16 days · Adventure · Culture · Beach · Safari
Mozambique from North to South
The full length of the country in sixteen days: Quirimbas coral, Ilha's stone town, Gorongosa's wilderness and the southern beaches.
The grand traverse. Starting in the far north at Pemba and finishing in Maputo, this route covers the country's four defining experiences — the coral islands of the Quirimbas, the World Heritage stone town of Ilha de Moçambique, the restored wilderness of Gorongosa, and the dune islands of Bazaruto — connected by internal flights. It is ambitious but not rushed, and it is the single best way to understand how different Mozambique's regions really are.
Day by day
- 1
Day 1
Arrive Pemba
Arrive in the far north. Afternoon on Wimbe beach and dinner overlooking the bay.
International or domestic flightAirport to Wimbe: about 8 km
Pemba → - 2
Day 2
Into the Quirimbas
Transfer to the archipelago and spend the afternoon on the reef.
Light aircraft or boat30–45 minutes by air
Quirimbas Archipelago → - 3
Day 3
Quirimbas reefs
Diving or snorkelling on the outer walls, then a dhow through the mangroves.
Dive boat and dhowTide-dependent
Quirimbas Archipelago → - 4
Day 4
Ibo Island
Stone town, the star fort, and silversmiths working filigree by hand.
Boat transferTimed to the tide
Ibo Island → - 5
Day 5
Pemba and south
Fly back to Pemba and on to Nampula. Overnight in the city.
Light aircraft then domestic flightTwo hops
Nampula → - 6
Day 6
Ilha de Moçambique
Cross the bridge and walk Stone Town in the late afternoon light.
Road transferAbout 180 km, 3 hours
Island of Mozambique → - 7
Day 7
Ilha: forts and dhows
The fort, the 1522 chapel, the museums — then a dhow to the sandbanks.
On foot and by dhowIsland is 3 km long
Island of Mozambique → - 8
Day 8
Fly to Beira
Travel south to Beira. Afternoon walking the Art Deco centre.
Road to Nampula then flightFlight roughly 1.5 hours
Beira → - 9
Day 9
Into Gorongosa
Drive inland to Chitengo and take an afternoon game drive.
Road transfer via InchopeAbout 200 km, 3–4 hours
Gorongosa National Park → - 10
Day 10
Gorongosa
Dawn on the floodplain and an afternoon drive through the fever-tree forest.
4x4 game drives3–4 hours per drive
Gorongosa National Park → - 11
Day 11
Mount Gorongosa
Walk to the Murombodzi waterfall with community guides and visit the mountain coffee project.
Guided walkHalf-day, moderate
Gorongosa National Park → - 12
Day 12
South to Vilankulo
Transfer to Beira and fly to Vilankulo. Sunset over the bay.
Road to Beira then flight3–4 hours plus a short flight
Vilankulo → - 13
Day 13
Bazaruto
Two Mile Reef, sandbank lunch and the great dunes of Bazaruto Island.
Dhow or motorboat20–30 km of open water
Bazaruto Archipelago → - 14
- 15
Day 15
Ocean safari
Manta rays, dolphins and — in season — whale sharks, then the afternoon at Tofo market.
Boat through the surfReefs 2–8 km offshore
Tofo → - 16
Day 16
Maputo and departure
Fly to the capital. A last walk through the Baixa and grilled prawns on the Marginal before flying home.
Flight to MPMRoughly 1 hour in the air
Maputo →