In Mozambique, sunny days abound, and the ocean is deliciously warm and swimmable all year round
There are places where palm trees give way to yellow sands that meet a gently lapping ocean. In other spots, the land drops steeply to the beach, so you step from the cool of the trees onto the softness of the sand.
There are also remote islands where your footprints on the dunes are the only ones, and you might imagine you’re the sole person left on earth. In many places, the water is so calm and translucent that even the most timid of swimmers are eager to wade out. Meanwhile, those who drop below the water’s surface with their snorkels or diving gear enter a world of seagrass meadows, colourful coral reefs, sea turtles, and more.
Indeed, the serenity of Mozambique’s beaches and its diverse marine wonders are every inch the tropical beach scene the world associates with the likes of the Seychelles, Zanzibar, or the Maldives – they just aren’t marketed to the same level. There are reasons behind this, which I won’t go into now. But the point I wish to make is that Mozambique’s quieter reputation is actually a strength: here, you can enjoy uncrowded and affordable beach and diving holidays.
Explore Mozambique’s best beaches and islands
Mozambique has an incredibly long coastline. At about 2,500 km, it’s almost as long as that of South Africa. So you’re not going to want to explore the entire coastline in one trip.
Fortunately, there are gorgeous beaches, islands, and excellent diving spots all along the coast. So depending on where else in the country you wish to visit, there will be a beach or island in that region offering you a sublime getaway spot. With this in mind, I’m going to talk about the best beaches and islands for swimming and diving by region, starting with the south.
Best beaches and islands of southern Mozambique
Southern Mozambique has the country’s most accessible beaches and islands. Not only is the capital city of Maputo on the southern coast, but you’re also relatively near Johannesburg’s airport in South Africa, which is a major international airport. In fact, many tourists (including South Africans) like to head to southern Mozambique’s beaches on an overlanding trip that includes a Big Five safari in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (which includes the Kruger).
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Nature & Wildlife, Waterways & Wetlands, Beach & Safari, Wilderness Walks, Mountain Adventures, Big 5 Safari
So if you’re keen for a classic ‘bush and beach’ adventure that doesn’t require too much travel time, explore southern Mozambique!
1. Ponta do Ouro Beach
Ponta do Ouro (‘Point of Gold’ in Portuguese) sits just north of the border with South Africa. Its beach is beautiful, peaceful, and pristine. Steep, tree-covered dunes provide a pretty backdrop and help you to feel tucked away from urban life and all its noisy busyness.
Ponta do Ouro is a great place for coral reef snorkelling and diving, as well as turtle- and dolphin-spotting.
2. Bilene Beach, São Martinho Lagoon
Bilene Beach sits on the inner shore of a protected saltwater lagoon. The lagoon’s waters are calm, clear, and warm. Bilene is therefore the perfect destination for anyone wanting safe swimming and snorkelling conditions.
Canoeing on the lagoon is also delightful, as it brings you closer to the flamingoes and other waterbirds hanging out on and around the islets. And while Bilene is a great base for safe and soothing activities, you’re also all set for various adrenaline-inducing sports, like jet-skiing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, parasailing, and quad biking.
Another key attraction of Bilene is that it’s a nesting site for loggerhead and leatherback turtles. If you visit in season, you can watch the hatchlings emerge from their eggs and clamber down to the water’s edge. There’s also a short hike leading to the top of Turtle Cliff, which offers a great spot for turtle watching as well as whale and dolphin watching.
3. Xai Xai Beach
Xai Xai is another of the most beautiful beaches in southern Mozambique. Shrub-covered sand dunes line the beach and help to create a sense of remoteness and quietude.
The beach is protected by an offshore coral reef, so its waters are calm and excellent for paddling, swimming, and snorkelling. Importantly, 2 km south is the Wenela Tidal Pool. This natural tidal pool has a tunnel connecting it to the ocean, which in turn has created a blowhole.
4. Tofo Beach
The small town of Tofo has a pretty, sandy, and curved beach that’s a little more rugged in places than some of the other beaches on this list, and comes with some small waves.
Tofo is particularly popular with divers as well as anyone keen to spot sea mammals. Dolphins, whale sharks, and migratory humpback whales are all seen swimming off the coast in season.
Tofo is also notable for its proximity to Manta Reef, where you find manta ray cleaning stations. Such cleaning stations are coral reefs or rocky outcrops where manta rays gather regularly to have parasites, dead skin, and bacteria removed by small cleaner fish like butterflyfish. Avid divers should therefore ensure Tofo Beach is on their itinerary when exploring Mozambique.
5. Bazaruto Archipelago
Farther north is Bazaruto Archipelago, one of the country’s top tourism destinations. No surprises there. The islands’ beautiful and isolated beaches and dunes, small fishing villages, calm and translucent waters, ubiquitous sandbanks, lagoons and flamingoes stands, colourful reefs, and rich biodiversity are all worth writing home about.
