[All content and prices updated February 2013]
Why you should add Mozambique to your Indie/RTW trip
- Mozambique is an adventurer’s paradise, with amazing beaches, phenomenal diving and magical offshore islands, and all are within a few hours of each other.
- Do you want to feel completely isolated? Venture into the wild on an off-beat safari in the Gorongosa National Park, or go snorkeling around the Bazaruto Archipelago and you will question whether you are still in civilization.
- Mozambique has a unique cultural history, and the Portuguese influence is still prevalent. Take advantage of this European atmosphere and explore Ilha de Mocambique’s cobbled streets, passing its iconic colonial-era buildings, or take part in Maputo’s hearty cafe culture.
- Options. Maputo has a vibrant lifestyle, with an eclectic music mixture of both local and international beats, while the serenity and simplicity of places like the Quirimbas Archipelago make you skeptical that there is any modern amenity nearby. This is a diverse country will entertain and wonder any visitor with its wide range of travel possibilities..
- Cost. Like most of Africa, Mozambique is not necessarily the cheapest place to travel, especially if you want to take part in adventure activities. Depending on your tastes, your dollar can go far, or you can get pampered on a higher budget, but a bare bones survival budget needs to start at $20 USD a day.
Indie Travel Tips
Mozambique is already a super popular spot on traveler’s itineraries because of its beautiful scenery and modern luxuries, but there are still plenty of ways to get off-the-beaten-path:
- Take a safari in the Gorongosa National Park or sail on a dhow through mangrove channels in the Quirimbas Archipelago.
- Take an inland trip. Most people are drawn to the idyllic beach towns, and few people venture into the inner parts of Mozambique. here you can get an authentic local experience without the crowds of some of the more popular tourist locations.
- Visit Niassa, Mozambique’s most remote province, and take a break from sea water in the beautiful Lago Niassa.
- Take a sailing trip up the coast to Pemba Island, near the Tanzanian border. This island has an abundant sea life, picturesque beaches, and is less populated than beaches like Tofo.
Overview
Tanzania and South Africa, Mozambique‘s northern and southern neighbors, may hog most of the tourists and adventurers right now, but Mozambique is rebuilding and brushing off its beaches, preparing for the sure-to-come tide of travelers.
Those travelers typically avoid Mozambique because of its violent past and enduring AIDS epidemic, but as the country moves into a more stable political regime, figures out its infrastructure and clears the landmines left by a few decades of conflict, the country will pull itself off the D-list of travel destinations.
What to do
For more in depth information on what to see and do while there, check out the what to see and do section of Indie Travel in Mozambique for $45 Per Day (coming March, 2013).
Getting there
An immense country geographically, Mozambique receives only a few flights. Most originate from elsewhere in Africa, with South Africa serving as the most common hub for intercontinental traffic. If you’re tired of coach seating and in-flight snacks, there is a highway from Johannesburg to Maputo that is easily navigable by car.
For information on how to get around once in Mozambique, check out the transportation section of Indie Travel in Mozambique for $45 Per Day (coming March, 2013).
Where to stay
Mozambique’s hospitality industry has blossomed with future tourism in mind and in the larger cities like Maputo you can find five star or budget hotels in the same area. There are also several backpacker lodges in Maputo that can put up travelers on a budget.
For more in depth information on accommodations, check out the accommodations section of Indie Travel in Mozambique for $45 Per Day (coming March, 2013).
Photo credits: frankdouwes