6 results in Mozambique
Mozambique is the Indian Ocean at its warmest and least developed: two and a half thousand kilometres of coastline, coral reefs in good condition, and islands that take a boat or a light aircraft to reach. The Bazaruto Archipelago off Vilanculos is the best known, five islands of white dune and turquoise water inside a national park, with dugongs in the channels and a reef system that has been protected long enough to show it. The Quirimbas in the far north are the same idea, wilder and harder to reach. Tofo, on the mainland south of Vilanculos, is the diving town: whale sharks and manta rays pass along that stretch of coast for much of the year.
The dry season from April to November is the time to go: warm, clear water, low humidity and the best visibility for diving. The wet season from December to March is hot, humid and carries a cyclone risk, and the water can be murky after rain.
This is a beach and ocean destination rather than a safari one, and it pairs naturally with a Kruger or Zimbabwe trip on the way through. It is a malaria area, so plan for it.
April to November, the dry season, for warm clear water, low humidity and the best diving visibility. December to March is hot and humid with a cyclone risk and reduced visibility after rain. The water is warm enough to swim in every month.
The Bazaruto Archipelago off Vilanculos for protected reef, dugong and turtles, Tofo for whale sharks and manta rays, and the Quirimbas in the far north for the least visited reefs. Sightings of whale sharks and mantas are seasonal and never guaranteed.
Easily. The southern coast is a straightforward add-on to a Kruger trip, and Vilanculos and Bazaruto connect by air to Johannesburg. A common shape is several nights in the Lowveld followed by four or five on the coast.