Bazaruto Archipelago National Park was created in 1971 to protect the marine ecosystems of the archipelago’s five islands – particularly their dugong and sea turtle populations. Dugongs are highly endangered, elusive, gentle, ungainly-looking creatures sometimes referred to as ‘sea cows’.
Benguerra Island is particularly popular with visitors. The island’s sandy white beaches are met by very sheltered waters, particularly on the western shore. There are also freshwater lakes and indigenous forests, which you can explore on foot as well as horseback.
Notably, Two Mile Reef is a prominent barrier reef positioned in the channel between Benguerra Island and Bazaruto Island to the north. This reef is one of the most diverse and unspoilt of the whole Indian Ocean. Diving here is a must. Species commonly seen include green and loggerhead turtles, manta rays, moray eels, potato bass, and nudibranches.
6. Vilanculos Beach
Vilanculos is the mainland beach opposite Bazaruto Archipelago. For many, it’s a base for island-hopping and diving expeditions within the archipelago. Traditional sailing boats called dhows offer the perfect, eco-friendly way to travel between the mainland islands.
Vilanculos Beach is also a treat in itself. Its azure waters are shallow and calm, sheltered as they are by the archipelago’s islands and reefs. And the beach is a poster child for tidal variations. At low tide, sandbanks and lagoons appear, making it an ideal spot for splashing with children. At high tide, you can enjoy kayaking, dhow rides, stand-up paddleboarding, kite surfing, and more.
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Nature & Wildlife, Beach & Safari, Wilderness Walks, Big 5 Safari, Top Beaches, Dramatic Vistas
Northern Mozambique
Northern Mozambique is where you go if you have that ‘I want to get away from it all’ feeling. This is a little-visited destination, one reason being that it takes some time to get there. But once you do, you find beaches, islands, and coral reefs that are heavenly.
1. Wimbe Beach, Pemba
There’s a peninsula in northern Mozambique that helps to shelter Pemba Bay from the Indian Ocean. At the tip of the peninsula is the port town of Pemba, and at the northern edge of Pemba is the wide sweep of Wimbe Beach. Here, you have dhows dotting the waters, fishermen busy with their hauls, and palm trees crowd the shoreline.
Wimbe is one of those delightful spots where the slope of the land is so gentle that you have seemingly endless sands at low tide, and then a vast expanse of waveless turquoise shallows at high tide. Perfect for swimming and snorkelling. What’s more, the nearby reefs offer easily accessible diving sites. Divers can explore hard and soft corals that are home to a brilliant array of marine life, including rays, turtles, and reef sharks.
Pemba is also a great base for whale- and dolphin-spotting. You can find humpback and southern right whales in season, as well as Indo-Pacific humpback, spinner, and bottlenose dolphins, among others. If you head into Pemba Bay, you can explore the beautiful mangroves as well, and see flying fish.
Finally, I must mention that as part of the Swahili Coast, Pemba is rich in history. So be sure to go on a guided tour. You’ll visit sites like the Slave Trade Fort at Ponta Romero Lighthouse and learn about the local Makonde people.
2. Quirimbas Archipelago
The Quirimbas Archipelago consists of 27 islands, some of which are connected by sand banks. It’s a very important ecological region, and in 2002, Quirimbas Archipelago Marine National Park was established to protect the coastal forests, mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs of the southern 11 islands, along with a portion of the mainland.
Most folks visiting the archipelago are interested in snorkelling and diving. This is understandable, as there are nearly 300 species of coral to be found in the park! The secluded islands of Matemo, Medjumbe, and Vamizi are particularly ideal for diving and snorkelling.
The archipelago is also ideal for boating trips, as there are various marine mammals to spot, including migrating humpback whales and bottlenose and humpback dolphins. Occasionally, some lucky souls spy dugongs.
On top of this, the islands’ dunes and beaches are not only breathtaking, but incredibly tranquil – ideal for anyone wanting to feel like they’re the only person left on earth.
Ibo Island is also very popular, both for its magnificent mangroves and famous colonial forts and ruins from the period when it was a Portuguese trading post.
3. Pangane Beach
Pangane is a fishing village and palm-fringed beach on the mainland opposite to Quirimba Archipelago. It’s loved for its wide, sandy beaches, quiet fishing vibes, rustic buildings, and undeveloped surroundings.
It’s also called the Gateway to Quirimbas. So happily a visit to Quirimbas means a visit to Pangane too.
Planning a holiday in Mozambique
If you’re eager to explore Mozambique and some of its superb beaches and islands, take a look at these affordable overlanding itineraries from African Overland Tours.
Note: This blog post was first written and published by Leandra Slabbert on 5 May 2024. It was rewritten by Megan Abigail White on 11 February 2026.
