The pristine land of Mozambique lies in southeast Africa with Tanzania to the north, South Africa to the south, Malawi and Zimbabwe to the west and the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean to the east. Mozambique is beautiful, wild and undeveloped. Mozambique’s archipelagos – the Bazaruto & Quirimba Archipelagos, have few small lodges on. There’s plenty to see, including stunning palm-fringed beaches and islands, crystal clear waters, Africa’s best unspoiled coral reefs, and colourful local cultures.

It is also one of the most romantic places in the world making Mozambique the new big thing in honeymoon destination.

Bazaruto Archipelago
Off its coast, lies the tropical paradise of Bazaruto Archipelago which consists of 5 dune islands: Bazaruto the largest, Benguerra the second largest, Margaruque, Paradise or Santa Carolina and the tiny undeveloped Banque Island. The waters of Mozambique Stream are clear with mile upon mile of reefs. It is hard to beat the diving and snorkeling in Bazaruto as the coral is pristine and fish life superb. Depending on where you are staying they are accessible via light aircraft or boat transfer from Vilanculos which has become the gateway of the Bazaruto Archipelago with a number of good hotels and restaurants of its own. There are a number of spectacular dive sites where sightings of whale sharks, not the easier of species to encounter, are fairly common. Game fish species, playful dolphins and occasional somber dugong are part of the attraction.

Pemba and the Quirmbas
Cabo Delgado, capital province of Pemba lies 250km from the Tanzanian coast. Lost in the midst of time, Northern Mozambique is one of Africa’s last remaining undeveloped wildernesses.
Pemba is also renowned as being a prime destination for water sport and diving enthusiasts as the coral reefs lie close to the shoreline. There are many pristine, white beaches along the coast including the famous Wimbe beach just to the north of Pemba. The Quirimbas Archipelago consists of 32 coral islands stretching from Pemba to the Rovuma River. The area has never been developed and remains an unexplored tourist paradise. Pristine and largely unknown, these islands offer some of the greatest diving and fishing experiences the world has to offer. You will encounter butterflies, tropical flowers, monkeys and birds. In Pemba and Querimbas, you can see manta rays, whale sharks, huge schools of feeding barracuda, many species of king fish, red snappers, green and hawksbill turtles, pods of humpback dolphins, not to mention the humpbacked whales in season.

The Niassa Reserve
Situated in the remotest corner of northern Mozambique, Niassa Reserve is the largest protected areas in Africa. The absence of hard boundaries in any direction means that elephants, lions and African wild dogs can roam well beyond the protected area. Animals you will also encounter are monkeys, baboons, jackals, warthogs, plenty of buffalos, sable and roan antelope.
The Lugenda Bush Camp offers luxury tented accommodation on the banks of the Lugenda River during the dry season (mid May to November) with activities that include boat trips and game drives. The Lugenda River valley forms a focal point for wildlife activity in Niassa Reserve, especially during the dry season when water is scarce. The river repeatedly spreads out across rocky sills, forming a maze of rapids, braided channels, waterfalls and gorges that are prime fishing habitat and important for hippos and crocodiles.

The best time to visit the reserve is between June and October. Many of the roads are impassible in the wet season between December and April.

Best time to visit Mozambique
Most of our recommended hotels have a full range of water sports including snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing, sailing and cruising. There is also excellent bird watching and day trips on Arab dhows. The best times to visit are between May and November, when both rainfall and temperatures are at their lowest. It’s also possible to travel during the early part of the warmer, rainy season from November to January but be prepared for high temperatures, especially in January. If possible, avoid the height of the rains from February to March when tropical cyclones can hit the coast at this time. The beaches and islands of Mozambique provide a wonderful add on to a safari in one of its neighbouring countries. You can fly from bush to beach with convenient connecting flights from Zambia, South Africa and Tanzania.