With idyllic palm-lined beaches, warm turquoise waters and year-round sunny weather, Mozambique is a paradisiac holiday destination. The destination has all the ingredients for a perfect getaway: endless pristine beaches, eco-experiences, a laid-back Portuguese-influenced African vibe and friendly, welcoming locals. If this is not enough to convince you, we’ll give you five more reasons why Mozambique should absolutely be on your bucket list for 2017.
1.Visa headaches are a thing of the past!
Unfortunately, visas have not been scrapped entirely, but the process of obtaining visas has become a lot easier! Mozambique has made it possible for all international travellers to obtain a dual-entry visa on arrival at most border posts, including Maputo Airport, the Port of Maputo, Ponta D’ouro, Vilanculos Airport and Inhamba Airport amongst others. The visa costs US$50 and is valid for 30 days…Of course, if you’re a South African passport holder, you never need to worry about visas for Mozambique at all.
2.You’re spoilt for choice with flight access
South African-based airline, Airlink toward the end of last year announced that it is to add more flights to Vilanculos from Nelspruit and Johannesburg during 2017. At the end of March, Airlink added two additional frequencies from Nelspruit to Vilanculos, operating on Tuesdays and Fridays. The airline will launch even more frequencies in July on Mondays and Saturdays. From August 7, there will be a flight on Wednesdays – making it a daily service between Nelspruit and Vilanculos. Effective April 13, Airlink also upped frequencies between Johannesburg and Vilanculos, making it a daily service.
3. Mozambique is a popular wellness destination
Mozambique is ideally placed to benefit from the current interest in wellness travel. Travellers today want unique and authentic experiences, combining spiritual travel with an adventure component. Mozambique is one of the few places in the world where you will still find long stretches of uninterrupted beaches, allowing you to feel completely isolated and reconnect with your spiritual self. Dive amongst hundreds of species of tropical fish and extraordinary coral reefs, or indulge in a spa treatment on the beach.
4.Bazaruto is recognised as one of the best beaches in Africa by Conde Nast
Conde Nast has recently recognised Bazaruto as the best beach in Africa. A dune-filled island off the coast of Mozambique, Bazaruto sits within a marine park in the Indian Ocean. Known for its prime snorkelling, diving, and luxury resorts, Bazaruto also offers easy fly-in access. For a unique experience, embark upon an authentic Dhow Safari in the Bazaruto Archipelago and follow the ancient Arabic trade routes. Your guide will be eager to share the history and traditions with you, making it an adventurous, yet educational experience.
5.Mozambique has become a ‘diving mecca’
‘Dive Worldwide’ has labelled Mozambique as a diving mecca, most notably for big marine life encounters and seldom-dived gems. The waters around the Bazaruto Archipelago, one of the largest marine conservation areas in the Indian Ocean, are an ecological paradise. With visibility up to 40m you will discover protected reefs teeming with dolphin, humpback whales and whale sharks.