Mozambique Holiday Guide: Maputo, Tofo, Bazaruto, Gorongosa and the Islands

Mozambique has about 2,500 km of Indian Ocean coast, with warm water, empty beaches and some of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks and manta rays. Start in the lively, Portuguese-flavoured capital, Maputo, then head up the coast to Tofo, the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago and the restored wildlife of Gorongosa National Park. It also pairs perfectly with a Kruger safari in South Africa. This guide covers where to go, where the FCDO advises against travel, the seasons and entry rules.

Where to go in Mozambique

The south and centre of the country are where most visitors go: Maputo, the beaches of Inhambane province, the Bazaruto islands and Gorongosa. Distances are long, so most trips combine two or three places with short flights.

Maputo

• 2 nights
• Markets, architecture, seafood

Mozambique’s capital has wide avenues lined with jacaranda trees, Portuguese colonial buildings and a lively music and art scene. See the old railway station, the Fortaleza, the Central Market and the craft market, and eat grilled prawns by the sea.

Cross the bay to Catembe, or take a boat to Inhaca Island for a day of snorkelling.

Ponta do Ouro and Maputo National Park

• 2 to 3 nights
• Dolphins, diving, elephants

South of Maputo, near the South African border, Ponta do Ouro is known for diving and for swimming with wild dolphins.

On the way, Maputo National Park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with South Africa’s iSimangaliso, has elephants, lakes and wild beaches.

Tofo and Inhambane

• 3 to 4 nights
• Whale sharks, mantas, surf

Tofo is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks, seen all year and most often from about October to March. Divers also come for the giant manta rays.

Humpback whales pass from about July to October. The old town of Inhambane, across the bay, is one of the oldest in southern Africa.

Vilanculos and the Bazaruto Archipelago

• 4 to 5 nights
• Islands, dhow trips, dugongs

From Vilanculos, dhows and boats sail out to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a protected marine national park of islands with high sand dunes, sandbanks and coral reefs.

It’s one of the last places in East Africa where you might see dugongs, and the snorkelling and diving are excellent. Most visitors stay on Bazaruto or Benguerra island.

Gorongosa National Park

• 3 nights
• Safari, conservation, birds

In central Mozambique, Gorongosa is one of Africa’s great conservation comebacks. Its wildlife was almost wiped out by war, but lions, elephants, buffalo and wild dogs have returned, and it has one of the largest populations of waterbuck anywhere.

Game drives, walks and visits to community projects are best from May to November, as parts of the park close in the rainy season.

Islands in Mozambique

Bazaruto and Benguerra are the easiest islands to visit, reached from Vilanculos by boat or light aircraft. Inhaca is a day trip from Maputo. In the north, Ilha de Moçambique (Mozambique Island), the country’s first capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of coral-stone houses, churches, a fort and a mosque, joined to the mainland by a long bridge. It’s remote, reached by flying to Nampula and driving for about three hours.

Pemba, Ibo and the Quirimbas: where not to go

The Quirimbas Archipelago, Ibo Island and Pemba are in Cabo Delgado Province, in the far north. The FCDO currently advises against all travel to most of Cabo Delgado, and against all but essential travel to Pemba, because of attacks by armed groups. It also advises against travel to some districts of Nampula and Niassa provinces. We don’t sell trips to these areas while the advice is in place; for an island holiday, choose the Bazaruto Archipelago or Zanzibar instead.

Mozambique’s animals and ocean giants

Whale sharks: the biggest fish in the sea feed off Tofo all year, and swimming with them is unforgettable. Choose operators who follow the code of conduct and keep their distance.

Manta rays and dolphins: mantas visit the reefs around Tofo, and wild dolphins swim off Ponta do Ouro.

Whales and dugongs: humpback whales pass the coast from about July to October, and the rare dugong lives in the seagrass around Bazaruto.

On land: the elephants of Maputo National Park, and lions, elephants and huge herds of waterbuck in Gorongosa.

Kruger and the Mozambique beach

Mozambique is the natural beach extension to a Kruger safari. From the Kruger area it’s a short flight to Vilanculos or a road transfer to Maputo, so you can spend a week on safari in South Africa and then relax on the Indian Ocean. See our South Africa holiday guide and safari and beach holidays for more ideas.

For a freshwater beach instead of the ocean, see our Malawi holiday guide: Lake Malawi pairs with South Luangwa in the same way.

When to go

The best time is the dry season, from May to November, with sunny days, low humidity and good visibility for diving; June to August evenings are cool. September to November is warm and great for the beach and whale sharks. December to March is hot and humid with heavy rain, and cyclones can hit the coast, especially from January to March.

Classic routes

Ways to see Mozambique with us

Kruger safari and Mozambique beach13 days · with flights

Southern Africa safari: Kruger, Zululand and the Mozambique coast11 days · small group

Kruger safari and Mozambique beach with flights13 days · small group

Practical tips

• Entry: British visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for tourist visits of up to 30 days. Apply online through the official Mozambique eVisa portal at least five working days before you travel; you can’t get one at the border. Your passport must be valid for six months after you arrive and have two blank pages. Children under 18 need a full birth certificate, and a consent letter if not travelling with both parents. Check the FCDO Mozambique advice before you book.
• Health: malaria is present throughout the country. Get advice from your GP or a travel clinic, and see TravelHealthPro.
• Getting there: there are no direct flights from the UK. Most routes connect in Johannesburg, with flights on to Maputo, Vilanculos and Inhambane.
• Money: the metical is the local currency. South African rand and US dollars are often accepted in tourist areas; cards work in hotels and larger restaurants.
• Language: Portuguese is the official language; English is spoken in most lodges.
• Roads: driving is on the left. Avoid driving at night, and use flights for long distances.

Frequently asked questions

Keep planning

• Mozambique holidays
• Escorted tours of Mozambique
• South Africa holiday guide
• Safari and beach holidays
• Zanzibar holiday guide
• Zimbabwe holiday guide
• Botswana holiday guide
• Tailor-made holidays