Explore the breathtaking country of Mozambique, the ultimate tropical paradise

Mozambique is without a doubt the ultimate tropical paradise. It’s particularly world renowned for diving and with spectacular coral reefs stretching along the 2,515 kilometres of warm clear Indian Ocean as its coastline, it’s not surprising why. Mozambique is blessed with a generous amount of untamed beaches and little islands all astonishingly breathtaking.

Apart from diving there’s a variety of sun filled water activities to quench the thirst of any beach holiday seeker: swimming, kayaking, sailing, dhow trips, snorkelling and fishing are among the most popular activities to keep one busy in this beautiful beach dreamland.

With all these wonderful activities you can work up quite an appetite and that’s a good thing – with the world’s most exquisite seafood on your doorstep there’s bound to be something to soothe your palate’s liking, especially prawns. This is most definitely a delicacy you should treat yourself to when you visit the various restaurants along the coastline.

The best times to explore:

If you want to get the most out of your holiday without having to worry about bad weather that might spoil your sun filled days, then it’s best to visit Mozambique between May and November. This is the time when both rainfall and temperatures are at their lowest with pleasant temperatures between 20 to 29°C (68-85°F). It is also possible to plan your holiday during the early part of the warmer, rainy season from November to January, only if you can tolerate the high temperatures though.

Avoid going from February to April: if you attempt to go for a holiday during this period the only thing you’re bound to explore is an overabundance of rain, floods and even strong monsoon winds which are definitely not recommended.

It’s also advisable to start booking your vacation well in advance if you’re planning to go around Easter, Christmas, New Year’s and in August as these are the most popular visiting times with the most visitors to the area.

How to get there and around

If you are from Europe or a distant part of Africa, the most affordable option to get to Mozambique is to fly to Johannesburg in South Africa. From there you can then fly or even take a bus to Maputo, which is the capital of Mozambique. If affordability doesn’t bother you, but you’re more eager to get to your destination without the Johannesburg pit stop – the following airways will fly you straight to Maputo: Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), Air Portugal and Kenya Airways.

Once you’re in Mozambique the best ways to travel around are either by bus, which will get you to all the major towns, or by air. If you are travelling off the main routes then converted passenger trucks called chapa-cems (chapas) will get you where you want to be. There are also regular flights to all the major destinations from Maputo to Vilankulo, Beira, Nampula, Pemba and other major destinations. Another alternative is to take the private charter airlines that will take you almost anywhere you like.

Some of the recommended places to explore:

Maputo:

Maputo is the capital city of Mozambique. It’s a mixture between ethnic and cosmopolitan, giving it a truly unique presence with its Portuguese heritage. While in Maputo, definitely make a stop at the Mercado Municipal Market and the Roman Catholic Cathedral. If you are looking to spend a couple of days in the vibrant city, why not try the Holiday Inn; just 7 km from Maputo International Airport, making it an ideal spot to travel around in the city and best of all, it’s situated right on the beachfront (on the Avenida da Marginal), the perfect place to enjoy a well deserved sun-downer after a long day of exploring.

Inhambane:

An overabundant stretch of beaches and tranquil days await your presence, or if you’re planning a more active holiday there’s also scuba diving, fishing, sailing sea safaris and snorkelling to keep you busy in this incredible paradise. One of the most spectacular and the only one of its kind in Africa is the Flamingo Bay Water Lodge. The lodge is situated on stilts in the calm Indian Ocean and offers true serenity in a luxury water chalet.

Pemba:

Pemba has the world’s third largest deepwater harbour and is the capital in the province of Cabo Delgado situated in the far-north of Mozambique. The magnificent Quirimbas Archipelago in Pemba is one of those places that you thought you could only experience in your dreams. A captivating chain of 32 undeveloped islands and some of the richest coral reefs in the world, make this area an unexplored tourist paradise.

The problem with Mozambique is that there are just too many beautiful places to mention. You really do need lots of time to explore everything this astonishing paradise has to offer. Even when your holiday has sadly come to an end, Mozambique will pleasantly haunt your dreams. It’s no wonder Mozambique is such difficult place to leave.