Southern Mozambique

We divide Southern Mozambique into three discrete parts: Maputo, lodges relatively close or south of Maputo. And finally Tofu & resorts around or just north of Inhambane. We cover quite a bit of Mozambique on this page. So it’s useful to remember that the travelling distances in Mozambique are long and quite slow.

Maputo

Maputo in Southern Mozambique is a capital blend of Portuguese and African influences. Savour the spicy flavour of this vibrant sea-port capital with its haunting colonial grandeur.

Maputo, the once-elegant capital of Mozambique, now as a somewhat faded charm. However, there are still echoes of the colonial grandeur of ‘Lourenço Marques’. The city is well worth a visit for its very Latin joie de vivre. This is reminiscent more of Cuba or Brazil than Africa. The appeal of Maputo is now more to the senses than aesthetics; with cafés serving spicy piri-piri dishes, local music and bustling markets.

Maputo is surprisingly prettily situated on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean. It’s quite easy to have a sea view even if your hotel is not right on the ocean. There are several resorts accessed via a boat trip from Maputo such as Machangulo Lodge, Anvil Bay Lodge and the villa of Colina Verde.

There are direct flights to Maputo from Johannesburg or you can transfer from the Kruger by road as well.

Beach Resorts south of Maputo

Some attractive Mozambique beach resorts have opened such as White Pearl Resorts in the far south and Machangulo Beach Lodge and Anvil Bay which are much closer to Maputo. Access too White Pearl can be via road from the southern border post into South Africa. Or from Maputo.

Barra & Tofu in Southern Mozambique

The Inhambane province is one of the most picturesque areas of southern Mozambique. There are pristine beaches for snorkelling, and diving in the warm Indian Ocean. It lies between Maputo in the south and Vilanculos in the centre of Mozambique.

The small resort town of Tofo is a particularly good choice for scuba diving and snorkelling with a choice of reefs. Here you may encounter beautiful Manta rays. In winter time you may also hear the haunting song of the humpback whales when they come into the coast to breed, an awesome sighting on a snorkelling or diving trip.

Access is currently quite difficult after Covid as there are fewer flights into Imhabane. It is a long road transfer north from Maputo. Otherwise Massinga Beach Lodge can be accessed from Vilanculos with a 2.5 hour transfer south to the lodge.