Day 1: Maputo to Barra Beach – Mozambique

Our 7-Day Mozambique Coastal Explorer starts in the capital city of Maputo where you meet up with your guide and the rest of your group. From Maputo, we head northeast into the Inhambane District travelling through the coconut and sugar plantations of rural Mozambique. Along the way, you can see cashew nut sellers, locals going about their lives in small villages, open land and roaming livestock.

Following the East Coast of Africa, we reach our first resort at Barra beach (Praia da Barra), near the historic town of Inhambane. Settle in and take a stroll on the palm-fringed beach or your first dip in the Indian Ocean. This evening we tuck into a traditional Mozambiquan dinner to sample the famous local flavours and fresh seafood.

We spend the next three nights staying at this comfortable lodge along the sandy Barra beach of balmy Mozambique.

• Included Activity: Traditional Mozambiquan dinner
• Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2 & 3: Barra Beach & Tofo – Mozambique

Days two and three are free for you to enjoy laid-back hours on the picturesque beaches, swimming and exploring or doing some optional activities including watersports and land-based adventure activities – from scuba diving and snorkelling to horse riding and quad biking.

On day three your guide takes you to Praia do Tofo, where you can browse the curio and food market, walk in the village or lounge on the beach. Once a sleepy fishing village, today Tofo is one of the most popular beach destinations in Africa, considered the scuba diving capital of the country, and one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks. Snorkelling with whale sharks and manta rays, on the Ocean Safari (own account) in Tofo is a not-to-be-missed highlight, so take the dive!

• Optional Activity: Inhambane Snorkelling / Tofo Ocean Safari / Scuba Diving / Surfing etc
• Included Activity: Visit Tofo
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (x2)

Day 4: Inhambane & Vilanculos – Mozambique

This morning we stop off in the charming town of Inhambane, with its tree-lined avenues and old colonial Portuguese buildings. One of the oldest settlements on the east coast, here Arabic, Indian, African and European influences blend together in a vibrant mix. Walk around the town and visit a local market, before we continue north along the coast. Your guide can arrange for a dhow ferry ride from Inhambane across the bay to Maxixe if you feel like an adventure in one of these traditional sailing boats. Alternatively, you can hop back on the truck and meet the ferry on the other side of the bay.

Then we drive up to our next Mozambiquan beach stopover – the coastal town of Vilanculos. The lively seaside town of Vilanculos is ideally located for exploring the three main islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago (Bazaruto, Benguerra and Magaruque), lying just off the mainland of Mozambique. The Bazaruto Archipelago is Mozambique’s premier travel destination – a tropical beach paradise with clear turquoise waters and palm fringed islands. As a protected area, the reefs are pristine and the sea life here is spectacular.

We stay at a comfortable lodge with a swimming pool, bar, shop and laundry facilities, in Vilanculos.

• Included Activity: Walk in Inhambane / Traditional Dhow transfer to Maxixe (not compulsory)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Bazaruto Islands Trip – Mozambique

Today we take a day trip to the dazzling Bazaruto Archipelago, known as ‘the Pearl of the Indian Ocean’. Early this morning we set off for the Bazaruto Islands by speedboat, heading to the renowned Two Mile Reef. Here we stop for a swim or some snorkelling before continuing to Bazaruto for lunch.

This cluster of five unspoiled tropical islands is considered one of the most beautiful places in Africa. Mozambique’s only marine reserve, Bazaruto is world-renowned for its superb diving and snorkelling given the abundant sea creatures inhabiting its intact reefs. Marine life includes an impressive variety of tropical fish, whales and dolphins, as well as the rare Dugong (sea cow) and Nile crocodiles. Some of the aquatic creatures sighted on dives include whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, lobsters, barracuda, clown fish, Moorish idols and mackerel. Antelopes, Samango monkeys and around 180 bird species also inhabit the Bazaruto islands.

You have the chance to explore the islands on foot, lie on the idyllic beaches and go snorkelling on the colourful reefs. After lunch, we make our way back to Vilanculos. If the tide is high when we set out in the morning we will go straight to Bazaruto, then to Two Mile Reef for some snorkelling before having lunch on Benguera Island.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Included Activity: Bazaruto Island Day Trip

Day 6: Xai Xai – Mozambique

Next, our Accommodated Mozambique Coastal Explorer takes us back south to the lively town of Xai Xai, a popular holiday resort town on the coast beside the Limpopo River. End the day off with a stroll on the beach and sundowners beside the ocean.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Maputo – Mozambique

Enjoy one last sunrise over the Indian Ocean this morning, before we travel back towards the country’s largest city, Maputo. Arriving in Maputo our sun-splashed Mozambique Coastal Explorer ends with drop-off at your post-safari stop.

• Meals: Breakfast

We recommend arriving the day before your safari and only booking flights for the day after the safari ends. We can help arrange accommodation for before and after the safari on request.