula an hour and a half by boat from Maputo.
When to go
The best months are from May to November: dry season, warm but not humid, calm sea and clear water. From June to October humpback whales pass along the coast. From January to March it is very hot, it rains and there is a risk of cyclones. Month by month: when to go to Mozambique.
Documents and entry
Italian citizens enter without a visa for tourism for up to 30 days, but must first apply for the electronic travel authorisation on the government’s official portal, at least 48 hours before departure. The passport must be valid for at least six months and have two blank pages. FCDO travel advice for Mozambique. Full details: visa and documents for Mozambique.
Health
Malaria prophylaxis is recommended throughout the country. A yellow fever certificate is only required for travellers arriving from a country at risk. Outside Maputo there are few hospitals: insurance with medical repatriation is essential.
What to see
Bazaruto archipelago: a marine park with dunes, lagoons and coral reef, an hour and a half by boat from Vilanculos. Inhambane and Tofo: long beaches and dives with manta rays and whale sharks. Machangulo: a wild peninsula facing Maputo. Ilha de Moçambique: the old Portuguese capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bazaruto
The Bazaruto archipelago is a national marine park: five islands of dunes, lagoons and coral reefs off Vilankulo (Vilanculos), in Inhambane province.
When to go: from May to November, with a calm sea and clear water; from June to October humpback whales pass by. From January to March it is very hot and there is a risk of cyclones.
Dugongs: the park’s seagrass meadows are home to the last viable population on Africa’s east coast, between 250 and 350 animals according to surveys, a critically endangered subspecies. With a bit of luck they can be seen from the boat, at a distance: swimming with them is not allowed.
Diving and snorkelling: the archipelago’s reefs, such as Two Mile Reef, are among the most beautiful in the country, with turtles, manta rays and reef fish. Many lodges have snorkelling right off the beach.
Getting there: fly from Johannesburg to Vilankulo, about an hour and a half, then by boat to the islands, one hour to an hour and a half depending on the sea. Our trip Mozambique: Machangulo, Inhambane and Bazaruto, 11 days gets there after Machangulo and the Sava dunes.
