MOZAMBIQUE EXPERIENCE

Arrive in Johannesburg and board a connecting flight to Nampula. You’ll be warmly met and transferred to your modern beach retreat set on a private nature reserve close to Ilha de Mocambique. With a swimmable lagoon on one side and the sparkling Indian Ocean on the other, it’s the perfect place to unwind after a long journey.

You’ll have four nights to spend at your leisure amidst the tranquillity of Mozambique’s central coast. Complimentary activities include snorkelling and windsurfing, and you can even take a canoe out to explore the mangroves. Keen divers can explore the wrecks of 17th-century Portuguese vessels, and if you’re travelling between August and September, you’ll have the chance to observe migrating whales. Excursions to nearby islands can also be arranged, as well as cultural visits. Relax between activities by the infinity pool where you can bathe in the sun to a background of birdsong.

Stay: Four nights in a beach villa at Coral Lodge – full board

Your next destination is the tiny and beautiful island of Ibo, just one of the 32 tropical islands that make up the Quirimbas Archipelago. You’ll be staying on a prime waterfront location with access to empty beaches and some of the world’s richest coral reefs. The opportunity to dive, swim, snorkel and kayak on this romantic, palm-fringed island is a truly special experience. Add to the mix unique island-hopping dhow safaris, dolphin encounters and sumptuous seafood for a totally unforgettable stay.

But Ibo Island isn’t all about beach bliss. A guided tour of this ancient settlement, once a prosperous trading centre, will show you old forts, faded colonial buildings and elegant architecture dating back to the 1500s. Enjoy interacting with the locals whose traditional lifestyle has stayed much the same over the last hundreds of years.

Stay: Two nights in a sea facing room at Ibo Island – full board

Your final destination is a luxury resort on the wholly uninhabited private island of Quilalea. Enveloped by powdery sand and the crystal-clear waters of the Quirimbas Archipelago marine sanctuary, Quilalea is a real slice of paradise and promises you the ultimate in barefoot luxury. The island has its very own fully equipped PADI Dive Centre, so you can expect fantastic encounters with 375 different species of colorful fish. You can dive and snorkel right of the beach, with some of the best diving to be had just 20 meters offshore.

As well as colorful fish, you’ll find dugongs drifting through the seagrass, fish eagles perched in the mangroves and turtles nesting on the white sands. Other activities include game fishing in the Mozambique Channel, canoeing, dhow trips, kayaking and island walks.

Stay: Five nights in a Kusi villa at Azura Quilalea Private Island – full board

Return to Johannesburg to meet your flight back home.